Author: Ajay Ghosh

SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival New York

Ajay GhoshEntertainment, Social Media 0
The fifth edition of SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival New York takes place at Cinema Village in Downtown Manhattan and neighboring venues such as SVA Social Documentary Film Campus and CRS (Center for Remembering and Sharing). The dates of the fifth edition are March 16-22, 2018.
The 70 films in the offering range from Narrative Fiction Features, Documentary Features, Short films in the fiction and documentary categories, VR/AR and 360 films, and a scriptwriting competition that also offers readings with a cast of actors for the finalist scripts, and represent 35 countries.
The winners of each category are awarded special prizes that come in the form of trophies created by Michael Aram, Anet Abnous, and from a number of the film industry and professional partners such as Candy Factory, Cinema Libre Studio, IndiePix, Suncane Now Channel, InkTip, FinalDraft, and others.
A number of workshops and panels complement the film screenings as the educational component of the festival, and these touch upon such topics as editing, distribution, pitching for film projects, filming in New York from the Governor’s Office for Film, Low Budget Film Production at SAG-AFTRA, Measuring the social impact of films, and others.
Through its TV access at MNN studios, SR Film Festival offers additional exposure to filmmakers through televised red carpet interviews. Spokespersons and guests of SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY include Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, Erin Brockovich, Martin Sheen, Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning writer Robert Schenkkan, prolific and best-selling French novelist Marc Levy, Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Award Winner Guy Davidi, American TV commentator and author Gretchen Carlson, and Liaison Officer of Tibet and the Dalai Lama, Kunga Tashi.
SRFF partners with film schools, cultural organizations and representations of foreign consulates and embassies in New York, and socially responsible brands, focusing on specific topics and offering discounted access to their membership. Inquiries are welcome at ratedsrfilms@gmail.com.
https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gifThe Fifth edition of SR Socially Relevant Film Festival NY kicks off March 16-22, 2018 at Cinema Village. “SR is sure to appeal to cinema fans of all interests. So come on and support New York’s latest festival.” Catherine Fisher: Tribecafilm
“..an important program of films” Peter Belsito: IndieWire: Sydney’s Buzz
“..it would be very good if it became a permanent feature of New York’s rich cultural and political tapestry”  Louis Proyect: The Unrepentant Marxist
“Amy Goodman provided a rousing keynote address” Chris Atamian: The Huffington Post
For details on partner organizations and sponsorship opportunities please visit the festival’s website: http://www.ratedsrfilms.org/

DFW South Asian Film Festival to Celebrate Four-year Milestone with Diverse Programming Lineup

Ajay GhoshEntertainment 0
The Indian actor Adil Hussain starrer “What Will People Say” is set to open the fourth annual Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival, which will run from Feb. 8 through Feb. 11 in Dallas, Texas, and Addison, Texas.
The film, which will have its U.S. premiere at the fest, centers on the life of a 16-year-old girl, Nisha, who lives a double life: at home with her family she is the perfect Pakistani daughter, but when out with her friends, she is a normal Norwegian teenager. When her father catches her in bed with her boyfriend, Nisha’s two worlds brutally collide.
This drama highlighting the complex relationship between a father and daughter is among 19 shorts, documentaries and feature films which will be screened over a four-day period at the festival.
Six films will have their international premieres, while two will see their U.S. premieres, and one film will have its world premiere at the fest, which was recognized by Texas Governor Greg Abbott as the ‘Most Innovative Small Business in Texas’ in 2017.
“This is our most ambitious, comprehensive and well-balanced programming to date; it is also the most number of international premieres we have had at our festival,” said founder and festival director Jitin Hingorani. “Our major programming themes include: father/son and father/daughter stories, films with children as central characters and portraits of South Asian families living and working in Europe.”
The South Asian film festival’s centerpiece film is Arshad Khan’s personal documentary, “Abu,” a journey to the center of a fragmented family while they grapple with religion, sexuality, colonialism and migration. Through a tapestry of narratives composed of family footage, observation and classic Bollywood films, Pakistani filmmaker Arshad Khan takes viewers through the tense relationships between family and fate, conservatism and liberalism, and modernity and familiarity.
The Marathi film “Chumbak” or “The Lottery,” which is a coming-of-age story of Baalu, a 15-year-old boy in Mumbai, who is on the crossroads of his aspirations and morals, is the festival’s closing night feature.
In the film, Baalu dreams of escaping this wretched life with a small business of his own, a little sugarcane juice stall near his village’s public bus-stand. Having exhausted all means, a desperate and broke Baalu, along with his street-smart friend Dhananjay, aka Disco, makes a plan to put together the money with the only way they can think of – the infamous ‘Nigerian SMS Scam.’ But of the hundreds expected to respond to his text messages, no one but one man falls for it…a simple, poor, mentally-slow villager named Prasanna.
Caught between his guilt and conscience of fleecing such a man and the greed to fulfill his ambitions, Baalu will now have to make a choice. “Chumbak” is the story of these choices for Baalu that shall shape his life.
Some of the other films that have been selected to be screened at the festival include Mahesh Dattani’s “Dance Like a Man,” “Love and Shukla,” and “Bhasmasur.”
As part of the Indo-European programming, the French short film, “La Lune Folle,” and the Italian film, “Babylon Sisters,” will be showcased.
The LGBTQ shorts programming includes several shorts like “Aarsa,” “Sisak,” “Devi,” “Khol,” and “Maacher Jhol.” Several screenings will be followed by Q&A with the respective film’s actors or directors. For more information, visit www.dfwsaff.com.

‘Modicare’ For Half Billion People

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health, India, Politics 0
India has launched one of the world’s largest health insurance programs that expects to cover 100 million families or an estimated 500 million people, at an annual estimated cost of some $1.7 billion.
India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the ambitious plan on Feb. 1 as part of the 2018-2019 Budget, saying in parliament, that “This will be the world’s largest government-funded health-care program.”
It also includes the setting up of wellness centers around the country on an unprecedented scale. While the U.S. is moving away from Obamacare, the program dubbed ‘Modicare ‘by Indian media, will be covering more than one and a half times the size of the U.S. population, akin to the U.S. Medicaid program which provides coverage for the poor, but focused on catastrophic illnesses.
The government plan will cover close to 500,000 Rupees, or roughly little less than $8,000 in expenses for serious illnesses requiring hospitalization. The government is budgeting $188 million for wellness centers to expand accessibility at local levels, especially for the poor who otherwise have to travel long distances to avail of modern healthcare.
Revenues raised from a 1 percent health access — an add-on to income taxes — is expected to go partway in financing the new deal, with national insurance companies as well as states chipping in to share the cost. The government hopes that as enrollment grows, the program will begin to pay for itself.
The need for universal health care is necessary in India, says Indian-American physician and Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, founder of the Parikh Foundation for India’s Global Development. “It is a great initiative which will, according to the government, cover 40 percent of the needy population (in India),” said Parikh, who is also the joint secretary of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), as well as past-president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI). He called it an “long overdue” measure, that would help people access state-of-the-art health services. While the life expectancy in India has risen to 68.3, and infant mortality has dropped from 83 per 1000 live births in 1990 to 34 per 1000 live births in 2016 according to government statistics, and maternal mortality rates have declined, India still has to go a long way improving the health of its citizens.
The program “will be a game changer”, Prathap Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., and founder president and emeritus advisor of GAPIO, is quoted saying in a Reuters report Rajiv Kumar, vice chairman of NITI Aayog, (National Institute for Transforming India) the premier government think tank, told Bloomberg News, “If we roll this out enough within this calendar year it will be an absolute game changer,” adding, “It’s a new India that we are giving birth to.” Kumar also said funding of nearly $2 billion a year to meet the expense of health insurance for the poor, would not be hard to meet as more people enrolled in the service.
But Kumar did sound a note of caution, speculating whether state governments would work in concert with the center to make the plan a reality.
Doctors look at the ultrasound scan of a patient at Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, January 19, 2015. Reuters/Adnan Abidi. In 2014, according to the World Health Organization, India spent some 4.5 percent of its GDP on health for a population of 1.3 billion. Meanwhile, data compiled by NITIAayog, shows significant drops in infant mortality in almost every state between 2002 and 2016. However, while India has made significant advances in its health system in the last few decades, the WHO notes that India accounts for 21% of the world’s global burden of disease; the greatest burden of maternal, newborn and child deaths in the world, Key challenges the WHO identifies in India’s health situation include the need to expedite progress in child health, under nutrition and gender equity problems; High burden of disease (BoD), even though important progress has been achieved with some diseases; and dealing with the emergence of maladies like cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, cancer and mental illnesses, as well as tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, water-borne diseases and sexually transmitted diseases.
NITI Aayog data also reveals the need for more healthcare centers in line with the plan outlined by the government. In 2005, there were 146,026 health “Sub-centers” around the country, rising to 153,655 in 2016; The number of Primary Health Centers rose from a mere 23,236 in 2005 to just 25,308 in 2015; And Community Health Centers rose from just 3,346 around the country in 2005,to 5,396 in 2015, inadequate by a long margin for the population of the country, and it is hoped the $188 million allocated for building Wellness Centers will meet part of the dire health infrastructure needs.
India has a patchwork of health insurance programmes — a network of private health insurance companies that provide private sector employees and individuals, government programs for its employees, Employees State Insurance that covers some workers in the organised sector and programs of some state governments, but the new program put the country on a path to universal coverage by insuring the poor across the country who have no other access to health insurance.
Anup Karan, associate professor at the Public Health Foundation of India, speaking to News India Times via Skype, said India has tried government health insurance in various forms since the middle of the last decade, and noted that there are both concerns as well as positives about the latest initiative. While the history of state-level and national health service efforts is checkered, the new initiative will have to take into account that 60 percent of health issues in India are treated in outpatient care, according to Karan’s findings, and the new insurance program covers only hospitalization.
Karan noted the “huge success” of the 2007 “pioneering” effort by Andhra Pradesh’s state funded wellness plan, Rajiv Arogyasri; the 2008 Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana which saw very low enrollment ratios and huge operational issues; and the 2010 launch of state-level health insurance by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra covering only tertiary and surgical conditions, with mixed results, where Tamil Nadu experienced “very great success.”
“The new scheme announced February 1, is an enhanced version of the National Health Protection Scheme launched in 2016, in terms of coverage and funding,” says Karan. He worries that because poor people use mainly outpatient care, the new program’s hospitalization coverage may not help them as much; in addition, he worries that when the poor did access the new plan, healthcare providers may tend to “overprescribe and overtreat” the poor who may not be adequately informed about the details of the coverage.
“But at least there is a scheme and maybe gradually these points will be considered as it matures and outpatient healthcare will get covered,” Karan said. He hopes to see results by the second or third year of implementation.
Vinay Aggarwal, former president of the Indian Medical Association, gave a positive reading to The Washington Post, saying, “Before this, hardly 5 percent of Indians were covered by health insurance. If you take into account private health care, it’s hardly 10 percent. Now we’re addressing 45 percent.”
Parikh said, “On behalf of AAPI and GAPIO, I want to congratulate the Prime Minister on this initiative and hope it will be successful and eventually lead to universal healthcare,” an objective Jaitley says is achievable if the new initiative goes according to plan.

Indian Americans in Trump Administration

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

In the US, people of Indian origin are among the strongest supporters of the country’s Democratic Party, a recent study showed. In the past decade, the number of Asian-American voters nearly doubled to 3.9 million in 2012 from 2 million, making them among the fastest growing groups of voters in the U.S., according to the survey.

The researchers asked Indian-Americans how they would vote in the 2016 Presidential elections. Close to 60% of Indian-Americans polled said they viewed the Republican Party unfavorably. Only 17% said viewed Republican party hopeful Donald Trump’s party favorably. The remaining 24% said they didn’t have an opinion.

An impressive 84% of the 2.85 million-strong Indian-American community voted for Barack Obama in 2008, second perhaps only to African-Americans as a minority group. According to a Pew Research Center survey, of all the Asian American groups surveyed, Indian-Americans were the most Democratic-leaning, again at 65%. Only 18% favored Republicans.

However, since President Trump assumed office as the President of the United States, Indian Americans have been on his administration in record numbers. For the first time ever, an Indian American, Nikki Haley, was elevated to the Cabinet level position. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, is thought to be the first Indian-American woman appointed to a cabinet-level position. Other than Haley, there are currently only three other people of color in the Trump administration’s 24 cabinet or cabinet-level positions.

Trump, keeping his promise at the campaign, gave India a “leadership role” in Washington’s global strategy across a broad geographic swath. “I am thrilled to salute you, Prime Minister Modi, and the Indian people for all you are accomplishing together,” Trump told the Indian premier last June. “We welcome India’s emergence as a leading global power and stronger strategic and defence partner,” said his national strategy unveiled last month.

Indian-Americans appear to be disproportionately represented in Trump’s nominations compared to other minority groups, said Karthick Ramakrishnan, a political science professor at the University of California, Riverside, who researches Asian Americans’ civic participation.

But Ramakrishnan suggests that the appointments don’t seem to be a conscious attempt on the White House’s part to diversify its ranks. Rather, the choices appear to be about filling vacancies with experienced and highly connected individuals who are ideologically aligned with the Trump administration ― some of whom just happen to be of Indian descent.

“As far as we can tell, the Trump administration is not taking race or ethnicity into account much, if at all, in terms of appointments, unlike the Obama administration, which was trying to have as diverse set of appointments as possible,” Ramakrishnan said. “I think it’s almost incidental that these people happen to be Indian-American. The fact that they’re Indian-American [doesn’t appear] to make any difference over and beyond what their prior background or political orientation is.”

Trump appointed Ajit Pai as the Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission, a position with a vast portfolio overseeing of the Internet, mobile phones, airwaves, broadcast and communications. Raj Shah serves as his deputy adviser and principal deputy press secretary. Uttam Dhillon, another deputy adviser, is also his deputy counsel.

Seema Verma serves as the administrator of the health insurance programs for seniors and the poor. Trump also tapped Vishal J. Amin, a senior counsel on the House Judiciary Committee, as the White House’s new intellectual property enforcement coordinator, and Neil Chatterjee, an energy adviser for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, as a member of the federal energy regulatory commission. Krishna R. Urs, a career member of the Foreign Service, was nominated to be the ambassador to Peru.

These prominent Indian-Americans are now helping the Trump White House push its conservative agenda on everything from repealing the Affordable Care Act to overhauling government regulations and scrapping net neutrality rules.

While Ajit Pai has been in the news for his controversial move to do away with net neutrality, as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Verma hasemerged as a key player in Republicans’ controversial quest to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. She is a health policy expert from Indiana who crafted an alternative to Medicaid in her state that won the approval of conservatives.

“I think Indian-Americans and certainly the Indian immigrant press certainly takes notice when people get appointed, and there’s a little bit of ethnic pride knowing there are Indian-Americans in powerful positions, regardless of the administration,” Ramakrishnan said. “But I don’t think Trump is making inroads with the Indian-American community based on the appointments he has made. Policies like the immigration ban, anti-immigrant rhetoric, the Affordable Care Act, are issues that Indian Americans care about. [Trump’s positions] are opposed to the way the vast majority of Indian-Americans stand.”

MASCONN contributes to Cyclone OCKHI Relief Fund

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

(Trumbull, CT: January 31st, 2018): Joining in the many efforts to support the victims and their families of Cyclone OCKHI in the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, MAsCONN, the premier organization representing the Malayalees in the state of Connecticut organized a fund raiser and offered financial assistance to the families of those whose lives have been devastated after the Cyclone Ockhi in November last year.

Several members of the MASCONN Board of Directors were part of the team that donated $1,000 towards the OCKHI relief Fun on January 27th to Ajay Ghosh, representing Enthurai, which was organizing a campaign across North America towards the education of the children whose parents lost their lives due to Cyclone Ockhi.

Wilson Pottackal, President of MASCON thanked the MASCONN-Kids Club, whose members had initiated a fund -raiser with raffles to collect money for the Cyclone OCKHI Relief Fund to support the victims and their families in the southern district, Kanyakumary in Tamil Nadu, India.

Ockhi, a severe cyclone that passed through the Arabian peninsula in Kanyakumari district and southern Kerala in India on November 29th and 30th, 2017, had shattered several traditional fishing villages and causing loss of lives and properties in the coastal region with high devastating intensity.

According to officials and rescue workers/teams who are engaged in emergency relief work in these marginalized and poor villages, an estimated number of more than 6,030 fishermen were directly affected by the cyclone. Among them, 70 fishermen in Kerala and 108 men in Kanyakumari district, who had gone to deep sea fishing in traditional and mechanized small boats, have not returned home even after over two months, deeming them to have lost their lives to the furious cyclone.

The devastation of destruction caused to fishing vessels and gear along with the historically high loss of life and property, has left thousands of fishermen and their families in these villages, whose only livelihood has been fishing for centuries, into starvation. And, many of these families, having lost their only bread-winner, have been left to face starvation, in addition to having to grieve for their beloved ones to mother sea.

Enthurai, an IRS recognized non-profit group, consisting of members in the US, but hailing from some of these coastal villages, are appealing to  help them help these families, who have lost their dear ones, and most often, the only bread winner of the family, to cyclone Ockhi.

Your generous contributions will go a long way in bringing food to the table of these families who are on the verge of starvation after losing their dear ones in the cyclone in the ocean. Your contributions will be 100% used to help and support the families of the victims in the coastal fishing villages in southern India.

“MASCONN an offshoot of the natural growth of the Indian-American especially Malayalee Community in the southern Connecticut region,” said, in his welcome address. Declaring that the 10th year of the formation of the Association has many good surprises for the members, Wilson stated, “In a very short period of 10 years, we have grown by leaps and bounds and we strive to meet the growing needs of our community.” He pointed to the many new initiatives the organization has spearheaded successfully in the past decade.

MASCONN is a non-political, non-religious forum to strengthen Malayalee culture and tradition and to give special emphasis to the development of the new generation of expatriate Malayalees. For the younger generation, MASCONN passes on the cultural heritage, tradition, the rarely cherished legacy and values while they are integrating into the American culture. For more information on MASCONN, please do visit. www.masconn.org

Amidst controversies, a new H-1B reform bill seeks to expand annual quota

Ajay GhoshTravel 0

While the debate on hiring foreign workers and granting them a way to citizenship, a new Bill has been introduced in the US Senate that increases the annual quota of H-1B visas from 65,000 to 85,000. The Bill, the Immigration Innovation Act, by the Republican Senators Orrin Hatch and Jeff Flake introduced legislation on H-1B, which is a common work visa granted to high-skilled foreigners to work at companies in the U.S.

The Visa is valid for three years, and can be renewed for another three years. In addition, the legislation would also provide work authorization for spouses and children of H-1B visa holders. But the program is particularly near and dear to the tech community with many engineers vying for one of the program’s 65,000 visas each year. Demand often exceeds the supply — in which case, a lottery system is activated.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which the Trump administration wants to terminate, awards up to 50,000 individuals per year a visa for a green card, which allows permanent residency and is a path to US citizenship. Trump has been against diversity visa as he believes that this does not attract the best and the brightest to the US.

The bill proposes to add a “market-based escalator” so the supply can better support demand. That means granting up to 110,000 additional visas (a total of 195,000), and prioritizing visas for those with master’s degrees, foreign Ph.D.’s or U.S. STEM bachelor degrees.

The bill, originally introduced in the Senate in January 2015, seeks to placate the Trump administration’s concerns. For example, by specifying that employers may not use the visa with intent to substitute an American worker. Moreover, it seeks to remove per country limits for green cards sponsored by employers, which contributes to a backlog for citizens from countries like India and China. The bill also proposes lifting the existing cap of 20,000 additional H-1B visas reserved for those with master’s degrees if their employers agree to sponsor their green cards.

“Senator Hatch believes that in the current political environment this effort represents an ideal step in bringing Republicans and Democrats together to address flaws in our broken immigration system,” said Senator Hatch’s spokesman Matt Whitlock in a statement. Hatch announced earlier this month that he won’t seek re-election.

US President Donald Trump has proposed to end the visa lottery system in favour of reducing backlogs of highly-skilled workers, a plan which may benefit thousands of Indian IT professionals who are currently having several decades of waiting period to get their Green Cards. If passed by the Congress and signed into law, such a move is expected to significantly reduce the green card backlogs for highly skilled immigrants from India.

Diversity visas are allocated geographically. Nationals of countries from which 50,000 or fewer immigrants came to the US over the previous five years combined are eligible for diversity visas. Immigrants from any one country may not receive more than seven per cent of diversity visas issued annually.

Given that there are hundreds and thousands of Indian IT professionals waiting in queue to get their green cards because of the current country quota, the relocation of diversity visa numbers to green cards is expected to hugely benefit them.

Immigrants from 18 countries are not eligible for diversity visa because they sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US over the previous five years combined. The countries are Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, the UK and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is potentially out to revoke the Obama-era H4 EAD rule, which extended unrestricted employment eligibility to certain H-4 visa holders, that is, dependant spouses of H-1B holders seeking a lawful permanent resident status. This could happen as early as next month. If acted upon, it is unclear if this would revoke the already issued H-4 EADs — but, in all likelihood, may prevent renewals in future.

The Information Technology Industry Council, a major lobbying group for the tech industry, led a group of 10 IT organizations which sent a letter Jan. 17 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director Lee Francis Cissna supporting the continuation of work authorization for H-4 visa holders.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Dec. 15 that it is proposing a rule that would end work authorization for H-4 visa holders, stripping more than 100,000 people – largely women from India – of their ability to legally work in the U.S. The DHS proposal has caused panic in the Indian American community, as H-4 visa holders with employment authorization could lose their ability to work as early as this summer.

There has been an ongoing campaign targeting US Senators and the public at large to save the H-4 EAD and understand the plight of those who would be affected. “Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorization” is how directly the US Department of Homeland Security worded its intent in its Fall 2017 regulatory agenda, sounding alarm bells in the homes of several US-based Indian professionals.

ITIC noted that in 2016 there were approximately 3.3 million STEM-related job openings posted online, but U.S. universities graduated 568,000 students with STEM degrees that year. “To meet this job demand, it is vital that we not only provide STEM education and training to more U.S. children, workers, and college students, but that we also recruit the top talent from U.S. universities and from abroad. The H-4 rule is instrumental in allowing U.S. employers to fill these critical positions with qualified professionals,” stated ITI.

The letter was co-signed by Fwd.us, an immigrant rights organization founded by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and supported by several leading IT companies. The National Association of Manufacturers, the Semiconductor Industry Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce were also signatories, along with five other industry lobbying groups.

Indian Americans who rule the tech world in USA

Ajay GhoshBusiness 0

In the early 20th century just a few hundred people emigrated from India to America each year and there were only about 5,000 folk of Indian heritage living in the United States. Today Indian-born Americans number 2m and they are probably the most successful minority group in the country. Compared with all other big foreign-born groups, they are younger, richer and more likely to be married and supremely well educated. On the west coast they are a mighty force in Silicon Valley; well-off Indians cluster around New York, too.

Like all immigrant groups, Indians have found niches in America’s vast economy. Half of all motels are owned by Indians, mainly Gujaratis. Punjabis dominate the franchises for 7-Eleven stores and Subway sandwiches in Los Angeles. The surge in Indians moving to America is also intimately linked to the rise of the technology industry. In the 1980s India loosened its rules on private colleges, leading to a large expansion in the pool of engineering and science graduates. Fear of the “Y2K” bug in the late 1990s served as a catalyst for them to engage with the global economy, with armies of Indian engineers working remotely from the subcontinent, or travelling to America on workers’ visas, to make sure computers did not fail at the stroke of midnight on December 31st 1999.

Today a quarter or more of the Indian-born workforce is employed in the tech industry. In Silicon Valley neighbourhoods such as Fremont and Cupertino, people of Indian origin make up a fifth of the population. Some 10-20% of all tech start-ups have Indian founders; Indians have ascended to the heights of the biggest firms, too.

Indians for decades have been playing an important role in global technology landscape. Indian IT pros have been an important cog in the machinery running technologly behemoths across the world. In fact, two of the world’s biggest technology companies — Google and Microsoft — are led by Indian-origin CEOs. Other than these two, there are many others who have made an indelible mark on the world of technology.

Satya Nadella. After a 22-year stint with Microsoft, Nadella was appointed as the chief executive officer of the company in February 2014. He previously held the position of executive vice president of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group.

India-born Sundar Pichai was named as Google CEO on August 10, 2015. The 44-year-old head of Google was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and pursued education at IIT Kharagpur (B Tech), Stanford (MS) and Wharton (MBA); at Wharton, he was named a Siebel Scholar and Palmer Scholar.

Rajeev Suri joined Nokia in 1995 and held various positions before being appointed as president and CEO in April 2014. Suri’s ascedancy to Nokia CEO’s position came after Microsoft acquired Nokia’s mobile phone business. Previously, he was the head of the services, Nokia Siemens Networks 2007-2009.

Born in Hyderabad, Shantanu Narayen joined Adobe in 1998 as the senior vice president of worldwide product research and became the COO in 2005 and CEO in 2007. He holds a Bachelor in Science from Osmania University, an MBA from University of California, Berkley, and an MS from Bowling Green State University.

Sanjay Jha, CEO, Global Foundries, took over as CEO of Global Foundries, a semiconductor foundry that produces chips for giants like AMD, Broadcom, Qualcomm, and STMicroelectronics, in January 2014; before that he has served as the CEO of Motorola Mobility and COO of Qualcomm. He joined Motorola as co-CEO in 2008, while serving simultaneously as CEO of Motorola’s Mobile Devices Business.

George Kurian became the CEO and president of storage and data management company NetApp in June 2015, after serving as its executive vice president of product operations for nearly two years. Prior to joining NetApp, George was vice president and general manager of the Application Networking and Switching Technology Group at Cisco Systems. His diverse background also includes the role of vice president at Akamai Technologies,

Among the youngest CEOs in the software services sector, Francisco D’Souza, CEO, Cognizant, is a member of the company’s board of directors. D’Souza joined Cognizant as a co-founder in 1994 and went on to become its CEO in the year 2007. During his tenure as CEO, Cognizant’s employee base has grown from 55,000 to over 230,000.

Dinesh Paliwal is the president and CEO of Harman International, a premium audio gear brand that owns the likes of JBL, Becker, dbx, among others. Born in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Paliwal holds a BE from IIT Roorkee, and MS and MBA from Miami University.

Ashok Vemuri is the CEO, Conduent Inc, the Xerox’s sibling business services unit that spun off into a separate company recently. In June 2016, the 110-year-old document technology company Xerox named former iGate CEO Ashok Vemuri as the new CEO of its back-office outsourcing company. A former Infosys veteran, Vemuri became CEO of Xerox’s business process outsourcing.

Indians, especially in Silicon Valley, are growing in prominence, influence, and sheer population. The promotion of Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, and Nikesh Arora are just a few more recent examples. The fact is that Silicon Valley is the epicenter of the technology companies and people that run the world, and it just so happens that Indians have flocked to it with great success. And they’ve done this with much smaller numbers than most other ethnic groups in the United States have.

Indians have always been rising in America. As James Crabtree of Financial Times suggests, “More than any other group of outsiders, it was the Indians who figured out that, to make it in startup land, it helps to have a social network of your own.”

AUA’s Drs. Bilal Khan, Pedro Torres to lead medical team to help Hurricane victims at Vieques, an island off the Eastern Puerto Rican coast

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0
(New York, NY: January 24, 2018) More than three months have passed since Hurricane Maria’s 155-mph winds plowed through Puerto Rico leaving the island severely crippled and desperate for help. The storm — which knocked out all power and most cell phone service — was the worst disaster to ever hit the Caribbean island, home to 3.4 million American citizens.
The island is slowly returning to normalcy with electricity and running water with basic medical needs being provided by many government and not-for-profit agencies. This outreach has been described by FEMA as the “largest federal response to a disaster” in American history. Still, some of the far islands off the Puerto Rican Coast are still reeling from Hurricane Maria,
A team of medical professionals from the American University of Antigua are now planning a medical camp at Vieques, an island off the Eastern Puerto Rican coast from February 9th through the 11th. “Pedro and I are very excited to lead this effort which is really driven by the same elements that made us choose this profession – empathy and a sense of global responsibility to those in need,” says Dr. Bilal Khan, a critical care and emergency physician and one of the two AUA graduates spearheading this effort, along with Dr. Pedro Torres. “Since Vieques is an Island, it has been difficult to access, which is why they are still suffering,” Dr. Khan explained.
Dr. Khan, of South Asian origin, now living in New York, had worked as an EMT and then went on to AUA 2007-2011. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine in NJ, Pulmonary Medicine at Norwalk Hospital and has just completed Critical Care Fellowship at Yale.
Dr. Khan’s former classmate, Dr. Torres, a fellow critical care and emergency physician whose family immigrated from Puerto Rico, says, “As former EMTs /Paramedics and now, we have been trained to work in these high-volume disaster situations. Our years of training and sharpening our tools give us a passion and hope to apply them to a greater purpose – not simply “another millennial supporting a cause.”
“Our mission on this trip is to serve the area of Vieques which is an island off the Eastern PR coast.  This area of PR, due to its remote location, had been hard to reach. Consequently, the people have seen little relief.  We expect 2,000 families, and plan to serve approximately 8,000 people,” says Dr. Khan, for whom this will be the first time leading a large-scale medical relief effort.
The team, consisting of medical and non-medical personnel, mostly AUA Alumni, plans to charter a boat to take them along with the supplies to the island, Vieques. The team has arranged with a local not-for profit organization, A la Mano Por Puerto Rico, in coordinating the logistics of the camp.
“The biggest obstacle is funding. We are in the process of finalizing the team and obtaining funds for the supplies, including medications, and other medical equipment,” says Dr. Khan.  “As much we prepare, we can’t know exactly what to expect.” Each team member who volunteers for the mission will be paying their own flight and food, while the organizers are trying to pay for medical supplies and the chartered boat.
Dr. Khan and Dr. Torres studied at Stony Brook in NY, but didn’t think to collaborate until later. It was in 2008, when Bilal, then a second-year medical student at AUA, had to take his friend to the ER met Pedro, the on-call paramedic.  They both re-connected . Pedro expressed an interest in medical school, “Bilal couldn’t have been more supportive.” Dr. Torres says.
“I gave him information about AUA and he ran with it.  He hasn’t stopped running yet— as he’s currently completing his Emergency Physician training in PR and will then go on to a Critical Care fellowship,” says Dr. Khan. Their close relationship throughout the past decade has now resulted in a joint medical camp that is expected to serve the most affected people in this Island, Vieques. “We are fortunate to have met as young college freshman and to develop a bond that is allowing us to impact an area of the world in need. We hope this will be the first of many missions.”

Modi to showcase fast growing Indian economy at World Economic Forum

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Indians Are Worse Off Under Modi; Gallup Poll

“At Davos, I look forward to sharing my vision for India’s future engagement with the international community,” Modi Tweets ahead of visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Davos, Switzerland to address global business and political leaders, as India passes France and the U.K. to become the world’s fifth-largest economy, underscoring the South Asian nation’s drive for recognition as a great power. Some economists calculate that India’s gross domestic product jumped into the top five last quarter as it continued to outgrow every country in Europe—and for that matter most of the rest of the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum meet in Davos on Monday, January 22nd, 2018.

Over 3,000 world leaders from business, politics, art, academia and civil society will attend the 48th World Economic Forum annual meeting over the next five days in the small ski resort town on snow-covered Alps mountains.

This week Modi joins other world leaders in setting the vision and the agenda for the global economy.  That’s a great honor for India and Modi. But before setting the agenda for the world economy, he must set the agenda at home.

PM Modi is expected to highlight the spirit and aspirations of a young, innovative and new India. PM Modi’s visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum or WEF will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister since the earlier one by Deve Gowda in 1997. Typically, India sends its finance minister accompanied by top bureaucrats with power point presentations to outline country’s economic policy vision. This year Narendra Modi, unsurprisingly, wanted to deviate from the trend. The PM is leading India’s largest-ever delegation (129) and the fourth largest among all countries to Davos.

Narendra Modi’s address to leaders from across the world, when India is putting up a grand show and ‘welcome reception’ which will see, among other things, several cultural performances and a ballet performance. India is showcasing its diversity from culture and art to lifestyle and food. Attendees are in for a treat of the flavors of India with the country’s exquisite Indian cuisine. There are also q  live Yoga session which demonstrates India’s ancient Yoga heritage.

Prime Minister Modi delivers the keynote speech at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to pitch India as a growth engine for the global economy. He will also have a bilateral meeting with Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation. The theme for this year’s World Economic Forum is “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.”

Signalling India’s engagement with the rest of the world in a multi-dimensional way, the snow-resort is decked up to attract investors to India.Even as the Indian delegation is arriving,the Indian Premier has every reason to smile in the glow of the International Monetary Fund’s projection that India could emerge as the fastest-growing country in the world in 2018 at 7.4 per cent, leaving China behind at 6.6 per cent.

In its global growth prospects survey, released on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to a global audience here, the IMF said that India could grow at 7.8% in 2019. For the Indian delegation, the numbers came as an endorsement of the assessment that India is on track to shake off the disruptive effects of the note ban in 2016 and the glitches in implementation of the GST last year.

The numbers are expected to bolster the case of the government, which is seeking to engage further with global investors to showcase the country’s investment potential and ease of doing business. They also follow the recent improvement in India’s rankings, up to 100 on the pecking order, by the World Bank.

India Ranks Below China, Pakistan On WEF Inclusive Development Index

India was today ranked at the 62nd place among emerging economies on an Inclusive Development Index, much below China’s 26th position and Pakistan’s 47th. Norway remains the world’s most inclusive advanced economy, while Lithuania again tops the list of emerging economies, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said while releasing the yearly index here before the start of its annual meeting, to be attended by several world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

On 1st anniversary, polls show Trump as ‘ least popular’ president in modern history

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US President Donald Trump ended his first year in office more unpopular than any President in modern history, various polls have said.   Among many other polls, NBC and the Wall Street Journal released data last week show that Trump’s approval rating was 39 percent in their poll, lower than the figure at the end of Barack Obama’s first year (50 percent), George W. Bush’s (82 percent, thanks to 9/11) and Bill Clinton’s (60 percent). This was the lowest figure the poll has found for a modern President completing one year in office, according to NBC News.

Figures from Gallup’s historic polling show something similar. The most recent figure for Trump has his approval at 39 percent, same as the NBC-Journal poll. That’s eight points lower than Ronald Reagan or Clinton, who were each at 47 percent around the time of their first anniversaries as president.

Trump’s approval ratings have maintained a steady low across different polls during his first year in office. This, despite the booming economy — which, Gallup noted last week, may be because Americans still give Obama more credit for how the economy is doing.

Though Trump’s overall grade was low, his marks improved on a few specific topics. According to a Politico/Morning Consult poll, 42 percent of voters gave him an “A” or “B” on both jobs and the economy. Trump split the vote on fighting terrorism, with 39 percent saying he deserved an “A” or “B” and another 39 percent giving him a “D” or “F.” The rest, 14 percent, graded him a “C.”

Trump’s fewest positive marks came on his campaign promise to “drain the swamp.” Just 22 percent gave him an “A” or “B” there, while 42 percent gave him a “D” or “F.” His lowest grades were or climate change (49 percent “Ds” or “Fs”).

Fifty-seven per cent of respondents to the NBC/WSJ poll said they disapprove of Trump, including 51 per cent who said they “strongly disapprove.” According to the poll, 46 per cent of men approve of Trump while just 33 per cent of women responded the same.

A new Economist/YouGov poll that was also released last week showed every adult member of the Trump clan with “underwater favorability” ratings. However, there was one exception: First Lady Melania Trump.

Trump remains a deeply politically polarizing figure. He continues to enjoy support from Republicans—72 percent gave him an “A” or “B.” Just 10 percent of Republicans gave Trump a “D” or “F”, while 79 percent of Democrats did. Only 8 percent of Democrats gave Trump high marks. Trump didn’t fare much better with Independent voters: about 27 percent said he deserved an “A” or “B” and 45 percent gave Trump a “D” or “F.”

Trump’s unpopularity has been one of the factors cited for predictions that the Republicans could face a bloodbath in congressional elections this November. Another factor that plays a role in those predictions are the numbers from the so-called generic ballot question: Who will you vote for in your local House race, the Democrat or Republican?

But there’s an important caveat for any Democrats popping champagne bottles at Trump’s unpopularity. Over the past month or so, his numbers — and the GOP’s — have improved. In mid-December, the Democratic advantage on that question hit a remarkable 13 points in the RealClearPolitics average. But since then, the gap has narrowed. In its most recent iteration, the average shows only a 9.1-point gap.

He is the only US President since Harry Truman to have a negative net approval rating after 12 months in the White House – some 24 points below Barack Obama at the same time in his presidency.

The year since Donald Trump’s inauguration has been packed with controversy and intrigue – during which there have been persistent allegations over Russian connections. He has fired the head of the FBI, launched tirades against the media, failed to push through healthcare reform and has escalated his rhetoric surrounding North Korea. All of this led to a slump in approval ratings, with Trump achieving a majority disapproval rating in a record of just eight days since his inauguration. And, it stayed the same for the rest of his first year in office.

Deep Sran to run for Congress in Virginia with Focus on Education

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

“I’m Deep. I’m a teacher, school founder, technology entrepreneur, lawyer, and child of immigrants from India.”

A teacher, school founder, technology entrepreneur, lawyer, and child of immigrants from India, Deep Sran has declared his intention to run for  the US Congress in Virginia’s 10th District. “I’m running for Congress because I want to work to restore the promise of a better future for all Americans. I know that’s a big goal, but I also know it is within reach if we work together with open minds and better ideas,” he said in a statement. “I’ll focus on finding the best ways to fulfill this promise through education, better democratic processes, and a commitment to confronting and solving problems, rather than ignoring them or limiting myself to a narrow set of tired, ideologically-driven ideas.”

On his achievements and the reason for running for a political office, the Democrat of Indian origin says, “I design and implement new ideas to make education work better, in a school I founded and at a technology company I co-founded. I’m leaving my life’s work to run for Congress in the 10th Congressional District in Virginia—where I have lived since 2004—because Congress no longer works for the people. People like you and me can change this.”

Deep’s parents emigrated from India over 50 years ago. His father was a refugee during India’s partition. Both parents arrived in an America that was a land of opportunity for many Americans and new immigrants, yet a place of racial division and injustice for those still excluded from the American Dream. Born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, Deep often felt like an outsider growing up — and this experience made all the difference in his understanding of the potential and promise of America. He was able to see the differences and common ground between cultures and faiths, and he learned to avoid the many ways in which people can divide ourselves from one another. More than anything, he learned why America is the greatest nation on the planet, and must be a model for the world.

Deep has been an educator his entire adult life, and his experience has shown him that students thrive when teachers have the power to decide what happens in the classroom. In a moment when politicians, corporations, and technological developments are stripping teachers of their autonomy, Deep founded and runs a school, Loudoun School for the Gifted, based on the premise that the adults who know their subjects and their students best should lead the way. By showing what is possible in his private school, Deep hopes to build the case for greater teacher autonomy where it is regularly under attack: in our public schools.

Deep holds a degree in political science from University of Maryland and attended law school at Georgetown University. He was previously a corporate attorney for large firms in Baltimore and Chicago. He left private legal practice to study how children learn and to work on a Ph.D. in Human Development at University of Maryland. Deep was also recently a columnist for Loudoun Now, where he shared his thoughts on education and democracy.

Shri Thanedar for governor of Michigan

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Indian American Democrat Shri Thanedar, has declared his candidacy to run for governor in the state of Michigan. “My story is one of grit and determination, of the heights of success and the lessons of failure, of unwavering optimism in the face of harsh adversity,” says the young the scientist, entrepreneur, and now Democratic candidate for Governor of Michigan..

On his mission and why he wants to run to be the governor, Thanedar says, “At critical points in my life, Michigan gave me tremendous opportunities to pursue my dreams. Now I want to give back by serving as governor, using my real-world experience to build a stronger Michigan that puts the people back in power after years of special interest rule.”

Thanedar is mostly self-funding his campaign and has already put $6 million from his own pocket into the election. According to the Detroit Free Press, Thanedar has purchased about $114,000 worth of 30-second commercials before, during and after the Super Bowl, which will be aired live on Feb. 4 on NBC-affiliated stations. “I have very low name ID. I’ve been to every corner of the state, but that doesn’t reach as many people as I want to reach,” Thanedar told the Detroit Free Press.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Thanedar seems to have followed into the current governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder’s footsteps, who also was a businessman from Ann Arbor. Many believe that Thanedar copied Snyder’s strategy. However, Thanedar disagrees.

“I’m a different kind of businessman than Gov. Snyder. I look at the campaign as an entrepreneurial venture. I’m not copying or borrowing anything from anyone else’s book,” he told the Detroit Free Press. According to the Detroit Free Press, Thanedar moved to Michigan in 2010 and is a retired businessman from Ann Arbor.

The young Indian American grew up in Belgaum, India, in a poor family with five siblings. When his father was forced to retire from his government job at the age of 55, his family was faced with severe economic hardship, Thanedar says on his webportal.

“I worked odd jobs to help them out while still in high school and later in college. Watching my mother Inni – a strong woman raising six children on a meager income – I learned frugality, pragmatism, and above all, fearlessness. Shouldering major family responsibilities at the age of 14 taught me the importance of hard work and saving for the future,” he adds.

Thabedar went to college in India, and took a job with the Bhabha Atomic Research Center. But after several run-ins with red tape and authoritarianism, he decided to explore opportunities in the United States.

He came to the US and earned his doctorate in polymer chemistry, then became a post-doctoral scholar at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He became an American citizen in 1988, “fulfilling a lifelong dream.”

In 1990 he joined a small chemical services company in St. Louis called Chemir, and when Chemir’s owner announced her intention to retire, Thabedar obtained a bank loan to purchase the three-person company. Under his able leadership, Chemir grew from a tiny lab to 400 employees with more than $60 million in revenue.

Like so many Michiganders, Thanedar and his company took a hard punch from the great recession. Like many Michigan businesses, his firm suffered a severe downturn. “My business was taken by the bank and, like many Michigan homes, my dream home was foreclosed. In the end, every cent was paid back, but I had to start over,” Thanedar says with a sense of pride and  determination.

“In 2010, we packed up a truck and returned to Michigan. At the age of 55, I restarted my business from scratch in Ann Arbor, creating nearly 50 high-paying jobs. In 2016, I sold my business, gave my staff $1.5 million in holiday bonuses, and decided to devote the rest of my life to public service.”

Having gone through severe hardships in life, Thanedar says, “All Michiganders deserve an equal shot at success, but for far too long our leaders have favored the wealthy over the middle class. I am the only candidate in this race who knows what it’s like to go hungry. I am the only candidate who has created a single job. And I know what role our government can serve in helping people and small businesses get on a path to financial stability. I’m going to make Michigan’s government work for everyone again – not just the people at the top.

“That’s why I have named our campaign “Shri for We.” I will change the status quo in Lansing, and put “we, the people” back in charge of our government,” Thanedar adds. If elected, the Indian American leader says, he will work for policies that lift up working families through access to quality education and job training, allowing them to get good paying jobs that provide a comfortable life and a secure retirement. “It’s time to level the playing field so that every Michigander has an opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

MASCONN ushers in New Year showcasing budding talents

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(Trumbull, CT: January 15th, 2018):  The Indian American community in the state of Connecticut ushered in the New Year, 2018, with a grand cultural program, showcasing the budding young talents of Indian American kids from across the state, at the annual New Year and Christmas celebrations, organized by the Malayalee Association of Southern Connecticut (MASCONN) on Saturday, January 13th, at Madison Middle School, Trumbull, CT.

It may have been a cold night outside but inside of the venue was buzzing with frenzy, warmth and fellowship for the families who had come from across the state to participate at the annual event. The more than three-hours long cultural extravaganza, mostly by children and youth was in many ways “reliving the culture and traditions” and a is way of “cherishing the past with a view to pass it on to the future generation.” Bollywood, classical, folk dances with music from the yesteryears to the present, along with Christmas carols, culminating with a grand buffet dinner were the highlights of the celebrations.

The celebration of Christmas and New Year with traditional and modern Indian cultural events provided the hundreds of participants with a perfect opportunity to encourage the new generation of children of Indian origin to witness, learn and appreciate these rich traditions, even while it offered the first generation of Indian American children and youth to stay connected and cherish the rich cultural heritage they hold so dear to them while serving as a way of showcasing these traditions to the larger American community.

“MASCONN an offshoot of the natural growth of the Indian-American especially Malayalee Community in the southern Connecticut region,” said Wilson Pottackal, President of MASCON, in his welcome address. Declaring that the 10th year of the formation of the Association has many good surprises for the members, Wilson stated, “In a very short period of 10 years, we have grown by leaps and bounds and we strive to meet the growing needs of our community.” He pointed to the many new initiatives the organization has spearheaded successfully in the past decade. Later on, he introduced the new teams of Executive Council and Board of Directors of MASCONN for the next two years to the audience.

Wilson referred to the MASCONN-Kids Club which has recently been launched, and urged the youth and children to become members of it. He thanked the Kids Club members who had initiated a fund -raiser with raffles to collect money for the Cyclone OCKHI Relief Fund to support the victims and their families in the southern district, Kanyakumary in Tamil Nadu, India.

Sudhi Balan, an organizer of the event, said, “We thank every performer, their parents, and their choreographers for your effort and commitment. Thank you for your cooperation with everything. We really appreciate everyone for being on time, being on the ball and ready to show your best. You did an excellent job by making your performance within the allotted time. Because of you, we were able to get through the programs as planned. You keep raising the bar in what you do and we want to make this even better – the best show in Southern CT.”

Indian Americans continue to come in large numbers and settle down in the state of Connecticut particularly in towns with reputations for excellent schools. The latest figures from the U.S. Census show 37,545 people of Indian origin living in the state, an increase of about 14,000 from 2000. In the last five years since the last census, there has been a very significant influx of Indian Americans in the Constitution state. The reasons to move here, Indian Americans say, remain education and opportunity.

 

MASCONN is a non-political, non-religious forum to strengthen Malayalee culture and tradition and to give special emphasis to the development of the new generation of expatriate Malayalees. For the younger generation, MASCONN passes on the cultural heritage, tradition, the rarely cherished legacy and values while they are integrating into the American culture. For more information on MASCONN, please do visit. www.masconn.org

Is Nikki Haley considering a Presidential run

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Profiles 0

Over the past several months, there have been a number of articles in the national press, including The New York Times and Newsweek, speculating whether former South Carolina Governor and the current US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley might consider a presidential run in 2020. Some say her efforts and clear leadership as governor and ambassador to the United Nations have put her in a strong position to possibly become this nation’s first female president.

“Nikki Haley may end up as our first female president,” Fox News’ strategic analyst Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters recently commended current U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Haley is definitely solidifying her foreign-policy resume and is earning a reputation as a tough ambassador. Newsweek even pointed out that Haley has had a higher profile than even Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, especially earlier in the administration.

Also, the recently-released book penned by Michael Wolff, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” which was released on January 5th,  claims that Nikki Haley is considering a presidential run. The Indian American aspiring leader and ambassador had no response publicly to the book.

Haley, in her time since taking over her new post, to which she was appointed by Trump, has emerged as a close confident of Trump and has been strongly pushing for Trump’s foreign policy agenda at the United Nations, attracting frequent praise from Trump himself.

However, the book portrays Haley in somewhat of a negative light saying that she has presidential ambitions and does not have a good view of Trump. “By October, however, many on the president’s staff took particular notice of one of the few remaining Trump opportunists: Nikki Haley, the U.N. ambassador,” the book said.

“I work with the president and speak with him multiple times a week; this is a man, he didn’t become the president by accident,” Haley was quoted to have said. “We need to be realistic at the fact that every person, regardless of race, religion, or party, who loves the country, should support this president. It’s that important.”

Entering American politics in 2004, Ambassador Haley assumed office as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 87th district and was elected chair of freshman caucus and majority whip in the South Carolina General Assembly. She was successfully re-elected in 2006 and 2008.

Being a Republican, Ambassador Haley holds on to the fiscally conservative viewpoint on taxation, which advocates for lower taxes and deregulation of the economy. Being a daughter of Sikh immigrants, she believes immigration laws should be enforced thereby ensuring that immigrants follow legal procedures, which led her to support legislative reforms to address issues of illegal immigration. As a pro-life advocate, she voted for the Penalties for Harming an Unborn Child/Fetus law in 2006 and supported the Pre-Abortion Ultrasound law in 2007.

Ambassador Haley was elected governor of South Carolina in 2010; her election made her the second Indian-American, the first woman and youngest person in U.S. history to serve as governor in the United States. Haley said, “it was a shock to the people of South Carolina. One, I was the first minority [elected in South Carolina]. Two, I was the youngest governor in the country. And three, oh my God she’s a girl.”

In June 2015 her empathetic response to the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina states grounds after the Charleston Massacre, garnered her praise during her governorship. “What I realized now more than ever is people were driving by and felt hurt and pain. No one should feel pain,” said Haley.

Though her governorship of South Carolina is surely commendable, she has flourished in her new role as U.S. Ambassador to the UN, despite criticisms of her lack of experience in foreign relations and diplomacy. In November 2016, president-elect Donald Trump recommended the former governor as a “proven dealmaker,” adding that “we look forward to making plenty of deals and she will be a great leader representing us on the world stage.”

Even though Ambassador Haley supports President Trump today, she still holds true to her own beliefs. For example, by encouraging women everywhere to come forward with their traumatic, sexual harassment experiences. “I know he was elected, but women should always feel comfortable coming forward and we should all be willing to listen to them.”

A popular twice-elected governor of South Carolina, she’s an experienced GOP politician in an administration packed with outsiders. As the daughter of Indian immigrants, she stands out in an administration run chiefly by white men. Telegenic and poised, she has a knack for the limelight that stands in sharp contrast to the administration’s tendencies toward the rumpled (former press secretary Sean Spicer) or reclusive (Tillerson).

But in her first seven months at the helm of the US mission to the UN, Haley’s differences have gone far beyond optics. Trump campaigned on a foreign policy platform of “America first” — the idea that the US should avoid getting involved in unnecessary conflicts overseas and focus narrowly on national security interests over promotion of democracy and human rights abroad.

But Haley has pursued the opposite course. From her stern criticism of Moscow to her championing of human rights to her calls for Syrian regime change, she’s routinely diverged from, or outright contradicted, Trump’s stance on the biggest foreign policy issues of the day.

As Politico first reported, the Democratic National Committee is already digging into the pasts of Haley, Vice President Mike Pence, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse – Republicans at the center of Washington speculation as presidential contenders if Trump isn’t on the ballot for some reason in 2020.

Haley told CNN’s Jamie Gangel, she “can’t imagine running for the White House.” During our interview, she deflected questions about her future in or out of the Trump administration and said she’s concentrating on “making the American people proud” in her current job.

AAPI’s historic Global Healthcare Summit Concludes in Kolkata with VP Venkaiah Naidu urging Doctors to Return and Serve India

Ajay GhoshHealth 0
“AAPI must consider collaborating with various governments and other private organizations in establishing a state-of-the-art healthcare facility in each district of the country where affordable treatment is dispensed,” Naidu tells AAPI Delegates in Kolkata
(Kolkata, India: January 1st, 2018) The 11th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), USA concluded here at the historic City of Joy, Kolkata in West Bengal, India on December 30th at the famous JW Marriott with India’s Vice President Venkaiah Naidu urging Physicians of Indian Origin to return to India and rededicate their lives for the wellbeing of their motherland, India, as all the opportunities are now available here.

“I would be happier if you people can come back to India and do something to help the society. Earlier the opportunity was very less here so people went to different parts of the globe for work. But now everything is available in India,” Naidu said during his valedictory address on the concluding day of the Summit here.  Referring to the issue of brain drain, Naidu said, “I tell our children there are enough facilities in our colleges and IITs.  “Still if you want to go, go learn earn and then return,” he quipped.

“Apart from conducting CMEs, seminars and workshops, AAPI must consider collaborating with various governments and other private organizations in establishing a state-of-the-art healthcare facility in each district of the country where affordable treatment is dispensed,” the Vice President of India told the delegates.
“I am happy to participate in the valedictory session of the 11th Global Health Care Summit-2017, organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI),” Naidu said at valedictory event of the GHS in Kolkata. The Governor of West Bengal, Shri Keshri Nath Tripathi, the Minister for Urban Development, West Bengal, Firhad Hakim and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
In his welcome address, Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI, said, “This GHS has promised to be one with the greatest impact and significant contributions towards harnessing the power of international Indian diaspora to bring the most innovative, efficient, cost effective healthcare solutions to India,” described
According to Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, who had proposed the vote of thanks, the scientific program of GHS 2017 was developed by leading experts with the contributions of a stellar Scientific Advisory Board and International Scientific Committee, while the event featuring plenary sessions, interactive round-tables, clinical practice workshops, and meet the expert sessions.
Dr. Ashok Jain, Chairman of AAPI’s BOD, in his address, summarized some of the achievements of AAPI including the 16 free healthcare clinics, AAPI’s legislative initiatives in the US, and the ongoing collaboration with the government of India and the state governments and several NGOs in helping healthcare efficient and cost effective.
The Vice President praised AAPI and its noble “mission for India is to play an important role in making quality healthcare accessible and affordable to all people of India. It is indeed a laudable objective as both accessibility and affordability are the need of the hour, especially in a vast developing country like India with a huge population of middle class and lower middle class.”
He called upon AAPI to “help in promoting the use of telemedicine in remote rural areas which lack access to healthcare facilities. Telemedicine can be used effectively in radiology, cardiology, oncology, dermatology and a few other areas. It will help in reducing unnecessary visits to the hospitals for consultations with specialists and avoiding long distance travel,” Naidu said.
Naidu said that India needs an affordable health care revenue model to meet the challenges of modern day lifestyle. The Governor of West Bengal, Shri Keshri Nath Tripathi, the Minister for Urban Development, West Bengal, Firhad Hakim and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

“We treat a doctor as one who takes care of our lives. Medical profession is a noble profession as doctors are serving society,” the Vice President told the nearly 1,000 delegates who had come from around the world to attend the historical Summit.

The Vice President called on the medical fraternity to put in efforts to bring down the costs of medical devices to make healthcare affordable. He further said that youngsters are increasingly falling prey to ailments due to a variety of factors, including sedentary lifestyle, improper dietary habits and job-related stresses.
“We must all focus more on the service. The medical service in India is the need of the hour. India is still lagging behind in spite of a lot of advancement in medication. The Center is encouraging private sector in the medical healthcare sector. We must also go with the PPP model,” he added.
Claiming that India has the potential to become a medical tourist center in the future, the Vice President said accessibility and affordability of healthcare should be ensured as a large section of the country`s population belongs to the middle and lower-middle class.
The Vice president said that while India is progressing economically and incomes of people are improving, the common man is unable to meet the medical bill whenever there is a medical emergency in the family. With penetration of health insurance remaining quite low and majority of the Indian population preferring to seek medical treatment from private sector in health emergencies by spending from their own pockets, this problem gets compounded, he added.
Naidu urged the Centre and state governments to invest more in the healthcare sector and educate people to get health insurance. Stating that providing proper medical service is the need of the hour, Naidu on Saturday said private sector investments and public-private Partnership (PPP) model should be encouraged more for the betterment of healthcare in the country.
“The central and the state government must together spend more in the health sector. Also people should be educated about getting health insurance. Many people in India are worried about the cost but health insurance is very much required,” Naidu said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was committed in expanding the medical sector and the “PM wants to have medical college in every district and trained medical staff in all these facilities”. Observing India has made great medical advancements in recent times, the Vice-President said, “India is still lagging behind in spite of the progresses”.

Pointing out that modern lifestyle has made people shun physical exercise, Naidu advocated some sort of physical exercise and spiritual activities during the day which may help keep people fresh and stress-free.  “The sedentary lifestyle of Indians have to change and doctors and scientists should educate people,” he said. Naidu said there were 69.1 million cases of diabetes in India, according to a 2015 census, and called for the need to create greater awareness among the youth about the dangers of sedentary lifestyle and eating junk food.

“The modern day lifestyle is creating serious health hazards. The doctors should indicate the people to go back to their cultural roots and follow the disciplined, systematic lifestyle. Diabetes is a major challenge faced in the country,” he said.
The Vice President said that one of the major challenges facing India is the growing incidence of diabetes in the general population and this trend needs to be arrested. He quoted a study saying diabetes was becoming common among lower socio-economic groups living in urban regions of more developed States and this is a matter of concern.
According to International Diabetes Federation, 415 million people have diabetes in the world and there were 69. 1 million cases in India as per 2015 data. Pointing to another study, Naidu said, “India’s burden of diseases has shifted from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases as incomes rose over the last 26 years. More deaths (61.8 per cent) were caused by non-communicable diseases such as cardio-vascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2016 as against 53.6 per cent deaths due to communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional diseases in 1990.”
The Conference was organized in partnership with the ministry of overseas Indian affairs and ministry of health and family welfare, along with collaboration with over 15 professional associations from all over the world.
The GHS 2017 featured some of the biggest names in the healthcare industry, especially at the 6th annual CEO leadership forum with leaders from across the globe. GHS 2017 is being attended by over 100 opinion leaders and expert speakers from many countries across the globe to present cutting edge scientific findings as these relate to clinical practice, representing major Centers of Excellence, Institutions, and Professional Associations are represented by the invited chairs and speakers.
The theme chosen for the GHS this year is Healthcare, Career and Commerce, with the focus on Women’s Healthcare, including high priority areas such as Cardiology, Maternal & Child Health, Diabetes, Oncology, Surgery, Mental Health, HIT, Allergy, Immunology & Lung Health, Gastroenterology, Transplant and impact of comorbidities.
Offering trainings to First Responders, a CEO Forum by a galaxy of CEOs from around the world, inauguration of AAPI-sponsored clinic, CMEs, cultural events, Dinner Cruise on the Ganges, interactive roundtables, clinical practice workshops, scientific poster/research session and meet-the-expert sessions, Women’s Forum by internally acclaimed successful worm from India, a special session on Public-Private Partnership featuring AAPI Healthcare Charitable showcase & innovation, and Town Hall sessions resulting in a White Paper on helping create policies benefitting the people of India, are only some of the major highlights of the Healthcare Summit, Dr. Samadder said.
In collaboration with the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine, AAPI organized a 3-day workshop/training (EMTC) training over 150 first responders, including police, para-medical professional at the KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata as part of the GHS.
Indian Americans comprise of 4 million people, representing around 1.25% of the U.S. population as of 2015. Indians contributed 17% of total earnings in the US from foreign students totaling $6.5 billion last year. An estimated 10% of all physicians and surgeons in the US are of Indian origin. An estimated 100,000 physicians and fellows of Indian origin currently serve in the US. In biological and biomedical sciences studies workforce, data from 2015 show that people of Indian origin in the US account for 14.6% of the total workforce holding 72000 jobs.
Founded in 1984, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) represents one of the largest health  care forum in the United States with the goal to facilitate and enable Indian American Physicians to excel in patient care, teaching and research and to pursue their aspirations in professional and community affairs. AAPI-Charitable Foundation is committed to serve the poorest of the poor in remote areas of India and USA. AAPI has always been present when calamities strike whether it is hurricane Harvey, Tsunami, Katrina, or earthquakes of Gujarat and Maharashtra. AAPI has hosted ten Indo-US/Global Healthcare Summits and developed strategic alliances with various organizations both in the US as well as in India. These summits are aimed at sharing of expertise towards improvement of healthcare in the US as well as in India.
AAPI has been strategically engaged in working with the Union and State Governments of India for the past ten years and has collaborated with more than 35 professional medical associations, pharmaceutical and medical device companies to address the health care challenges of a rapidly developing India. “It is the passion, willingness and staunch loyalty towards the former motherland that draws several AAPI members to join this effort & by working with experts in India, AAPI is able to bring solutions that are India centric & takes us closer to our lofty vision of making quality healthcare affordable & accessible to all people of India,” said Dr. Gautam Samadder.
“With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, both in India and US, we are refocusing our mission and vision, AAPI would like to make a positive meaningful impact on the healthcare delivery system both in the US and in India,” Dr. Samadder said. For more information on Global Health Summit, please visit www.aapiusa.org

Ginsmon Zacharia: Many Hats To Wear

Ajay GhoshProfiles 0
Successful Media Leader, Community Activist; and Cultural Ambassador
It was in 2007; I met Gins for the first time. Gins called me and said, “I want to meet you. Can you tell me when you have some time for me?” I did not know him nor did I hear about Gins. He told me that he had heard about me that I am a journalist and that he has a plan to start a publication. I was working in the Bronx, NY and he came driving from his home in Long Island to meet with me in the Bronx. We both met for the first time at a local McDonalds during my office lunch break, trying to get to know one another.
Gins told me that he wanted to start an English monthly magazine, targeting the American Indian audience. I was surprised that someone who had immigrated to the United States barely a year earlier, dares to launch an ethnic magazine. I had agreed in principle to be the Chief Editor after discussing the content and the target audience. I did not hear back from Gins for a couple of months since our meeting.
One beautiful morning, I had another phone call from Gins. This time he tells me, “We are ready to launch the magazine. Are you ready to lead it?” Since then, The Asian Era, a monthly magazine has been hitting almost all major American Indian stores, institutions, churches, cultural organizations and individual families every month.
During my long association with Gins, I was surprised by his commitment and total dedication. A matriculate planner, he envisaged and executed every aspect of planning, printing, circulating, fundraising, delivery, and management of the publications. Soon, Gins had three publications. In addition to The Asian Era, he was the publisher of Aksharam, a Malayalam Bimonthly magazine and Jai Hind Vartha, a monthly tabloid newspaper, with multiple editions, read by hundreds of thousands of people across the globe both in print and online. It was often with the help of minimum input from others, he would manage everything. Gins would drive from Pennsylvania to Connecticut delivering copies of the publications weekly or monthly depending on the need.
Gins is also the Director of Jaihind TV USA, which made headlines after it successfully hosted musical reality shows in all major states of North America, a platform of opportunities for young talents to be heard, seen and loved by the vast viewership of the channel. The Channel was a pioneer in its kind and diversity in USA which apart from talent hunts dedicated its airtime to showcase business and industry leaders and closely followed the US presidential election. The weekly program ‘US Diary’ brought to the attention of the authorities, the difficulties and challenges faced by immigrant Indians in the US.
“It’s real passion, if someone dedicates more than 17 years of his life for contributing in the media dictum,” Gins says with pride and confidence. Hailing from Thodupuzha, Kerala in India Ginsmon Zacharia, with an MBA degree in Marketing and a Law degree, chose print and visual media to be his profession and his decision did serve him right.
Ginsmon Zacharia and print media took off like any other but dramatically redefined the industry outlook. Experienced in successfully starting, and establishing Newspapers in the UK and the USA with circulation in Canada too, he strategized unorthodox means to establish and win the hearts and trust of many. Gins find “Ethnic media as a means to express and restore the culture and link with our motherland and our culture.”
Not satisfied with the work he has been doing in the media world, with the objective of bringing all the ethnic media persons under one umbrella, Gins was instrumental in founding the The Indo-American Press Club. Serving currently as the Coordinator of the Indo-American Press Club, an organization he founded and chaired for three years, Gins has been behind the successful team of three International Media Conferences around the country, in addition to several local events by the Club’s many Chapters around the nation.
Gins had initially immigrated to England to pursue his higher education. After graduating and married to his beautiful wife, Siji, Gins decided to relocate and make the United States his home. Recounting his experiences while in the UK, Gins recalls, “In my first year in the UK, I got an opportunity to join a print media, Deepika, the first Malayalam daily news paper in Kerala, established over 130 years ago. The European edition of Deepika targeted the Malayalee community in Europe. And it was at this time; I came to realize that the media is a powerful platform to organize my community and use it as a platform to serve our community.”
And Gins wanted to have a larger Indian audience abroad to work with and to cherish his goal of serving the community through the media. He found the American Indian audience to be a dominant force to reach his message. He realized that having over 600,000 Malayalees and nearly 3 million people of Indian origin in the US gave him an amazing audience to launch an ethnic media platform. Since then, he and his family relocated from the UK to the United States. Having some of his relatives already in the US made that transfer easier initially.
In the past 12 years, Gins has been in the US; the young entrepreneur has seen quite a few changes in the fast-growing Indian American community. “The educated and highly successful Indian community in the US is a vital part in our adopted land. If we coordinate this powerful group, we can make a remarkable influence in our motherland and take an active part of the politics and public policy in our adopted land, thus contributing to the growth of the nation.”
During his short span in the UK, Gins founded and became the first General Secretary of a community organization he had named Liverpool Malayalee Cultural Association (LIMCA). Today, Limca has come to be known around the world as one of the largest and active organizations in the UK, serving the Indian community. Limca had raised the largest fund to help the 2014 tsunami victims among all Malayalee organizations in the UK.
Gins’ contributions have not been limited to the media world. He chaired and presided over several positions and responsibilities in various social, cultural and professional organizations, many of those which he founded, in the USA and the UK. Gins’ work among the American Indian community made him popular, that he elected as the  President of India Catholic Association in 2014. “During my term, we raised funds and helped seven local organizations in Kerala.”
Gins served until 2012 as the Joint Secretary of Kerala Samajam of Greater New York,  the oldest and most comprehensive of all Malayalee associations in the New York region. Gins were the General Secretary of the Indian American Malayalee Chamber of Commerce in 2013, it was “during my term,  I had organized a B2B meet in Kerala in association with the Government of Kerala and Kerala Chamber of Commerce,” Gins says with pride.
A go-getter he always voiced against hesitation and lived to live the mind of Sir Martin Luther King Jr, “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward”. Persistence is his recipe for achievement.
Recognitions and awards came his away. The community loves him, and the Nassau County, Long Island, NY has identified him with accolades for his compelling dedication to socio-cultural causes.
And did many local organizations, including the prestigious Media Achievement Award by The Indian American Kerala Cultural center in October 2017 for his immense contributions to the media world. In his address after receiving the award, Gins dedicated the award to the media world and his fellow journalists. “This is a media award, a Media achievement award. This is never singular, if you ask me. This has the participation of all who accepted my work; it’s a people’s award. So this is not just mine to take home, BUT dear all this I wish to take home!
He has been awarded and has received several citations from many local community organizations as well as from the County, State, Legislature and Rotary Clubs. However, Gins cherishes “being actively part of the ownership of four print publications and a TV channel in the US” to be his greatest achievement.
Gins lives on Long Island, New York with his beautiful wife Siji, sons Andrew, a 14-year-old and Ethen Austin, a five-year-old, and a 9-year-old daughter Brionna Elizabeth.
Success and recognition did not come easily to this young visionary. “There have been many challenges we face when we relocate to another country,” Gins says. “Whatever we attained in our life in 25 years whether it be education, career, or life practices, we need to start all over again and get assimilated into the new world in a shorter period.”

AAPI’s historic Global Healthcare Summit Concludes in Kolkata

Ajay GhoshHealth, India, U.S. 0
CEOs Forum, Women’s Forum, Launching Free Health Clinic, First Responders Training, CMEs, Research Contest, Fashion Show, Cultural extravaganza, Touring Dubai, UAE Assam, Kolkata, & Bhutan Major Highlights
 (Kolkata, India: January 1st, 2018) The 11th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), USA concluded here at the historic City of Joy, Kolkata in West Bengal, India on December 31st at the famous JW Marriott with CEOs Forum, Women’s Forum, Launching Free Health Clinic, First Responders Training, CMEs, Research Contest, Fashion Show, Cultural extravaganza, Touring Dubai, UAE Assam, Kolkata, & Bhutan to be major highlights of the Summit.
At the valedictory event presided over by India’s Vice President, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, he urged Physicians of Indian Origin to return to India and rededicate their lives for the wellbeing of their motherland, India, as all the opportunities are now available here.
  “I would be happier if you people can come back to India and do something to help the society. Earlier the opportunity was very less here so people went to different parts of the globe for work. But now everything is available in India,” Naidu said. “Apart from conducting CMEs, seminars and workshops, AAPI must consider collaborating with various governments and other private organizations in establishing a state-of-the-art healthcare facility in each district of the country where affordable treatment is dispensed,” the Vice President of India told the delegates.
The Governor of West Bengal, Shri Keshri Nath Tripathi, the Minister for Urban Development, West Bengal, Firhad Hakim and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. GHS 2017 was attended by the over 1000 leading experts from several countries, and focusses on sharing best practices, developing efficient and cost effective solutions for India.
In his welcome address, Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI, said, “This GHS has promised to be one with the greatest impact and significant contributions towards harnessing the power of international Indian diaspora to bring the most innovative, efficient, cost effective healthcare solutions to India,” described Dr. Samadder. “AAPI has capped the voluminous achievements of the past 34 years with a clear vision to move forward taking this noble organization to newer heights.”
According to Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, who had proposed the vote of thanks, the scientific program of GHS 2017 was developed by leading experts with the contributions of a stellar Scientific Advisory Board and International Scientific Committee, while the event featuring plenary sessions, interactive round-tables, clinical practice workshops, and meet the expert sessions.
Dr. Ashok Jain, Chairman of AAPI’s BOD, in his address, summarized some of the achievements of AAPI including the 16 free healthcare clinics, AAPI’s legislative initiatives in the US, and the ongoing collaboration with the government of India and the state governments and several NGOs in helping healthcare efficient and cost effective.
The Vice President of India praised AAPI and its noble “mission for India is to play an important role in making quality healthcare accessible and affordable to all people of India. It is indeed a laudable objective as both accessibility and affordability are the need of the hour, especially in a vast developing country like India with a huge population of middle class and lower middle class.”
The Conference was organized in partnership with the ministry of overseas Indian affairs and ministry of health and family welfare, along with collaboration with over 15 professional associations from all over the world.
The GHS 2017 featured some of the biggest names in the healthcare industry, especially at the 6th annual CEO leadership forum with leaders from across the globe. GHS 2017 was attended by over 100 opinion leaders and expert speakers from many countries across the globe to present cutting edge scientific findings as these relate to clinical practice, representing major Centers of Excellence, Institutions, and Professional Associations are represented by the invited chairs and speakers.
Offering trainings to First Responders, a CEO Forum by a galaxy of CEOs from around the world, inauguration of AAPI-sponsored clinic, CMEs, cultural events, Dinner Cruise on the Ganges, interactive roundtables, clinical practice workshops, scientific poster/research session and meet-the-expert sessions, Women’s Forum by internally acclaimed successful worm from India, a special session on Public-Private Partnership featuring AAPI Healthcare Charitable showcase & innovation, and Town Hall sessions resulting in a White Paper on helping create policies benefitting the people of India, are only some of the major highlights of the Healthcare Summit, Dr. Samadder said.
AAPI, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Madhyamgram Metropolitan lunched a healthcare clinic offering medical care to the much need people of the region at the Prajapati Bhavan, Basunagar, Madhyamgram in the outskirts of Kolkata on December 29th, 2017.
Over 30 physicians of Indian origin, led by Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI and Dr. Madhu Aggarwal, Chairwoman of the AAPI Charitable Foundation attended the free one day healthcare clinic at the suburban center, and treated over 200 patients during the day long clinic.
“This is the first ever clinic sponsored by AAPI in the state of West Bengal and this is the 15th across the nation,” Dr. Samadder told during a welcome reception organized by the local Rotary Club in honor of the physicians who had travelled early in the morning on a bus to serve the much needed patients at the clinic. “AAPI provides financial assistance and medical care by AAPI members to the people of this historic city,” he added.
During a press conference attended by the media at the Hotel, members of the leading print and electronic media interacted with AAPI leaders, including Dr. Samadder, President of AAPI, Dr. Sampat Shivangi, chair of AAPI’s Legislative Committee, Anwar Feroz, AAPI’s Strategic Adviser, and Dr. Chandan K Sen, Chairman, AAPI Global Healthcare Summit – Kolkata.
Dr. Chandan K Sen, Chairman, AAPI Global Healthcare Summit – Kolkata, said, “It has been a privilege to serve you as the Chairman of this XI AAPI Global Healthcare Summit. Americans with Indian heritage are uniquely positioned to enrich the United States as well as India through collaborative efforts utilizing the strengths unique to each of the two countries. I welcome you to Kolkata, where intellectual curiosity is woven deep into the fabric of its society.”
According to Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Secretary of AAPI, the scientific program of GHS 2017 was developed by leading experts with the contributions of a stellar Scientific Advisory Board and International Scientific Committee, while the event featuring plenary sessions, interactive round-tables, clinical practice workshops, and meet the expert sessions.
The GHS Young Innovators Research Competition at the famous Calcutta Medical College helped facilitate dissemination and exchange of best practices among the upcoming young physicians of Indian origin from around the world. The winners of the Research Paper Competition conducted under various categories, were awarded with a citation, cash award and trophy at the inaugural gala this evening.
A special unique to the GHS 2017wais a session on the Impact of Cinema on Public Health and awareness with a live conversation with Bollywood stars and producers, including Dr. Kapasi, Shekar das, Dipankar Banerjee, who shared their personal experiences of making movies on social themes that imparts education on various social topics.
The Women’s Leadership Forum was coordinated by Dr. Udaya Shivangi, and had featured Bollywood star Sharmila Tagore. The Forum addressed as to how empowering women and educating them will help reduce infant mortality.
The Healthcare Forum, addressed by leading industry leaders, including Sudhanshu Pandey. Joint Secretary, Department of commerce, Indian Government; Dr. Gautam Samadder; Jayshree Mehta, Mediacl Council of India; Dr. Sanku Rao, GAPIO;  Dr. Girdhar Gyani, Hospital Association of India; Dr. B R Shetty; Dr. Sangita Reddy; Dr. D C Shah of IPA: Dr. Naresh Parikh; Preetha Rajaraman; Dr. Pradeep Majhajan; Dr. Rajeev Mehta of BAPIO;  Dr. Kali Pradip Chaudhury; Dr. Shubnum Singh; Dr. Anupam Sibal; and Jonathan Ward of the US Consulate in Kolkata.
In collaboration with the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine, AAPI  organized a 3-day workshop/training (EMTC) training over 150 first responders, including police, para-medical professional at the KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata as part of the GHS.
Choreographed and designed by famous fashion designer, Nachiket Barve, AAPI members and leaders catwalked on the ramp, showcasing their talents, exquisite taste for the finest clothing and attire, proving yet again the Indian American physicians are not only famous for their brilliant healthcare, but also could be leaders in the fashion world.
The theme chosen for the GHS this year was Healthcare, Career and Commerce, with the focus on Women’s Healthcare, including high priority areas such as Cardiology, Maternal & Child Health, Diabetes, Oncology, Surgery, Mental Health, HIT, Allergy, Immunology & Lung Health, Gastroenterology, Transplant and impact of comorbidities.
The Summit had offered delegates a taste of delicious food each day and live music concerts by popular Bollywood singers Usha Uthup, Alka Ygnik who kept the audience spell bound for over two hours each with their melodious singing and live interaction with the audience.
Indian Americans comprise of 4 million people, representing around 1.25% of the U.S. population as of 2015. Indians contributed 17% of total earnings in the US from foreign students totaling $6.5 billion last year. An estimated 10% of all physicians and surgeons in the US are of Indian origin. An estimated 100,000 physicians and fellows of Indian origin currently serve in the US. In biological and biomedical sciences studies workforce, data from 2015 show that people of Indian origin in the US account for 14.6% of the total workforce holding 72000 jobs.
Earlier, as part of the GHS, AAPI delegates had a memorable visit from December 24-27, to the city of Dubai and the kingdom of Abu Dhabi, where they were greeted by the local high ranking officials, who have expressed interest in collaborating with the physicians of Indian origin in the Gulf Region. The delegates, apart from visiting the city and its major tourists attractions, had a fruitful visit to the famous NMC Hospital, Abu Dhabi and meeting with the founder and chairman, Dr. Shetty. The pre-summit tour to Dubai provided the AAPI delegates with a unique Christmas Dinner Cruise, City tour to Palm Island, Khalifa Tower, Burj Hotel, Dubai mall, Dubai Museum, etc.
Desert Safari including camel ride and belly dancing shows.
The Post GHS TOUR to the heavenly Bhutan from January 1-4, 2018, will take delegates to the world renowned and ancient Takshang Monestary, Hike in Tiger’s Nest, Buddha Dordenma, National Heritage museum & Dochula. For those who want to enjoy the beautiful Assam, can tour this beautiful state of Assam from January 4-8, 2018, touring Kaziranga National Park including Rhino Park, Nehru Stadium, Assam Rajyik State Museum, Guwahati Market, Kamakhya Temple and dinner at the Governor’s Mansion. The Summit will also offer everyday Guided Tours and Evening Entertainments to the delegates, and will conclude with a special New Year’s eve gala party, welcoming the New Year 2018 with family, fun and entertainment.
Founded in 1984, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) represents one of the largest health  care forum in the United States with the goal to facilitate and enable Indian American Physicians to excel in patient care, teaching and research and to pursue their aspirations in professional and community affairs. AAPI-Charitable Foundation is committed to serve the poorest of the poor in remote areas of India and USA. AAPI has always been present when calamities strike whether it is hurricane Harvey, Tsunami, Katrina, or earthquakes of Gujarat and Maharashtra. AAPI has hosted ten Indo-US/Global Healthcare Summits and developed strategic alliances with various organizations both in the US as well as in India. These summits are aimed at sharing of expertise towards improvement of healthcare in the US as well as in India.
AAPI has been strategically engaged in working with the Union and State Governments of India for the past ten years and has collaborated with more than 35 professional medical associations, pharmaceutical and medical device companies to address the health care challenges of a rapidly developing India. “It is the passion, willingness and staunch loyalty towards the former motherland that draws several AAPI members to join this effort & by working with experts in India, AAPI is able to bring solutions that are India centric & takes us closer to our lofty vision of making quality healthcare affordable & accessible to all people of India,” said Dr. Gautam Samadder.
“With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, both in India and US, we are refocusing our mission and vision, AAPI would like to make a positive meaningful impact on the healthcare delivery system both in the US and in India,” Dr. Samadder said. For more information on Global Healthcare Summit, please visit www.aapiusa.org

AAPI Launches Healthcare Clinic in Kolkata during Global Healthcare Summit 2017

Ajay GhoshHealth 0
GHS packed with CMEs, award ceremony, gala, fashion and cultural shows
(Kolkata, WB, India: December 30th, 2017) The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Madhyamgram Metropolitan lunched a healthcare clinic offering medical care to the much need people of the region at the Prajapati Bhavan, Basunagar, Madhyamgram in the outskirts of Kolkata on December 29th, 2017, during the 11th annual Global Healthcare Summit which is underway at the historic City of Joy, Kolkata in West Bengal, India from December 28th to 31st.
Over 30 physicians of Indian origin, who are attending the GHS at the JW Marriott in Kolkata, led by Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI and Dr. Madhu Aggarwal, Chairwoman of the AAPI Charitable Foundation attended the free one day healthcare clinic at the suburban center, and treated over 200 patients during the day long clinic.
“This is the first ever clinic sponsored by AAPI in the state of West Bengal and this is the 15th across the nation,” Dr. Samadder told during a welcome reception organized by the local Rotary Club in honor of the physicians who had travelled early in the morning on a bus to serve the much needed patients at the clinic. “AAPI provides financial assistance and medical care by AAPI members to the people of this historic city,” he added.
“The new initiative with the Rotary Club will enable hundreds of visiting physicians from the US to come and devote their time and talents at the clinic in the coming moenths and years, whenever someone from the US visits the state for vacation or other business related trips to India,” Dr. Aggarwal said.
The local organizers, including the Rotary Club leaders assured AAPI members of their fullest cooperation and collaboration in their efforts to offer the much needed medical care to the people of this region by welcoming the physicians and enabling their mission to provide medical care to the local community.
GHS 2017 is attended by the over 1000 leading experts from several countries, and focusses on sharing best practices, developing efficient and cost effective solutions for India. The Honorable Shri Venkiah Naidu, the Vice President of India, will be the Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony of the Summit on December 30th, 2017.
The Conference is being organized in partnership with the ministry of overseas Indian affairs and ministry of health and family welfare, along with collaboration with over 15 professional associations from all over the world.
The GHS 2017 features some of the biggest names in the healthcare industry, especially at the 6th annual CEO leadership forum with leaders from across the globe planned for December 30th. GHS 2017 is being attended by over 100 opinion leaders and expert speakers from many countries across the globe to present cutting edge scientific findings as these relate to clinical practice, representing major Centers of Excellence, Institutions, and Professional Associations are represented by the invited chairs and speakers.
The Global Healthcare Summit being heled here was packed with CMEs all day, which is a major objective of the Summit. The theme chosen for the GHS this year is Healthcare, Career and Commerce, with the focus on Women’s Healthcare, including high priority areas such as Cardiology, Maternal & Child Health, Diabetes, Oncology, Surgery, Mental Health, HIT, Allergy, Immunology & Lung Health, Gastroenterology, Transplant and impact of comorbidities.
Choreographed and designed by famous fashion designer, Nachiket Barve, AAPI members and leaders catwalked on the podium showcasing their talents, exquisite taste for the finest clothing and attire, proving yet again the Indian American physicians are not only famous for their brilliant healthcare, but alos could be leaders in the fashion world.
The final session of the three days long first responders training program ended on 28th with 50 more police/para medics personnel representing Kolkata Police, West Bengal Police, Kolkata Traffic Police, Police Training School, and Criminal Investigation Department, West Bengal.  Concluded here at the KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata on the sidelines of the GHS. In collaboration with the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine, and the American Heart Association, AAPI was successful in imparting the much required training to over 150 people in the past three days. The lead trainers of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) Training Center, bringing it to the forefront of both international and national discussions and initiatives were recognized during the gala.
Offering Trainings to First Responders, a CEO Forum by a galaxy of CEOs from around the world, inauguration of AAPI-sponsored clinic, CMEs, cultural events, Dinner Cruise on the Ganges, interactive roundtables, clinical practice workshops, scientific poster/research session and meet-the-expert sessions, Women’s Forum by internally acclaimed successful worm from India, a special session on Public-Private Partnership featuring AAPI Healthcare Charitable showcase & innovation, and Town Hall sessions resulting in a White Paper on helping create policies benefitting the people of India, are only some of the major highlights of the Healthcare Summit, Dr. Ashok Jain, Chair of AAPI BOT, said.
Dr. Naresh Parekh, President-Elect of AAPI, said, “Many of the physicians who are attending this convention have excelled in different specialties and subspecialties and occupy high positions as faculty members of medical schools, heads of departments, and executives of hospital staff. The GHS offers an opportunity to meet directly with these physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and services,” he said.
During a press conference attended by the media at the Hotel, members of the leading print and electronic media interacted with AAPI leaders, including Dr. Samadder, President of AAPI, Dr. Sampat Shivangi, chair of AAPI’s Legislative Committee, Anwar Feroz, AAPI’s Statagic Adviser, and Dr. Chandan K Sen, Chairman, AAPI Global Healthcare Summit – Kolkata.
“This GHS promises to be one with the greatest impact and significant contributions towards harnessing the power of international Indian diaspora to bring the most innovative, efficient, cost effective healthcare solutions to India,” described Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI.  “AAPI has capped the voluminous achievements of the past 34 years with a clear vision to move forward taking this noble organization to newer heights.”
According to Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Secretary of AAPI, the scientific program of GHS 2017 was developed by leading experts with the contributions of a stellar Scientific Advisory Board and International Scientific Committee, while the event featuring plenary sessions, interactive round-tables, clinical practice workshops, and meet the expert sessions.
The day long events came to a close with a sumptuous dinner and  a live music concert by popular Bollywood singer Usha Uthup, who kept the audience spell bound for over two hours with her melodious singing and live interaction with the audience.
Coming from a nation that has given much to the world, today physicians of Indian origin have become a powerful influence in medicine across the world – from North America and Great Britain to East Africa, Malaysia, and Singapore. Nowhere is their authority more keenly felt than in the United States, where Indians make up the largest non-Caucasian segment of the American medical community. The overrepresentation of Indians in the field of medicine is striking – in practical terms, one out of seven doctors in the United States is of Indian Heritage. They provide medical care to over 40 million of US population.
The growing clout of the physicians of Indian origin in the United States is seen everywhere as several physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in the healthcare, academic, research and administrative positions across the nation. Indian doctors have carved a comfortable niche in the American medical community and have earned a name for themselves with their hard work, dedication, compassion, and amazing skills and talents.
Representing the voice of the over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, leaders of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, come together today to felicitate Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India on his maiden visit to the greatest democratic nation in the world.
AAPI has been strategically engaged in working with the Union and State Governments of India for the past ten years and has collaborated with more than 35 professional medical associations, pharmaceutical and medical device companies to address the health care challenges of a rapidly developing India. “It is the passion, willingness and staunch loyalty towards the former motherland that draws several AAPI members to join this effort & by working with experts in India, AAPI is able to bring solutions that are India centric & takes us closer to our lofty vision of making quality healthcare affordable & accessible to all people of India,” said Dr. Gautam Samadder.
“With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, both in India and US, we are refocusing our mission and vision, AAPI would like to make a positive meaningful impact on the healthcare delivery system both in the US and in India,” Dr. Samadder said. For more information on Global Health Summit, please visit www.aapiusa.org

US-India strategic ties to grow in 2018

Ajay GhoshIndia, U.S. 0

India’s relationship with the United States is expected to continue to grow in the New Year, analysts say. The new US security plan released last week said: “We will deepen our strategic partnership with India and support its leadership role in the Indian Ocean security and throughout the broader region.” Washington also pledged to increase quadrilateral cooperation with Japan, Australia and India. “We welcome India’s emergence as a leading global power and stronger strategic and defence partner. We will seek to increase quadrilateral cooperation with Japan, Australia and India.”

After US President Donald Trump gave a leadership role to India in his new “America First Security Strategy”, New Delhi voiced appreciation for Washington laying importance to the bilateral relationship.

“We appreciate the strategic importance given to India-US relationship in the new National Security Strategy released by the US,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said last week. “As two responsible democracies, India and the US share common objectives, including combating terrorism and promoting peace and security throughout the world,” Kumar said.

In November, India, the US, Japan and Australia held a quadrilateral meeting in the Philippines on the sidelines of the East Asia and Asean Summits to discuss the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.

This assumes significance given China’s aggressiveness in the South China Sea and attempts to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean. Kumar said: “A close partnership between India and the US contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as to the economic progress of the two countries.”

Trump’s security strategy also stated that the US would continue to push Pakistan to speed up its counter-terrorism efforts. “We will press Pakistan to intensify its counter-terrorism efforts, since no partnership can survive a country’s support for militants and terrorists who target a partner’s own service members and officials,” it said.

The India-US relationship is going to get stronger and better under the Trump administration in a wide range of areas, including regional security issues, trade and economy, terrorism, a senior White House official has said.

“India is a natural ally of the United States, because of the shared commitment to democracy and to counterterrorism, and because the region is so vital to the US security,” Raj Shah, the White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary, told a group of India . Shah’s comments came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held their second bilateral meeting in Manila on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit.

The two countries are going to have a “strong relationship and it’s going to get stronger” under this president, Shah, the highest-ranking Indian-American ever in the White House press wing, told a group of Indian reporters last week.

“India is a natural ally of the United States, because of the shared commitment to democracy and to counterterrorism, and because the region is so vital to the US security,” he said. Shah said that the US-India relationship should stand on its own leg and “not be contingent” on any other relationship.

There are a lot more in common between India and the US than that between the US and China, he said. “The relationship with Modi is his relationship with Modi. He likes (him),” he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States on 25-26 June at the invitation of the new President of the United States Donald trump. This was Modi’s first meeting with Trump, although the two leaders had spoken to each other on three occasions after Trump won the election. One call was made by Modi and two by Trump, the last one being by Trump in end-March to congratulate Modi for the emphatic victory of the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh elections.

Republican Tax Plan to increase inequality

Ajay GhoshU.S. 0

Republicans, finally on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 muscled the most sweeping rewrite of the nation’s tax laws in more than three decades through the GOP-led House and Senate with a dozen GOP Congressmen voting against their own Bill, giving President Trum his biggest and first ever legislative victory.

The vote, largely along party lines in the House was 227-203, while in the Senate was 51-48, which capped a GOP sprint to deliver a major legislative accomplishment to President Donald Trump after a year of congressional stumbles and non-starters.

This bill is a massive handout to corporations and the wealthiest among us at the expense of average tax payers. Every independent analysis, including the Tax Policy Center, has determined that the vast majority of benefits will go to the top 1% of earners – like President Donald Trump himself. This bill will increase the already out of control income inequality in the country. Need more proof? The paltry tax credits to middle and lower income earners expire after 10 years while corporate tax cuts are permanent.

The massive $1.5 trillion package would touch every American taxpayer and every corner of the U.S. economy, providing steep tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy, and more modest tax cuts for middle- and low-income families. It would push the national debt ever higher.

Democrats called the bill a giveaway to corporations and the wealthy, providing little if any tax help to the less-than-well-to-do and no likelihood that business owners will use their gains to hire more workers or raise wages.

And the Republicans’ contention that the bill will make taxes so simple that millions can file “on a postcard” — an idea repeated often by the president — was simply mocked.

“What happened to the postcard? We’re going to have to carry around a billboard for tax simplification,” declared Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee.

Tax cuts for corporations would be permanent while the cuts for individuals would expire in 2026 in order to comply with Senate budget rules. The tax cuts would take effect in January. Workers would start to see changes in the amount of taxes withheld from their paychecks in February.

The standard deduction used by most families would be nearly doubled, to $24,000 for a married couple, while those who itemize would lose some deductions.

The Republicans went ahead with the Bill with over two-thirds of the nation still disapproving of it. House Speaker Paul Ryan dismissed criticism of the widely unpopular package and insisted “results are what’s going to make this popular.” The Republican tax bill is an audacious attempt to accelerate the economic trends of the last half-century.

Over the last few decades, the rich have not only enjoyed the largest pre-tax raises, by far. They have also received big tax cuts. The middle class and poor, meanwhile, have suffered from slow-growing incomes — and from overall tax rates that are higher today than in the mid-1960s. The second part of the story is less known. But it’s also crucial. The great tax-cutting revolution of the last half-century hasn’t actually been a tax-cutting revolution for most Americans. The middle-class and poor families now face higher total tax rates than a half-century ago.

Now the GOP tax plan is expected to widen inequality even further. Their tax bill doesn’t touch the payroll-tax rate — again, the single biggest tax that most households pay. The bill does cut income taxes for the middle class, but only modestly and only temporarily. The tax cuts benefiting the wealthy, including cuts to the inheritance tax and the corporate tax, are much larger and permanent.

The Tax Policy Center has estimated the long-term effects of the Tax plan on each income group with the tax bill amounting to an enormous effort to increase inequality.

The scoop of the weekend seems to have come from International Business Times, which reported that the final version of the Republican tax bill contains a real-estate provision that could enrich President Trump and multiple members of Congress. President Obama, on the other hand, made reducing inequality his top domestic priority. He kept the Bush tax cuts on the middle class and poor but not the rich. His health care law increased taxes on the affluent to pay for better medical care for the non-rich. Barack Obama, when he was President, called rising inequality “the defining challenge of our time.”

By redistributing money from richer households to poorer households, progressive tax systems can moderate the level of inequality in post-tax income. However, the 2017 GOP Tax Bill showers most of its goodies (tax cuts) on the richest people in the country while doing little for poor and middle-income households.

Since the past tax cuts by President George Bush and President Ronlad Regan, income inequality has continued to rise in the nation. The gap between the “haves” and “have nots” is widening, according to the latest data out this week.

The rich are money-making machines. Today, the top mega wealthy — the top 1% — earn an average of $1.3 million a year. It’s more than three times as much as the 1980s, when the rich “only” made $428,000, on average, according to economists Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman.

Meanwhile, the bottom 50% of the American population earned an average of $16,000 in pre-tax income in 1980. That hasn’t changed in over three decades. Millennials, born in the 1980s, only have a 50% likelihood — a coin toss chance — of earning more money than their parents did, according to research released by the Equality of Opportunity Project.

Over time, the rich became more lucky — or more greedy. Today the top 1% take home more than 20% of all U.S. income. As the wealthy earned more, someone else in America had to get less. The bottom 50% went from capturing over 20% of national income for much of the 1970s to earning barely 12% today. The turning point started around 1980, as seen in the graph below. By the mid-1990s, the fortunes of the top 1% were clearly on the rise and those of the bottom half were declining rapidly.

During the last several decades, income inequality in the United States has increased significantly — and the trend shows no sign of reversing. The last time inequality was as high as it is now was just before the Great Depression. Such a high level of inequality is not only incompatible with widely held norms of social justice and equality of opportunity; it poses a serious threat to America’s economy and democracy.

The current tax plan by the Republicans will sure to add to the already growing disparity of income and the poor and the middle class are bound to stagnate or become poorer while the rich and the multi-national corporations will continue to grow and amass more wealth at the cost of the poor.

AAPI QLI hosts 22nd annual gala, honors 4 physicians for excellence

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0
AAPIQLI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin of Queens and Long Island) hosted its 22nd Annual Convention at Huntington Hilton on Long Island, NY on December 16, under the leadership of its President Dr. Rakesh Dua. It was attended by Chief Guest Congressman from NY’s 3rd district Honorable Tom Suozzi, Nassau County Executive elect Honorable Laura Curran, first deputy commissioner at department of health New York State Dr. Eugene Heslin, many dignitaries and more than 600 guests.
Four physicians, Dr. Mohinder Gupta; Dr. Devendra Mehta; Dr. P. Patrick Basu; and, Dr. Usha Krishnan were honored for their life time achievements and money was raised for many local and national charities. Dr. Ajay Lodha, immediate past president of national AAPI and Dr. Gautam Samadder, current president of national AAPI were recognized for their leadership and contributions to the physician community across the nation.
“We are here to celebrate our achievements tonight,” Dr. Dua in his Presidential address. He stated that AAPI QLI was registered in June 1995 as a Not-for-Profit Organization by Dr. Narendra Hadpawat to represent all Physicians of Indian Origin in Queens and Long Island, NY. The Inaugural dinner was held on June 3rd, 1995 at Leonard’s of Great Neck, NY and with 150 physicians in attendance.
In his address, Tom Suozi praised the contributions of Indian Americans to the larger American society. “In this room, you represent the future of New York And the USA. I see an immense pool of talents among you. We are very lucky to have you. You do so much for the nation,” he said. Tuozi urged AAPI members “not to allow others to pull up the ladder from behind.
Echoing the sentiments, Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI, in his address, pointed out to the ongoing discrimination experienced by Indian American Doctors. He called upon the AAPI members to “stand united, in order to be able to fight for our rights,” while pointing to the fact that Indian American Physicians service every 7th patient in the nation and contribute to the healthcare industry in the nation.
In his inaugural address as the incoming President, Dr. Jagdish Gupta, President-Elect of AAPI QLI, announced the exciting new programs for the members in the year 2018 under his new leadership. “We want to continue to be the most vibrant, transformative and politically active Chapter among all AAPI chapters in the nation,” he said.
The Mission of AAPI Queens and Long Island has been to represent the interests of all physicians of Indian Origin in the area including providing Continuous Medical Education (CME) and engaging in charitable activities for the benefit of our community at large. Since its inception there was a strong alliance with and support from National AAPI.
AAPI QLI grew rapidly in membership and was well accepted by all other local and national professional organizations. From the very beginning the leadership put heavy emphasis on transparency and the democratic process, which is the main ingredient for its enormous success. AAPI of Queens and Long Island currently represents 660 active physicians and donates more than $60,000 annually for charitable purposes. It is also one of the largest chapters of National AAPI.

Rahul Gandhi elected President of India’s grand-old Congress Party

Ajay GhoshIndia, Politics 0

Rahul Gandhi, vice-president of the Congress Party was elected unopposed as president of the Indian National Congress here on Monday, December 11th, 2017. Gandhi’s appointment was confirmed on Monday, days after he filed his nomination papers for the post. There were no other contenders. He will officially take over as the President of the oldest Indian national Party on December 16th.

Briefing reporters, the party’s central election authority chief Mullappally Ramachandran said Gandhi will formally take over on December 16. “Since the withdrawal of date/time is over and as there is only one candidate (Rahul), as per Article XVII (d) of the Constitution of Indian National Congress, I hereby declare Shri Rahul Gandhi elected as president of the Indian National Congress,” Ramachandran said.

At the party headquarters, 24 Akbar Road, slogans such as “Agla pradhan mantri kaisa ho, Rahul Gandhi jaisa ho,”(Who would be our next PM, Rahul Gandhi!) and crackers rent the air as Mr. Ramachandran made the announcement. Supporters gathered in huge numbers waving Congress flags.

He is the 16th president of the Congress since Independence and sixth from the Nehru-Gandhi clan to take over the party reins. Mr. Gandhi has been vice-president of the party since 2013.

Among other senior politicians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated him. “I congratulate Rahulji on his election as Congress President my best wishes for a fruitful tenure,” he tweeted.

The Congress, the country’s largest opposition party, which has ruled India for most periods since Indian gained independence from the British Raj in 1947,  won less than 20% of the popular vote in the seismic 2014 general elections which catapulted Narendra Modi’s BJP to power. It secured just 44 – or 8% – of the 543 parliamentary seats in its worst performance ever.

Since then, the Congress has lost elections in half-a-dozen states, and is now in power in only two big states – Karnataka and Punjab – and three other smaller ones. Its prospects in two imminent state elections – Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh – look mixed.

Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said even before taking over, Gandhi had rattled the BJP. “After three decades, we have a Congress president in the mid-40s. Of course his father took over at a younger age. In the last four-years, Rahul Gandhi has worked hard and we can see the results today. He is leading the Congress campaign alone in Gujarat and the BJP is countering him with their 80 Cabinet Ministers, 12-15 Chief Ministers, and State Ministers,” Azad said.

The incumbent president Sonia Gandhi is expected to hold a designated role as an overall guide and mentor of party. According to sources, a new post of a party patron may be constituted to accommodate her. There is no clarity yet on whether she will resign from the post of parliamentary party chief or not.

The new Congress president has to live up to the expectations of his colleagues who hope that he would arrest the slide in the party’s electoral fortunes. “In 2014, we were in a weak spot. We have been on a path of recovery since then. Despite a measly 44 MPs, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi we have forced the government to roll back anti-poor measures in GST and the Land Acquisition Bill,” Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said.

Monday’s announcement has to be ratified by the Congress plenary session. The plenary will also elect the new Congress Working Committee. People across the Indian continent hope that Gandhi, 47, will change the fortunes of his enfeebled party.

He entered public life 13 years ago, when he stood and won in his family seat of Amethi. Since then, the fifth-generation scion has been seen as a reluctant politician, aloof and disinterested in the hurly burly of politics.

Gandhi’s elevation to the party’s second most senior leader – after his mother Sonia Gandhi – in 2013 didn’t improve things. He tried to reform his party by holding primaries, revitalize its flagging youth wing and running it like a corporate office. But the results have been less than impressive, and the party’s slide has continued.

After his initial reluctance and poor show at election rallies, Gandhi, the son of late Rajiv Gandhi and grand son of late Indira Gandhi, has come around and has begun establishing himself as a mass leader in his own name.

Gandhi went on a well-received tour of the US, meeting students, think-tank experts, government leaders, and journalists and took questions from them. He was self deprecating about his limitations – he told students at University of California, Berkeley that Mr Modi was a “better communicator” than him.

His social media campaign has finally begun packing a punch. Mr Gandhi is now being seen as more open and refreshingly amusing – he tweeted a health update about his mother’s illness and a video featuring his dog, which caused a sensation.

With Rahul Ganshi assuming office, the highest decision-making body of the party is expected to see a few changes. Gandhi is likely to bring in some new faces. The plenary session may be held in mid-January either in Delhi or Karnataka.

Gandhi’s burst of enthusiasm appears to have energised the party’s rank and file somewhat, but he will need a lot more political nous and strategy if he’s to start winning elections.

He will need to articulate a compelling economic vision to young Indians who are tired of confusing reformist platitudes. He will have to find and encourage charismatic and clean local leaders, forge winning alliances with regional parties, and make sure his party runs better governments in the states it rules.

Bangladeshi man detonates crude bomb in New York City

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

A Bangladeshi man wearing a homemade pipe bomb detonated his explosive in a walkway at the Port Authority Bus Terminal near Times Square on Monday, December 11th injuring five people and causing chaos in one of the city’s busiest commuter hubs, City officials said.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the explosion in the terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue an “attempted terrorist attack” that appears to be isolated. Police identified the suspect in custody as Akayed Ullah, 27.

Ullah is from the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong and is a U.S. resident, said the country’s police chief. He had no criminal record there and last visited Bangladesh on September 8, the chief said. Ullah had a black cab/limousine driver’s license from 2012 to 2015, after which it expired, the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission said.

The weapon was based on a pipe bomb and fixed to the suspect with zip ties and velcro, police said. New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking at a news conference near the site, described the device as “amateur-level”. New York City was a target, said John Miller, deputy police commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism.

Follwing the terror attack on the busy Monday morning, the bus terminal was temporarily shut down and a large swath of mid-town Manhattan was closed to traffic. Subway train service returned to normal after earlier disruptions.

WABC reported the suspect was in his 20s and that he has been in the U.S. for seven years and has an address in New York’s Brooklyn borough. Police shut down the entire block and there was a heavy police presence outside the home. The bus terminal is the busiest in the U.S., according to the Port Authority. On a typical weekday, about 2,20,000 passengers arrive or depart on more than 7,000 buses.

 In conversations with authorities, Ullah pledged allegiance to ISIS, according to one law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation. He is of Bangladeshi descent and lives in Brooklyn, two law enforcement sources told CNN. Ullah held a Taxi & Limousine Commission license from March 2012 to March 2015, after which the license was not renewed, TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg said. It’s unclear “whether he drove for any particular base, or whether he simply got the license but didn’t drive at all,” Fromberg said.

Ullah came to the United States in 2011 on an F43 family immigrant visa, said Department of Homeland Security spokesman Tyler Houlton. He is now a lawful permanent resident. According to the State Department, F43 visas are granted to children of American citizens’ siblings. It’s unclear if Ullah is linked to any terror organization. Authorities are investigating his pledge of loyalty to ISIS.

Republicans-led US Senate approves Tax Bill that benefits the wealthy and big corporations

Ajay GhoshU.S. 0
In the early hours of Saturday morning, December 2nd, Senate Republicans passed their version of a sweeping tax overhaul. Roughly five hours earlier, the Senate Finance Committee publicly released their final proposal of the Bill after weeks of closed door consultations and few days of public scrutiny of the important Tax Bill that will leave over a over a Trillion Dollars to the US deficit.
The Senate passed its tax plan in a 51-49 vote early on Saturday morning, with Vice-President Mike Pence presiding over the chamber and after a frantic rewrite. Bob Corker was the sole Republican to vote against the bill, which would bestow huge benefits on US corporations and the wealthiest Americans. “We think this is a great day for the country,” the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, said at a celebratory press conference.
Democrats remained united in their opposition, attacking the legislation as a giveaway to corporate America and the wealthy. “In the waning hours, this bill is tilting further towards businesses and away from families,” said Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, in a floor speech on Friday. “Every time the choice is between corporations and families, the Republicans choose corporations.”
The bill, among other things will continue to create inequality in the nation. The rich bnenfitting from the tax-cuts, while the poor and the middle income groups to be marginally benefitting from the plan, and that to for a period of 10 years only. The richest 20 percent of households reap 90 percent of the benefit of the tax cuts over that time period, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
The main focus of the tax bill is business. Republicans’ stated goal is to boost the economy. They argue that the best way to do this is to cut the taxes that businesses pay on profits, allowing companies to reinvest the money in new equipment and workers. In fact, the Senate bill centers on provisions to permanently cut the corporate tax rate — the rate paid directly by companies like Apple or Ford Motor — to 20% (from a top rate of 35%) starting in 2019, while also allowing a new deduction for individual taxpayers who own their own businesses.
Business owners tend to be wealthy — whether their assets take the form of stock holdings or privately owned ventures. The upshot is that the Senate tax plan’s benefits skew dramatically toward top earners.
According to the preliminary Tax Policy Center analysis, the top 1% of earners — those taking home more than about $900,000 a year — were set to reap about 60% of the total tax cut, for an average of more than $32,000 annually apiece. The top 0.1% — those earning $5 million or more — were to get an extra $200,000.
The GOP’s Senate tax bill, which passed in a close party-line vote, could give President Donald Trump his first legislative victory after Congress failed to overhaul the nation’s health system earlier this year.
It’s too early to tell precisely how the GOP tax plan would affect individual taxpayers. That’s because, in an effort to muster votes, Republicans continued tinkering with the tax bill behind closed doors up until a few hours before it actually passed, and the economists who typically crunch the numbers on new legislation haven’t had time to examine the tax bill’s results.
Like the House tax bill, passed earlier this month, the Senate version is largely built around reorganizing and lowering what corporations and other businesses pay in taxes in hopes of spurring economic growth. That said, middle-class Americans could be able to count on a tax cut too, at least during the next few years — assuming, that is, that the Senate bill can be reconciled with the House version and become law. You’ll probably see a tax cut, but maybe only in the short term.
Senate Republicans initially repealed the Alternative Minimum Tax, but have brought it back now in order to pay for some other additions. The AMT is intended to be a minimum tax on the wealthy. In this version, the GOP raises the income levels where it hits so it will affect fewer people. For individuals, the minimum threshold goes from $50,600 to $70,600. For those filing jointly, the threshold rises from $78,750 to $109,400.
Trump campaigned on a promise to cut middle-class taxes. And the Senate is delivering — sort of. One analysis of the tax plan, by the Tax Policy Center, a centrist think tank, found the average middle earner (someone taking home about $50,000 to $90,000) would reap an $850 tax break in 2019, benefiting in part from a standard deduction that would double to $12,000 for singles and $24,000 four couples.
Another preliminary analysis, this one by The New York Times, defined middle-class earners as those making $40,000 to $140,000 — and found that many of those, particularly the people that rely on the state and local tax deduction, could actually see a tax increase next year. However, the last minute, at the instance of Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins, would allow taxpayers to continue to deduct up to $10,000 in property taxes, would likely soften the blow for at least some of these middle-income taxpayers.
For most of the Americans, the benefits of the tax cuts are also likely to be temporary, as the tax breaks for them will expire in 2026, while the huge tax cuts for the corporations are made permanent. The bill also uses a new way to account for inflation, which could push some taxpayers into higher brackets. By 2027, savings for the average taxpayer earning roughly $50,000 to $90,000 will have shrunk to just $50, the Tax Policy Center found.
During the campaign Trump promised a tax cut that would be “revenue neutral.” The idea was that, while government receipts might initially fall when rates were cut, economic growth would boost American’s incomes enough to replace the lost revenue despite the lower rates. Howver, even accounting for economic growth, the Senate plan will add about $1 trillion to the debt over the next decade, according a report from non-partisan Joint Committee On Taxation.
Many economist believe that piling still more debt on top of what the government already owes — currently $14 trillion — could eventually lead investors to sour on U.S. bonds. The result would be higher interest rates, which would push up borrowing costs for everyone from the government itself to most U.S. businesses. That in turn could choke off whatever extra growth the tax cuts spurred in the first place.
The stated goal of tax reform is improving the economy, and the right-leaning Tax Foundation predicted in November that the bill (as it stood at the time) could ultimately help the U.S. add almost a million new jobs over the next decade. But economists are divided about whether that growth will in fact play out as hoped.
The Tax Foundation tends to see rates remaining low, even as the deficit increases — hence its rosy job forecast. But many economists disagree. Earlier this month, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania estimated the tax cut could add as little as 0.03 to 0.08 percentage points to annual GDP growth over the next decade, which would presumably bring far fewer jobs.
the big winners in the GOP bill that the Senate passed early Saturday morning are corporations and the wealthy. Trump himself ― a billionaire ― stands to gain millions through the elimination of certain taxes. Far from being a middle-class tax cut, the measure is a massive corporate giveaway, a bill that recycles decades of Republican ideology on trickle-down economics and trusts that executives will hand over their new gains to average-income workers. “If my friends here want to give a tax cut to the middle class,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) asked on the Senate floor Thursday, “why don’t we give a tax cut to the middle class?”
And the bill makes other changes that reach far beyond the tax code itself. It repeals the individual mandate from the Affordable Care Act, a major change that was added in recent weeks as part of a broader GOP effort to dismantle the Obama-era law. The measure is expected to leave 13 million more people uninsured. It authorizes oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. And by curtailing deductions for state and local taxes, it will put pressure on some state and local spending on education, transportation and public health programs.
The tax package still must clear a couple more hurdles before it can become law. There are numerous differences between the House and Senate versions, ranging from when certain tax cuts expire to how the estate tax is handled, and though none are seen as showstoppers, complications could arise.
“The bill is investing heavily in the wealthy and their children — by boosting the value of their stock portfolios, creating new loopholes for them to avoid tax on their labor income, and cutting taxes on massive inheritances,” Lily Batchelder, a New York University professor who worked as an economist under President Barack Obama, said. “At the same time, it leaves low- and middle-income workers with even fewer resources to invest in their children, and increases the number of Americans without health insurance.”
America’s rich have gotten richer for decades, while the middle class and poor have seen meager gains. Since the mid-20th century, the top 1 percent have more than doubled their share of the nation’s income, from less than 10 percent to more than 20 percent.  The tax overhaul the Republican Party passed through the Senate would make America’s income inequality worse. Maybe a lot worse, economists say. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on the Senate floor that this day would be remembered as one of the “great robberies in U.S. history.”

Pope Francis meets representatives of various Religions during historic visit to Bangladesh

Ajay GhoshCulture/Religion 0
“Our meeting, which brings together representatives of the various religious communities present in this country, represents a highly significant moment in my Visit to Bangladesh,” Pope Francis said on December 2, 2017. “For we have gathered to deepen our friendship and to express our shared desire for the gift of genuine and lasting peace.”
His remarks come at the Inter-religious and Ecumenical Meeting for Peace took place in the garden of the Archbishop of Dhaka. The meeting included representatives of various religious communities, including, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Catholic, as well as civil society.

When Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Dec. 1 in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, there was a substantial attendance of Catholic cardinals and bishops from neighboring India. The pope was not invited to Hindu-majority India amid perceived political sensitivities. However, the largely Muslim nation of Bangladesh had no such qualms about welcoming the pope for his Nov. 30-Dec. 2 visit. “I’m carrying the love and loyalty of Catholics in West Bengal to the pope,” said Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta, the Indian port city on the Bay of Bengal.

The original plan was for Pope Francis to visit India and Bangladesh, but this was changed to Myanmar and Bangladesh. The tentative itinerary was altered in August, observers say, after the Indian government failed to issue an invitation fearing the presence of the pope would alienate Hindu voters.

Archbishop D’Souza told the media that he would invite Pope Francis to make a future visit to Kolkata, formerly called Calcutta, where St. Mother Teresa founded her famous Missionaries of Charity congregation to serve the poorest of the poor. The nuns in the Kolkata headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity also regretted the fact that the papal itinerary would not include India and their city. “We would have loved it if the pope had come to Kolkata,” said senior Missionaries of Charity Sister Eta. “But it is God’s will that he is not coming.”

During his address to the inter-religious leaders in Dhaka, the Holy Father said, “Our meeting, which brings together representatives of the various religious communities present in this country, represents a highly significant moment in my Visit to Bangladesh.  For we have gathered to deepen our friendship and to express our shared desire for the gift of genuine and lasting peace.”
Referring to the addresses by other leaders and the music and dances, the Pontiff said, they “have enlivened our assembly, have spoken to us eloquently of the yearning for harmony, fraternity and peace embodied in the teachings of the world’s religions.  May our meeting this afternoon be a clear sign of the efforts of the leaders and followers of the religions present in this country to live together in mutual respect and goodwill.”
Pope Francis praised believers and all people of good will who are increasingly “called to cooperate in shaping a culture of encounter, dialogue, and cooperation in the service of our human family.  This entails more than mere tolerance.  It challenges us to reach out to others in mutual trust and understanding, and so to build a unity that sees diversity not as a threat, but as a potential source of enrichment and growth.  It challenges us to cultivate an openness of heart that views others as an avenue, not a barrier.”
He urged all peoples of the world, representing all religions to have a “spirit of openness, acceptance, and cooperation between believers does not simply contribute to a culture of harmony and peace; it is its beating heart.  How much our world needs this heart to beat strongly, to counter the virus of political corruption, destructive religious ideologies, and the temptation to turn a blind eye to the needs of the poor, refugees, persecuted minorities, and those who are most vulnerable.  How much, too, is such openness needed in order to reach out to the many people in our world, especially the young, who at times feel alone and bewildered as they search for meaning in life!”

Shri Venkiah Naidu, Vice President of India, to Preside Over Closing Ceremony of AAPI’s

Ajay GhoshHealth 0
 11th Annual Global Healthcare Summit In Kolkata, West Bengal
New York, NY: December 3, 2017: “The Honorable Shri Venkiah Naidu, the Vice President of India, has gracious consented to be the Chief Guest at the 11th annual Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) organized by the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs & Indian Ministry of Health and the government of West Bengal, on December 30th,” Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI, announced here today.
In a personal letter dated November 29th, with a hand-written note to Dr. Samadder, Shri Naidu wrote, “Dear Sir Gautam Samadder ji, Namaste. Thank you for your letter dated November 16th, 2017. I shall be glad to be the Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony of the 11th American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Global Healthcare Summit on December 30th, 2017 at Kolkata.”
The historic Summit is being held at the famous JW Marriott, Kolkata, West Bengal, India from December 28th to 31st, 2017 and will be attended and addressed by over 50 world renowned speakers from India, US and from around the world, and industry. With world renowned artists performing on stage, the delegates at the Summit will be treated to an exceptionally high quality cultural extravaganza. The Summit will also result in the inauguration of the first ever free AAPI sponsored health clinic in the state of West
Bengal, serving thousands of people from the north eastern region of India.
With over 200 physicians from the United States, the Summit is expected to be attended by nearly 1,000 delegates from around the world. Dr. Samadder said, “To be held for the first time in Kolkata, this year, AAPI Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) will have many new initiatives and also will be carrying the torch of ongoing projects undertaken by AAPI’s past leaders. In addition, several prominent leaders both from India and abroad will be addressing the Summit, including the President of India and the Chief Minister of West Bengal.”
Offering Trainings to First Responders, a CEO Forum by a galaxy of CEOs from around the world, inauguration of AAPI-sponsored clinic, CMEs, cultural events, Dinner Cruise on the Ganges, interactive roundtables, clinical practice workshops, scientific poster/research session and meet-the-expert sessions, Women’s Forum by internally acclaimed successful worm from India, a special session on Public-Private Partnership featuring AAPI Healthcare Charitable showcase & innovation, and Town Hall sessions resulting in a White Paper on helping create policies benefitting the people of India, are only some of the major highlights of the Healthcare Summit, Dr. Naresh Parekh, President-Elect of AAPI, said.
The GHS Pre-Summit (DUBAI) at the  Hyatt Regency from December 24-28, 2017, will provide a unique Christmas Dinner Cruise, City tour to Palm Island, Khalifa Tower, Burj Hotel, Dubai mall, Dubai Museum, etc. Desert Safari including camel ride and belly dancing shows. The Post GHS TOUR to the heavenly Bhutan from January 1-4, 2018, will take delegates to the world renowned and ancient  Takshang Monestary, Hike in Tiger’s Nest, Buddha Dordenma, National Heritage museum & Dochula. For those who want to enjoy the beautiful Assam, can tour this beautiful state of Assam from January 4-8, 2018, touringf Kaziranga National Park including Rhino Park, Nehru Stadium, Assam Rajyik State Museum, Guwahati Market, Kamakhya Temple and dinner at the Governor’s Mansion. The Summit will also offer everyday Guided Tours and Evening Entertainments to the delegates, and will conclude with a special New Year’s eve gala party, welcoming the New Year 2018 with family, fun and entertainment.
“With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, both in India and US, we are refocusing our mission and vision, AAPI would like to make a positive meaningful impact on the healthcare delivery system both in the US and in India,” Dr. Samadder said. For more information on Global Health Summit, please visit www.aapiusa.org

Deepika Padukone wants to feel “protected” Over ‘Padmavati’

Ajay GhoshEntertainment 0

After getting several threats over her film “Padmavati,” actress Deepika Padukone says she would like to feel “safer and protected” at this point. In an interview with “Talking Movies: India Special” for BBC World News, the actress voiced her opinion on the whole stir. In a recent interview, Deepika expressed her need to feel safe. Asked whether she would like protection from the state, she said, “In an ideal world, yes. I think it is too soon to tell. But yes it would be nicer to feel safer or protected at this point.”

The row over filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Padmavati” continues to intensify after a Shri Rajput Karni Sena member threatened to chop off actress Deepika Padukone’s nose amid a call for “Bharat Bandh” (shutdown) on Dec. 1 when the film is slated for pan-India release.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s attempt to bring alive the story of Rajput queen Rani Padmavati on the silver screen with his movie “Padmavati” hasn’t gone down well with Hindu groups backed by the BJP. Bhansali’s Padmavati has been at the heart of a fiery controversy , which has now become a nation-wide debate. The film revolves around the tale of Rani Padmini of Chittor, and  fringe Rajput groups are less than pleased about this.

It features Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as her husband and a warrior king and Ranveer Singh essays Alauddin Khilji.

Bhansali faced many hiccups while shooting the film, but the protests escalated as the film neared its release date. There are conjectures that it “distorts history” regarding the Rajput queen, and Bhansali has denied it repeatedly. The movie’s release date has been deferred from the original Dec. 1 date, but there are efforts from Hindu groups to have it banned.

Despite several clarifications by the Padmavati team, they’re convinced that there is a romantic dream sequence between Alauddin Khilji and Rani Padmini in the film. Spearheaded by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, they’ve been protesting for a ban of the film in every state, and have issued death threats to Bhansali and Deepika Padukone on a regular basis.

“Padmavati,” which also features Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, is yet to be certified by CBFC. However, the Rajput community has demanded a special screening of the film for them before it hits the theatres. Shri Rajput Karni Sena member Mahipal Singh Makrana said in a self-made video that “Rajputs never raise a hand on women, but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha.”

During the shooting of the film earlier this year, a few members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had physically assaulted Bhansali in Jaipur. The party members also set fire to the film’s set in Maharashtra. Padmavati has been banned in Bihar, Madhya Pradhesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, even before its release.

A reward of Rs 10-crore was announced for beheading filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepika Padukone over their film “Padmavati.” Kunwar Surajpal Singh Ammu, a ruling BJP leader in Haryana, said he firmly stands by his announcement of Rs 10-crore reward for beheading the two.

Ammu, chief media coordinator of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, said he stated a “Rajput” and not as an office-bearer of the party. Ammu said he had doubled the bounty on the heads of Padukone and Bhansali to Rs 10 crore. Ammu also issued a threat to break the legs of actor Ranveer Singh.

Various organizations, political parties, and individuals have stood up for the Rajput community and have opposed the release of “Padmavati” over apprehensions that it distorts history in telling the tale of Rajput queen Padmavati. The Congress party also said that if there are scenes that hurt the sentiments of a particular community then the same need to be reviewed.

On the other hand, Deepika Padukone in an interview with IANS said nothing could stop the release of the film. “It’s appalling; it’s absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed,” she said.

While the film is drawing a lot of flak from the political parties, Bhansali is getting unstinted support from the film community. “There is no fear, and one shouldn’t be scared either because I think this is a democratic country and everybody should be allowed to make films they want to make,” Aditi Rao Hydari, who is part of “Padmavati,” said.

Actress Richa Chadha, who worked with Bhansali in “Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela,” said: “With all due respect and love, I am also a Hindu, and I don’t think religion is so weak that a movie can break it. And I think it is a specialty of India that we are a democracy, so watch the film before objecting.” Celebrities like Salman Khan, Karan Johar and Javed Akhtar also expressed their support to the film. Tamil film actor Kamal Haasan stands in support of “Padmavati” actress Deepika Padukone and says he respects the actress’ freedom. He also urged “cerebral India” to wake up.

“I want Deepika’s head.. saved. Respect it more than her body. Even more her freedom. Do not deny her that. Many communities have opposed my films. Extremism in any debate is deplorable. Wake up cerebral India. Time to think. We’ve said enough. Listen Ma Bharat,” Haasan wrote on Twitter.

Ajit Pai, FCC chairman wants net neutrality ended

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Ajit Pai says his children are being harassed over net neutrality

Ajit Pai, President Trump appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is all set to scrap rules around open internet access, a move that would allow giant cable and telecom companies to throttle broadband speeds and favor their own services if they wish.

Ajit Pai followed through on a pledge to try to repeal “net neutrality” regulations enacted under the Obama administration. The current rules treat internet service providers such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon as if they were utility companies that provide essential services, like electricity. The rules mandate that they give equal access to all online content and apps.

Pai said those rules discourage investments that could provide even better and faster online access. Instead, he said new rules would force ISPs to be transparent about their services and management policies, and then would let the market decide.

“Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the internet,” Pai said in a statement. Pai distributed his alternative plan to other FCC commissioners in preparation for a Dec. 14 vote. Although the FCC’s two Democrats said they will oppose the proposal, the repeal is likely to prevail as Republicans dominate 3-2. The vote for net neutrality in 2015 was also along party lines, but Democrats dominated then.

Equal treatment for all web traffic has been a fundamental principle of the internet since its creation but companies have increasingly put their thumb on the scales of access. AT&T, for example, doesn’t count use of its streaming service DirecTV Now against wireless data caps, potentially making it seem cheaper to its cellphone customers than rival TV services. Rivals would have to pay AT&T for that privilege. Regulators, consumer advocates and some tech companies are concerned that repealing net neutrality will give ISPs even more power to block or slow down rival offerings.

A repeal also opens the ability for ISPs to charge a company like Netflix for a faster path to its customers. Allowing this paid-priority market to exist could skew prices and create winners and losers among fledgling companies that require a high-speed connection to end users.

Meanwhile, in an interview this week, Ajit Pai said his family has become the target of harassment. Protesters against the new policy had put up cardboard signs at Pai’s home in suburban Virginia. One sign, appearing to refer to Pai’s children, read: “They will come to know the truth. Dad murdered Democracy in cold blood.”

Pai said those signs crossed a line, even as he noted the charged debate over net neutrality. “I understand that people are passionate about policy, but the one thing in America that should remain sacred is that families, wives and kids, should remain out of it. And stop harassing us at our homes.”

Pai has said his proposal would restore a “light-touch” regulatory framework for Internet services and would stop the government from micromanaging the Internet. Broadband and wireless companies such as Comcast and Verizon applauded Pai’s move. But Internet companies and activists see the undoing of net neutrality as an invitation for corporate abuse, in which service providers block websites they do not like and charge Web companies for speedier delivery of their content.

“It was a little nerve-racking, especially for my wife,” Pai said. Pai suggested that the intense criticism leveled at him for targeting neutrality rules can lead to the type of harassment his family experienced. “That’s one of the things I think is very unfortunate about all the vitriol and hot air that’s out there is that if you keep going out there and peddling this misinformation like, ‘This is the guy who is going to break the Internet and destroy democracy,’ it’s not surprising that some people get alarmed by it.”

Pai said in a statement, “Internet regulation activists have crossed the line by threatening and harassing my family. They should leave my family out of this and focus on debating the merits of the issue.”

Onkar N Sharma, Kamlesh Mehta inducted to Board of Directors, IAPC

Ajay GhoshProfiles 0

“The Indo-American Press Club (IAPC) is happy to welcome Onkar N Sharma, Kamlesh Mehta inducted to Board of Directors of the premier Press Club, formed with lofty ideal of providing a common platform to journalists of Indian origin living in the United States, while fostering closer bonds and cooperation among an extensive network of journalists across the nation, who are committed to professionalism and have the well-being of the larger society,” said Babu Stephen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IAPC, in a statement.

Onkar N Sharma Esq. is the Managing Attorney at Sharma Law Group, CHTD. He has also been kind enough to be the legal advisor to the Indo American Press Club since March 2017. In the media industry he is well known for running the versatile show ‘Washington Focus’ for more than 15 years under the Darshan TV.

He is also a regular columnist in the weekly newspapers ‘Express India’ and ‘India This week’ that featuring news and trends from the sub-continent, published from the U.S. Capital.

Sharma was never confined to the limits of his professional life battling oddities for clients, he took time to resolve, advice and guide individuals and families through his engagements in open discussion forms, as a columnist for legal troubles in print media and as a generous contributor with many NGO’s.  As a sought after attorney specializing in legal matters pertaining to the Hotel/Motel/Franchising streams his engagements keep him on a tight clock.

Kamlesh Mehta is a Long Island based media entrepreneur, senior Rotarian, community leader, businessman and philanthropist. Hailing from a prominent Jain family in Rajasthan, he started his diamond trading business in Bombay in 1985  before migrating to New York in 1986 to set up an expansive business of rare  gemstones and diamonds.

He delved into the media business in 2008, founding The South Asian Times, an award-winning leading weekly newspaper for the community. Ventures of his Forsythe Media group include The Asian Era, a lifestyle magazine.

In January 2010, Mehta was appointed to the Nassau County administration to the prestigious position of Director of Business and Economic Development, where he served for over five years.

In September 2009 Mr Mehta became the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Hicksville South. He rose in the international organization to serve as Governor of RI District 7255 in the year 2015-16.

He has been honored as a major Rotary donor and has donated profusely to religious centers and social causes.

He is also associated with many community organizations including as founder of Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), founder of India Day Parade in Long Island that started in 2012 in Hicksville.

He has been nominated to the board of directors of a few businesses and has been recognized with many Lifetime Achievement awards and citations from community organizations and elected officials.

Ginsmon Zachariah, past Chairman of IAPC BOD, said, “We are indeed honored to have his consent to be on the Board of Directors of IAPC 2018. The Indo-American Press Club consists of a cohesive and vibrant group of journalists, media professionals and freelancers working or associating with print, broadcast and online media outlets in North America. It is an effective and credible platform for Indian American journalists and media professionals to associate and network with a sense of belonging.”

According to Zachariah, IAPC represents media persons, who work in diverse ethnic as well as mainstream media world here in the United States, including, print, visual, electronic and web-based. IAPC  has envisioned for itself, a significant role in recognizing and nurturing the true potential of journalists and media professionals in the United States and Canada, while collaborating with media fraternity across the globe. At the recently held 4th annual International Media Conference, IAPC members renewed their commitment to the well-being of their  fraternity and reaffirmed their resolve to be positive change agents in the society.

IAPC has Nine Chapters across the US and Canada, and has been organizing he Media Conferences every year with over 250 participants and guests over two days, consisting of inspiring seminars, discussions, debates, roundtables, youth forums, business sessions and entertainment programs.

IAPC, a registered nonprofit organization, is committed to enhancing the working conditions for journalists, exchanging of ideas, offering educational opportunities to our members and to aspiring journalists around the globe. While striving to have greater coordination and networking among journalists, its motto is to “be the voice of the community of Indian American journalists.” For more information, please visit: www.indoamericanpresslub.com

Governor Rick Scott appoints Dr. Zach Zachariah to the Florida State University System Board of Governors

Ajay GhoshU.S. 0
Dr. Zachariah P. Zachariah, one of the nation’s leading cardiologists, medical director of UHealth Cardiology in Fort Lauderdale, FL, has been appointed to the Florida State University System Board of Governors by the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott on October 27th, 2017. Dr. Zachariah has previously been appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve on the Board of Medicine.
“It is an honor to serve on the 17-member board, whose responsibilities include defining each institution’s mission, setting the curriculum, and managing the system’s coordination and operation,” said Zachariah, whose term will run until January 9, 2019. “I am looking forward to exploring potential public-private educational partnerships and programs with academic institutions like the University of Miami.”
Along with the Indian American cardiologist, Gov. Scott also appointed another Indian American Jay Patel, and Patricia Frost, Tim Cerio, and Ned Lautenbach to be on the Board of Governors. They have been appointed to terms beginning Oct. 27 and ending Jan. 6, 2019.  The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate, but are expected to be formalities.
The 17-member Board of Governors oversees the 12 universities within the State University System of Florida, which is the nation’s second-largest public university system, according to their website.
According to media reports, Zachariah, a GOP fundraiser considered among the most influential Indian-American Republicans, has been a longtime friend of the Bush family. During the tenure of President George H. W. Bush, and his sons, President George W. Bush and two-term former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, he held several influential positions. He belonged to the White House Commission on Asian and Pacific Islanders and was chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine.
Director of the Fort Lauderdale Heart Institute. In addition, he is also Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine, and a member of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council of the National Institutes of Health. Among Dr. Zachariah’s professional credentials are certification in the American Board of Internal Medicine and in the sub-specialty Board of Cardiovascular Diseases.
He is also a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the Society for Cardiac Angiography, the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the Society of Clinical Scientists. In addition, his research papers and abstracts have been published in Circulation, the American Journal of Cardiology, the Southern Medical Journal, the Royal Society of Medicine, and Clinical Research. Dr. Zachariah received his medical training at the Armed Forces Medical College in Poona, India, and did his medical residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey.
He was awarded a fellowship in cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. There, he worked closely with the late Mason Sones, M.D., who pioneered the technique of coronary arteriography and paved the way for modern cardiology. Dr. Zachariah has personally performed over 10,000 cardiac catheterizations and 2,000 PTCA’s. In addition, Dr. Zachariah is a member of the Commission to study long-term care in the State of Florida and was appointed by Florida’s Insurance Commissioner.
Dr. Zachariah is a member of the Health Advisory Committee and the Citizen Advisory Committee appointed by U.S. Senator Connie Mack. Active with the American Heart Association, Dr. Zachariah is President of the Broward Region, and past President of the American Heart Association, Florida Affiliate.
Zachariah served at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the NIH, as a member of the U.S. delegation to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and as President of the Fort Lauderdale Heart Institute at Holy Cross Hospital.
His awards include the Ellis Island American Legend Award, the Child Advocate of the Year Award, Father of the Year Award, Spirit of Life Award from City of Hope, the Golden Heart Award from the American Heart Association, Freedom Foundation Medal of Honor from the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Currently, Dr. Zachariah serves on the Advisory Board of The Universal News Network, www.theunn.com

AAPI Launches Veterans Obesity Awareness Campaign in New York

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0
(New York, NY: November 4, 2017) Over 3/4th of Veterans receiving care in VA facilities are considered to be overweight or obese and struggling with weight related issues. The epidemic of obesity across our country has adverse effects on morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditures. American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the most dynamic and ethnic organization representing more than 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, officially launched Veterans Obesity Awareness Campaign (VOAC) at a solemn ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York on Thursday, November 2nd, 2017.
 
Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI, in his presidential address, said, AAPI has joined a team from VA in its mission to improve the Health and Healthcare of Overweight and Obese Veterans along with other organizations including WHEELS Global Foundation (WGF), Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) and VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS (VFW) and MOVE! Weight Management Program in developing the “Veteran Obesity Awareness Campaign”. Leaders representing each of these groups signed the official document, pledging to work together in the campaign supporting in at least one hundred VA facilities throughout the continental United States .
 
“The goal of the campaign is to support in one hundred VA facilities throughout the continental United States,” he said. Towards this end, AAPI has formed an adhoc committee to oversee its functions, consisting of  Dr. Samadder, President of AAPI, Dr. Vikas Kuarna, Chir; Dr. Uma Koduri and Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Co-Chairs. 
 
“Coming from a nation that has given much to the world, today physicians of Indian origin have become a powerful influence in medicine across the world. Nowhere is their authority more keenly felt than in the United States, where Indians make up the largest non-Caucasian segment of the American medical community,” Dr. Samadder said.  “The overrepresentation of Indians in the field of medicine is striking – in practical terms, one out of seven doctors in the United States is of Indian Heritage. We provide medical care to over 40 million of US population, caring for one in every seven patients in the nation. There are 150 AAPI Chapters across the nation and it has an ever growing membership of Indian American Physicians,” he reported.
 
Providing a brief back ground to the launch and initiative of the Obesity awareness program for the Veterans, Dr. Sammadder said, a few years back, AAPI organized a highly successful “Childhood Obesity Awareness Campaign (COAC)” with a goal to help fight the childhood obesity problem by providing education to the students & their parents. Starting with the Pilot program in 2013, AAPI adopted close to 80 schools across the United States where they are promoting “Wear Yellow” for Obesity& Childhood Obesity Awareness, 5-2-1-0 and Choose My Plate concept with the tag line of “Be Fit. Be Cool.” This success story has inspired AAPI to take on this major challenge among Veterans today, he declared.
 
Deputy Consul General of India in New York, who had inaugurated event with the lighting of the traditional lamp, said, “We are proud to host AAPI as it launches this significant event for Veterans.” While praising the contributions of Veterans, she said, the United States stands among the top nations of the world due the sacrifices made by Veterans. Describing Physicians of Indian Origin as a flourishing and highly influential community, the Indian official said, “This noble initiative is a great way of giving back to their adopted land.”
 
Joshua Starks, a retired Commander in the US Army, shared with the audience, his own personal experiences in his own family and among his colleagues in the Army, about the many challenges faced in tackling obesity among Veterans.  Describing obesity as a “symptom of the many major problems” faced by Veterans, Starks told the audience about the ways in which the Veterans are affected physically, mentally and emotionally after they return from deployment around the world, while defending freedom and liberty. According to him, the efforts at the VA in Tulsa has helped hundreds of Veterans by the older Veterans becoming mentors of the younger ones, and in the process finding meaning and purpose in life.
 
Dr. Vikas Khurana, in his address said, “The collaborative launch of the Veteran Obesity Awareness Campaign (VOAC) is a way of seeking to acknowledge and to create awareness about obesity among veterans as a national problem.
 
Dr. Uma Koduri provided the audience with a brief description of her efforts in Tulsi, Oklahoma in successfully launching Childhood Obesity awareness campaign, which was later on adopted by AAPI at the national level and now the initiative to help Veterans has become a national movement with the larger AAPI taking it across the nation.
 
Dr. Satish Kathula told the audience of the enormous cost, $200 Billion a year, spent in addressing the obesity problem in the country. This new initiative by AAPI and its partners is a way to educate AAPI members of the problems and create awareness among them and enable them to work towards preventing obesity among veterans and the larger population, he said.
 
Dr. Raj Bhayani, Coordinator of the event, in his introductory remarks, called obesity a form of “terror” from within us. “If we do not run, obesity will run behind us,” he said.
 
Rajat Gupta, an Indian American businessman and philanthropist, in his address, said, “With a vision to use technology to enable philanthropy, WHEELS Global Foundation (WGF) is a non-profit organization, that is a pioneer in applying technology to provide solutions to issues related with water, health, education, energy, livelihood, and sustainability.” Founded by the alumni of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), the foundation partners with non-profits based in the U.S. and India to raise awareness and implement solutions for issues related to their six focus areas. 
 
Dr. Sudhir Parikh, representing Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), which is partnering with AAPI, in this initiative, said, GAPIO is a nonprofit organization and its vision is “Improving Health Worldwide”. GAPIO stands to empower physicians of Indian origin to achieve highest professional standards, to provide affordable good quality healthcare, to contribute to local and regional community development and thereby help to reduce health inequalities and alleviate suffering globally. While lauding AAPI’s efforts, Dr. Parikh offered whole-hearted support to AAPI in achieving the goals of the campaign.
 
MOVE! Weight Management Program, is another program, supported by VA’s National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP), that is part of this larger initiative by AAPI to spread awareness about obesity among Veterans. MOVE! is a weight management health promotion program designed to improve the lives of Veterans. Their goals are to annually screen every Veteran who receives care at VA facilities for obesity, refer individuals to weight management services, and make available different treatment options that fit the needs and preferences of our Veterans.
 
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the nation’s oldest major veterans’ organization, is another partner with AAPI to work towards creating awareness of this major issue. VFW has an impeccable and longstanding record of service and stewardship. Their mission is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts, to serve our veterans, the military and our communities & to advocate on behalf of all veterans.
 
AAPI is an umbrella organization representing dozens of local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, AAPI represents the interests of over nearly 100,000 physicians, medical students and residents of Indian heritage in the United States. It is the largest ethnic medical organization in the nation. For more, please visit:  www.aapiusa.org

Rep. Pramila Jayapal among those honored at Kerala Center’s 25th annual awards gala

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

(Long Island, NY: November 5, 2017) Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian American woman elected to the U.S Congress, representing Washington state’s seventh Congressional District, was among those honored at the 25th annual gala of the The Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center at the World Fairs marina, Queens, New York on Saturday, November 4thg, 2017.

Rep. Jayapal of Kerala origin, a rising star in the Democratic Party, was honored for her achievements in Political Leadership. Attorney Appen Menon, a partner at Wormser, Kiely, Galef & Jacobs LLP law firm in New York for contribution in Legal Services; writer Dr. Sheela N.P. for Literature; Dr. A.K.B. Pillai for Humanities; Community volunteer Sheela Sreekumar for Community Service; and Ginsmon Zacharia, for achievement in Media, were others who were honored for their achievements in their respective field of specialization or for their service to the society at its 25th Anniversary Awards Banquet.

The Center also honored five of its pioneers with Silver Jubilee Year Life Time Achievement Awards. The 25th Jubilee Year Life Time Achievers are Shanti Bhavan Founder Dr. Abraham George, Industrialist and Founder & Chairman of Sami-Sabinsa Group Dr. Muhammed Majeed; Philanthropist Sreedhar Menon; Columbia University Professor P. Somasundaran and Entrepreneur Dilip Varghese. Also honored with a ‘surprise award” was E M Stephen, the pioneer and first President and the Center’s current Executive Director for his visionary and hard work in establishing and running the center in the past quarter century.

While lauding the contributions and achievements of the Malayalee community, chief guest at the gala, Consul General of India in New York Sandeep Chakravorty, “Kerala Diaspora has made India so proud. They are incredibly strong and enormous,” he said. Referring to the strong Indo-US relationship, the Indian Ambassador paid tributes to the larger Indian American community for their contributions towards making the relationship between the largest and the greatest democracies to be growing and poised to be stronger for the next 100 years.

In her address, Congresswoman Jayapal shared with the audience her own growing up in a traditional Kerala family, immigrating to the US as a student and the aspirations of the family. “My parents would be delighted to hear of this honor today at the Kerala Center,” she told the audience, referring to her family’s long association with Sreedhar Monon, a founding member and pillar of the Kerala Center.

Pointing to the fast growing Indian American community, the lone woman Representative from South Asia in the US Congress said, “There are many more coming forward to fight elections and making our voices heard” in the decision making process of our nation’s destiny, she said, while referring to at least 8 persons of South Asian origin contesting elections in her state in the upcoming elections this week. Urging the Indian American community to be more politically active, Jayapal said, “If you don’t vote, you are giving away your voice.”

While describing today as the “greatest day for Kerala Center” the Executive Director E.M. Stephen said that the Center had recognized 140 achievers in the last 25 years, who have continued to become bigger achievers and contributors to the society. He called upon the new generation of Indian Americans to come forward and take on more responsibilities at the Center and in the larger community and the society.

“Kerala Center has been honoring outstanding achievers since 1991 and every year we invite nominations and the committee has to make a unanimous choice for a candidate in a category to receive the award and this year is no different from previous years in terms of their achievements,” said Kerala Center President Thambi Thalappillil. “In 25 years, Kerala Center has become a secular civic institution providing services to the Indian American community and we are recognizing those who were honored earlier by the Center and who went on to become successful achievers and contributors to society with Life Time Achievement,” said Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of the 25th Anniversary Dinner.

The gala began with the national anthems of both Indian and the Un ited states sung beautifully by the youth group members of the Kerala Center, and they entertained the audience with cinematic dances. The event concluded with light music entertainment and a sumptuous dinner.

Born in Chennai, India, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is the first Indian American woman elected to the U.S House of Representatives. She is a Senior Whip for the Democratic Caucus, Vice Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and she also serves on the prestigious House Judiciary Committee. Before getting elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Jayapal served in the Washington State Senate and was the founder and executive director of OneAmerica, the largest immigrant advocacy organization in Washington state.

Appen Menon is a partner at Wormser, Kiely, Galef& Jacobs LLP, a law firm in New York and has been providing legal service for the last 3 decades. He represents banks in problem loan workouts and litigation involving debt recovery and mortgage foreclosures and advises financial institutions in their compliance and regulatory matters and on Letters of Credit and secured lending. His corporate law practice includes domestic and foreign corporations in matters relating to domestic acquisitions, cross-border acquisitions involving India and the United States, while representing business entities in their corporate transactions, litigation and corporate governance. Menon also represents corporations in their professional visa matters such as H-1, L-1 and PERM. His clients include technology companies, banks and multinational corporations.

Dr. Sheela N.P. is an accomplished writer in numerous journals and periodicals. She has seven published works including a novel, for which she was the recipient of an international award. She began her teaching career at St. Xavier’s College, Aluva, where she served as the Head of Hindi Department for 35 years. She had also served as a visiting faculty in several seminaries for Malayalam and Sanskrit. She has a Ph.D. in comparative literature and elegy from Cochin University of Science and Technology. In addition, Sheela has post-graduate degrees in Hindi, English, Sanskrit and Malayalam and also diplomas in Theology and Christian women education.

Dr. A.K.B. Pillai is an integrated personality of wisdom, spirituality and creativity. He has higher levels of education in many disciplines, including an M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University in Anthropology, for which he held a Research Fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health, USA. He continues as an Associate of University Seminars (post- doctoral) at Columbia University. His specializations include Comparative Literature with techniques of creative writing, other disciplines in the humanities and medical sciences. Dr. A.K.B. Pillai is a practitioner of his own Integral Development Therapy, Personality Development System and Developmental Transcultural Psychiatry, with resources also drawn from psychological and mystical Yoga sciences. Dr. Pillai’s lifelong dedicated philosophy is that all wisdom is for social well-being, which he practices with his spouse, Professor Donna Pillai. He is listed in many Who’s Whos of the world.

Sheela Sreekumar is involved in many local, national and global community organizations in the US and is working for the community around her. Born and brought up in Vayalar, Kerala, she attended N.S.S. Women’s College, Trivandrum and later completed her Law Degree from The Government Law College in Ernakulam. After coming to the US, she has served as the President of Karuna Charities of New York; the President and Board of Trusty Chair of Kerala Association of NJ; Advisor to World Malayalee Council of NJ; Chairperson of FOMAA’s Mid- Atlantic Region; Representative of D.C. 37, and also as the Secretary of Asian American Association at New York City Housing Authority. Currently Sheela works as a Community Coordinator of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability Unit at the New York Housing Authority to help the residents for their job education and financial stability.

Hailing from Thodupuzha, Ginsmon Zacharia dedicated 17 years of his life to the news media. Currently he is coordinator of the Indo-American Press Club, an organization that he founded and chaired. His decision to choose print and visual media indeed served him right. He is also the Director of Jaihind TV USA, which made headlines hosting reality shows in all major North American cities. It served as a platform for young talents to be heard and seen and loved by the viewership of the channel. The weekly program US Dairy brought to the attention of the authorities the difficulties and problems the Indian immigrants face in the US. Having successfully started and established newspapers in UK and US with circulation in Canada, he strategized techniques to earn the reader’s trust. He is the publisher and chairman of Jaihind Vartha, Aksharam magazine and The Asia Era in the US. For more information on The Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center and diverse activities and programs throughout the year, please visit: http://keralacenterny.com

Madhu Valli, Miss India Worldwide 2017 wants to be “the next biggest bridge between Bollywood and Hollywood”

Ajay GhoshFashion, India, Profiles 0

Madhu Valli, an emerging hip hop artist and a student of criminal law at George Mason University in Virginia, was crowned as Miss India Worldwide 2017 during a glittering pageant that drew crew contestants from around the world at the 26th edition of the beauty pageant held at the Royal Albert’s Palace in Fords, New Jersey on Sunday on October 8th. “I want to be the next biggest bridge between Bollywood and Hollywood,” Valli said a day after winning the pageant. She bested 16 other contestants to get the crown from the last year’s winner, Karina Kohli.

Another Indian-American, Sarita Pattnaik, an interior designer from Texas, was declared Mrs. India Worldwide; the mother of two, said she wants to be a social activist and become a voice for women’s empowerment.

Stephanie Madavane from France was declared runner up Sangeeta Bahadur from Guyana took the third spot at the pageant that had contestants from 18 countries. Canada-based Guyanese and humanitarian Sangeeta Bahadur also secured for herself the Miss Congeniality Award.

Valli, 20, released her latest album, “High School,” a day before the pageant. “I want to be the next biggest bridge between Bollywood and Hollywood,” Valli said. She said her dream is to be a recording artist, and music is her passion. Valli started learning vocals at the age of eight. The beauty pageant attracts people of Indian origin from across the world. It provides a platform to showcase how Indian culture has been preserved thousands of miles away, she said.

Organized by New York-based India Festival Committee, Miss India Worldwide is the only international Indian pageant with affiliates in over 35 countries and considered among the top ethnic pageants in the world. Last year, it also launched the Mrs India Worldwide, which provides a platform for married women of Indian origin.Namita S. Dodwadkar of Boston won the first Mrs India Worldwide crown, while Karina Kohli of New York won the Miss India Worldwide title in 2016.

“I definitely want to speak to a lot of young Indian American women about women empowerment and positive self- image,” Valli said. “I love both my countries, India and the US and I always wanted to discover a way to be a leader in both!” she said. The beauty pageant attracts people of Indian origin from across the world. It provides a platform to showcase how Indian culture has been preserved thousands of miles away, she said.

“This past week has been the craziest yet happiest week of my life,” Madhu, centre, wrote on Instagram. “Last night, I walked in as your Miss India USA, but I walked out as your new Miss India Worldwide 2017 with France as my 1st runner-up and Guyana as my 2nd runner-up, both who I love dearly.

“I still can’t believe it. All that was going through my mind throughout the whole week was ‘USA BABY!!’ I love both my countries, India and US and I always wanted to discover a way to be a leader in both! Cheers to dreams that come true and cheers to God, who loves us enough to make those dreams come true.”

Miss India Worldwide draws contestants from India and from among the members of the Indian diaspora residing in other countries. It is conducted by India Festival Committee (IFC), founded and headed by Dharmatma Saran in New York City.

A total of 18 contestants from different countries participated in the international pageant and Fairfax-resident stole the show which also witnessed a stunning performance by TV actress Shiny Doshi. The judges of the event were Fashion Choreographer Sandip Soparrkar, Host Aman Yatan Verma and supermodel/ramp trainer Jesse Randhawa. The pageant started in 1990 and Valli is the eighth Indian American to win the crown followed by the 2016 winner Karina Kohli.

The beauty pageant attracts entrants of Indian origin from across the world, organizers say.. It is yet another forum for Indian living abroad to showcase how they have preserved Indian culture thousands of miles away from their original homeland, organizers believe.

Congratulating the contestants and winners at the pageant, Dharmatma Saran, chairman and founder of the New York based India Festival Committee that organizes the trail blazing Miss India Worldwide, said, “We have used the title to raise funds for the poor and the needy. We made the beauty work for a good cause. We are pioneers in organizing Indian pageants and fashion shows in the USA and other parts of the world, of which the Miss India Worldwide has been acclaimed as the “most glamorous Indian function in the world.” And, of course, the Miss India Worldwide is the only international Indian pageant.

“When Miss India New York started in 1980, I had perhaps not even in my wildest dreams imagined that in less than twenty years, we would fledge out to be a mass movement with affiliates in over 40 countries, let alone that we would one day have a live internet webcast and broadcast our most prestigious function, the Miss India Worldwide, to an audience of over 300 million people!” Saran recalls.

“We are very proud of the fact that we have been able to provide a common platform for the international Indian community through pageantry. We are equally proud of the fact that we have been able to imbibe Indian values, traditions and culture among the youth of Indian origin around the world. We have also been successful in promoting Indian performing arts in the world,” he says.

“I sincerely hope that our website will provide all information regarding Indian pageants in the world. We plan to include many more channels, especially of interest to the youth, and believe this will become the one-stop website for Indian youths around the world,” Saran hopes.

Drs. Kiran & Pallavi Patel Family Foundation donates $200 Million to University in Florida

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

In the largest-ever donation to an institution by Indian Americans, Dr. Kiran C. Patel and his wife, pediatrician Dr. Pallavi Patel, have gifted $200 million to Nova Southeastern University, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The commitment will significantly expand its programs in osteopathic medicine and health care sciences, and be used to develop a new 27-acre campus for NSU in Clearwater, Fla. The Patels are renowned in Florida for their philanthropy, community service and entrepreneurship.

The commitment from the Patel Family Foundation includes a $50 million gift and an additional $150 million real estate and facility investment in a future 325,000 square-foot medical education complex that will be part of NSU’s new Tampa Bay Regional Campus, in Clearwater. The campus will house a new site for NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as its existing programs in the Tampa area.

This commitment will support the university in several ways, including: The naming of NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, including support for equipment and the hiring of additional faculty and staff in the Tampa Bay area, as well as an endowment to sustain the operation of the college’s new location in perpetuity. The new osteopathic medicine site will increase the number of NSU’s graduating D.O. physicians from 230 to approximately 380 per year.

“I feel that it is more important than ever to advance the current state of health care,” said Dr. Kiran C. Patel. “It is rare for someone to have the opportunity to impact the world in this way, and, as an immigrant to the United States, I am particularly honored to be able to make a difference in people’s lives around the world. I believe that NSU is the future of multi-disciplinary medical education. Together, we will be able to capitalize on an opportunity that will be beneficial to millions of human lives, many right here in Florida and many others across the globe.”

“This partnership will benefit thousands of patients, students and doctors,” added Dr. Pallavi Patel. “Over the next 20 years, NSU will train thousands of new doctors and other health care professionals who will directly touch millions of lives, making a real difference.”

All philanthropic campaigns, contributions and projects have resulted from his passion for health, education and charity. That’s why he has also commissioned Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Global University, a 120-acre institute under construction in India.

Sharing his own experiences of investing in the state of Gujarat and in the United States, Dr. Patel, a pioneering Cardiologist said, with the state requiring more trained personnel to support the growing needs, he is willing to establish a Medical College in Rajasthan.

Dr. Patel, a very soft spoken physician of Indian origin, said the projects combine his passions for health education and charity. In his first venture in running a university, he hopes to fulfill a need for competent doctors in the area while also educating generations of physicians who can serve in underprivileged areas across the globe.

“Nobody believed I would build a hotel on Clearwater Beach,” he said in the report. “They say ‘a dumb doctor.’ I never built a hotel single-handedly but we overcame that so I’m optimistic we will be successful here.”

Dr. Patel has been in the news across the world after he had purchased the former Clearwater Christian College property with a goal of developing an osteopathic medical school in his home-state, Florida. The Indian American physician closed on the $12 million purchase of the 25-acre campus overlooking Old Tampa Bay at the west end of the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

In 2014, Patel broke ground on the $175 million, 448-room Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach resort, creating a successful and modern hospitality business.

In July, the city of Clearwater purchased the 111 acres of wetlands and submerged lands surrounding the campus for preservation and restoration projects. If his plans are fulfilled, Patel will develop the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, catering to both domestic and international students, especially from India and Africa, who otherwise could not afford medical training.

“One goal,” he said, “is to train doctors who can return to their home countries and treat underserved communities. It is not easy — there are a lot of challenges — but if somebody’s heart is there and doing the right thing, the right results will follow,” Patel said.

The hope is for the school to serve upwards of 150 students by the fall of 2018 or early 2019, following the credentialing and certification process. Patel estimates it could cost $50 million to launch the school, most of which will come from his own pocket, although having existing classroom infrastructure and dormitories significantly reduces costs.

Mayor George Cretekos of Tampa described Patel’s proposed development as a “boom for the city.” “I think it’s a good fit and goes with what we were wanting to see with that property,” Cretekos said, according to the Tampa Bay Times report. “The potential to benefit the entire area is just amazing.”

Planning and overseeing the charitable works, according to Dr. Patel has “Two approaches: direct involvement in the areas of Zambia, East Africa and India. I oversee the utilization of the funds to the penny. What you have seen in the Tampa area is a legacy gift. To impact as large a group as possible, we have entrusted a responsible institution to perpetuate our mission, such as the performing arts center and University of South Florida.”

Born in Zambia to Asian-Indian parents, educated in India, Dr. Kiran Patel arrived in the United States Thanksgiving Day, 1976. He returned home to attend medical school, where he met his wife, Pallavi, a fellow student, but ultimately decided to return to the U.S. permanently. “I wanted to make sure my children had a better future, and the political climate in Africa at the time was a bit challenging,” he says.

Dr. Patel was educated in Zambia and then got his diploma in Cambridge University and The University of London. He came down to India to study medicine in Gujarat University in India and did his Internship in Africa. Dr. Patel did his residency in Internal Medicine in New Jersey in 1980. He completed a fellowship in the Cardiology program affiliated with the Columbia University of New York in 1982.

Dr. Pallavi Patel did her undergraduate degree from M.G. Science College, Gujarat University, and attended Municipal Medical College of Gujarat University in Ahmedabad. She did her internship from St. Barnabas Hospital in New Jersey, School of Medicine Dentistry of New Jersey and Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, in affiliation with Columbia University in New York. She started her private practice in Kabwe, Zambia, from 1974 to 1978 and worked as a part-time consultant physician from 1974 to 1978 for Kabwe Industrial Fabrics, Ltd. and Kapiri Glass Products, Ltd.

The Patel family moved to Tampa, Florida in 1982 and Dr. Kiran Patel began his practice in Cardiology. His dedication, compassion, and skills made him very successful at the very early stage of medical practice, and was soon a distinguished cardiologist in that area. He developed a physician practice management company and expanded to places adjoining Tampa Bay area diverging into 14 practices including Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Cardiology.

Dr. Patel was also in partnership with several point-of-service locations to form multi-specialty networks. This network helped patients to access most medical services conveniently. He has actively engaged himself in managed care contracts and has expanded so much that it provides care for more than 80,000 patients annually. Apart from this, he has developed good associations with several HMOs and hospitals. His success in managed care contracts led a group of doctors to seek his services to help them with an HMO in New Port Richey, Florida.

Dr. Patel took up the project after discussing a pre-determined purchase option of the company. It was called the Well Care HMO, Inc. (Well Care). In 1992, Dr. Kiran Patel, along with Rupesh Shaw, CEO, and Pradip Patel, President, started a Medicaid managed care company. Not long after, this company became the largest Medicaid provider in the state of Florida.

He helped to bring around the struggling HMO, WellCare of New York and Connecticut. While turning around the company, he worked with nearly a hundred hospitals and a few hundred physicians in settling past due medical claims. Dr. Kiran Patel provided an additional $15 million in equity through Conversion of Brow and infused $10 million of new capital and acquired 55 percent of the publicly held Well Care Management Group.

Between 1995 and 2002, Dr. Kiran Patel built it into a billion-dollar company, providing services to more than 450,000 members, employing more than 1,200 employees and operating in Florida, New York and Connecticut. Dr. Patel subsequently entered the managed care industry and was the Chairman of WellCare of Florida.

He had served as Chairman of Visionary Medical Systems. He believes that the Visionary Office will reduce the paperwork for the physicians and give them more time to devote on their patients. He is a member on the following organizations: Fellow of American College of Cardiology; American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, American Association of Physicians from the South East Asia, Past Chair Scholarship Committee.

A cardiologist, visionary, businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Kiran Patel, along with his wife devotes substantial sums towards charity and education both in India, Zambia as well as in the United States. A 50-bed charity hospital serving 100,000 villagers in India was established by her along with her family; provision of funds for annual scholarship for underprivileged children to obtain a college education; funding for the construction of the USF Charter School for Underprivileged Children in Hillsborough County; sponsoring of 25 orphans from India to visit and perform a cross-cultural program in the United States.

In 2003, the Patels sold their majority of his interest in their business, and Dr. Patel turned his attention to the family’s many philanthropic endeavors. That same year, he became chairman of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). It was from this vantage point that he began to tackle several significant humanitarian projects in India, including the construction of numerous hospitals, a diabetes research study, and improved health care access for poor and rural citizens. His enormous contributions during and after national calamities in India are very remarkable.

Dr. Patel united the Tampa Bay community and AAPI and led an effort that eventually rehabilitated the villagers’ homes, constructed an orphanage and model school and created four modern hospitals, and was able to utilize generous contributions from the Tampa Bay community, and often matched them with his own money.

One of the leading philanthropists in America, the Patels also sponsor 25 orphans from India to come annually to the United States and participate in cross-cultural programs.

On the challenges he had to face upon arrival here in the US, Dr. Patels says, “There are many challenges when you come from an Eastern culture to the Western world. It’s a tougher transition for children than for us. I have a rigid personality … as a parent I have firm expectations on behavior, certain etiquette and rules. My children all got used to it, in a good way. They know I am there for them and they for me, but I’m not a warm, fuzzy type of guy.”

The couple’s gift of $12 million to the University of South Florida, resulted in converting the Patel School of Global Sustainability to the Patel College of Global Sustainability. “It was important to create a college to be a perpetual institution that creates students and scholars who are going to change the world dramatically,” Dr. Patel says. “I believe it will create champions of the profession. Most people don’t understand sustainability; they think it’s just a problem for third world countries. They don’t realize the U.S. and Europe are most guilty of consuming resources. At the current rate the Western world uses natural resources, we would need six Earths to provide the rest of the world the same lifestyle. We must change.”

Another area of focus for the Patels is health. “Intellectual capability without physical capability, you still have a problem. Arts and culture are more in the luxurious category, which it should not be, but I feel that way. It can play a unique role in integrating people, but if someone is starving, he’s not going to think of the arts,” he says.

The family has become renowned in the Tampa Bay area and beyond for their openhanded philanthropy: The suburbs of Tampa is home to one of the largest single-family estate in the United States, according to property assessment records obtained by the Tampa Tribune. Dr. Kiran and Dr. Pallavi Patel, along with their son, daughters, and grandchildren,  live inan elegantly built beautiful house with the combined square footage of the buildings within the estate amounts to 35,000 square feet, with the main residence contributing 15,000 square footage of the total. Each of the six satellite homes is more than 7,000 square feet.

Dr. Pallavi serves on many boards and is a member of several organizations. She is president and CEO of Stat Care and Bay Area Primary Care Association, Inc. with five locations across Tampa. She is also a founder, trustee and administrator for the India Cultural Center. She is a member of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Board of Trustees, Shakti Krupa Charitable Foundation Board of Directors and the ICC Hope Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors.

In 2003 the couple set up a nonprofit Foundation for Global Understanding. Dr. Kiran Patel serves as the chairman and Dr. Pallavi Patel is president of Foundation that develops and funds a wide variety of programs in health, education, arts and culture. Together they have made possible the USF/Dr. Kiran C. Patel Charter School along with the Dr. Pallavi Patel Pediatric Care Center at the school as well as the highly celebrated Dr. Pallavi Patel Performing Arts Conservatory.

The Patels not only earned a highly cherished reputation as physicians, but also gained a unique vision of the future of the medical care. Rather than shunning the growing trend toward managed health care, they began to develop solutions that made sense from the physician’s point of view.

Recognitions came their way with several awards and honors from around the country. Among the honors and awards that he has received is the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Southeast United States, Jefferson Award for Public Service-National Media Award, Community Leader Award-Community Development Corporation of Tampa, Lions Clubs International Academy Award for Humanitarian Service, and Ike Tribble Award from National Urban League.

Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s largest and oldest human services charities, presented its highest honor – the 2012 Ballington and Maud Booth Award – to Drs. Pallavi and Kiran Patel on during the organization’s national conference at the Hyatt Regency Tampa.

On New Year’s day in 2007, Dr. Patel was honored with the “Glory of Gujarat” award from the Chief Minister of his home State in India.  In May 2007, Dr. Patel received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for Exceptional Immigrant Patriots.  Both Dr. Kiran Patel and Pallavi Patel were inducted into the Tampa Bay Hall of Fame in 2010 by the business community of Tampa Bay.

Dr. Pallavi Patel was honored as the Business Woman of the Year in 2006 for her outstanding role in the community.  In 2007, she was awarded Woman of Distinction by the Girls Scouts of Florida, and in 2008 she was inducted into the prestigious Florida Women’s Hall of Fame.

The Patels were selected for the 2012 Booth Award because of their generous philanthropic work to support programs in health, education, arts and culture, both in the Tampa area and around the world. Their foundation supported the Pepin Heart Hospital Research Institute in Tampa as well as the Dr. Pallavi Patel Conservatory for Performing Arts. In 2011, the Dr. Kiran C. Patel for Global Solutions, based at the University of South Florida, was established to develop solutions to some of today’s major global problems.

In 2003, Dr. Kiran Patel was appointed by Florida’s governor to the University of South Florida Board of Trustees. In 2004, the Patel were awarded the Cultural Contributor of the Year Award by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. The Foundation also support a yearly U.S. scholarship fund for underprivileged youth and the IMAGINE Project, which teaches philanthropic entrepreneurism to young leaders. USF CHART-India Program, another innovative foundation project, works aggressively to provide HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and education programs throughout India’s rural and urban populations.

The Patels believe that “education gives the maximum impact. In my father’s village, we built a school that has transformed a generation. Uplifting a single student will uplift five or 10 families.” And the noble mission goes on with no boundaries, benefitting millions of deserving people across all continents.

Mona Das to run for Washington state’s 8th Congressional District

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Profiles, U.S., Women 0

Mona Das, an Indian American woman from the state of Washington, has announced her plans to run for the Democratic nomination representing Washington state’s 8th Congressional District. If elected, she will replace Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, who is serving his seventh term as the U.S. Representative for the state’s 8th District.

Das said her passion for working for positive change is fueled by the Bernie Sanders movement and the new energy it ignited. “I am honored and excited to be running for Congress from the 8th District and to represent voters in both Eastern and Western Washington,” Das said in a statement. “Sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option. Unlike the current representative, my voice will be powerful and inclusive.”

Das is running one district over from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, who was elected last fall to her first term in the House. Interestingly, in the Seattle/Pugent Sound area, eight Indian American women are running for various elected offices, or have been elected, including Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant, and Jayapal. Jayapal is the first Indian American woman to serve in the House; Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat from California, is the first Indian American to serve in the Senate.

Das immigrated from India to the U.S. with her parents as a child. She launched her career with international and domestic software companies in the Pacific Northwest. Thirteen years ago, she started her own mortgage company and built it into an award-winning lender in 50 states, serving a population of homebuyers typically ignored by other lenders, according to a Das campaign news release.

“My focus in business has to been to reach out to underserved homebuyers, to educate them, and to champion their home ownership dreams,” she said. “As a community leader, I advocate for those who need a strong voice – immigrants, women and others in our communities who are often overlooked.

“Americans are dissatisfied with government. They want to see more unification, less division,” she said. “In my travels around the district I’ve been hearing that voters have had enough. Enough of absentee leadership. Enough indecisveness. I am a listener, a consensus-builder, a fighter, and I intend to bring it all to this office on behalf of residents in the 8th District.”

Rahul Gandhi calls upon NRIs to protect India from divisive forces

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Addresses a packed audience at Iconic Times Square in New York

“The divisive politics was ruining India’s reputation abroad and NRIs in the tradition of the great NRIs before them, should stand up to those dividing India now,” the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi told a gathering of over 2,000 Non Resident Indians from around the nation at the iconic Times Square in New York City on Wednesday, September 20th, 2017. Gandhi’s call came in an outreach program at the end of his two-week long tour of the United States.

The leader of the oldest and the largest pa5rrty in India spoke on a range of issues including the Indian economy, India’s healthcare system, and the job market. Gandhi, at the event organized by the Indian Overseas Congress, also spoke about the Congress Party’s vision for India’s future and how the NRI community in America could par-take in building that future.

India’s reputation as a country of peace and harmony is in danger abroad because of divisive forces at work at home, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said in a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, and urged NRIs to stand up against “those dividing the country”.

The son of late Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi restated his vision for the country based on the principal themes of jobs, agriculture, education and healthcare, while appealing to the community to come to India and work for the country and the congress party, telling them that non-resident Indians had always played a critical role in India’s progress.

He reminded NRIs as to how Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abdul Kalam Azad, Sardar Patel and B R Ambedkar were all non-resident Indians, who had brought to India their learnings when hey returned and transformed the country. “You need to get involved, you have tremendous knowledge, tremendous understanding.”

Everywhere he went, Gandhi said, he heard the same concern, from San Francisco, where he began his tour, to Los Angeles to Washington DC to New York. “What has happened to tolerance that had prevailed in India? What is going on in your country,” he said people would ask him.  “India has a reputation for peace and harmony…this is being challenged…there are forces that are dividing the country…This is dangerous for the country and ruins our reputation abroad,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi spoke about what he termed as the biggest challenge in India – empowering the youth. “For every 30,000 youngsters entering the job market, only 450 get a job. India cannot give a vision of a future if they cannot give the youth a job. Congress party has a vision, by focusing on building the small and medium businesses and entrepreneurship and creating ‘millions and millions of jobs in India.’” Rahul Gandhi also spoke about universities in India which, he said, need to be connected to the economy and businesses across the world.

Gandhi also praised Sam Pitroda, who was an adviser to his father Rajiv Gandhi and to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as another NRI who through his work on telecommunications helped transform India.

Pitroda, who has taken over the NRI mission of the Congress as the chairman of its Overseas Department, organized Rahul Gandhi’s US visit. “He (Rahul Gandhi) is not what the media makes him out to be…Others should not define him,” Pitroda said, adding “People see it for themselves.”

Pitroda said that the party’s immediate goal was to increase its 18 overseas units to 30 and set up chapters in every major US city. The BJP has grown itself in the diaspora through social media. “Use social media responsibly,” Pitroda exhorted the audience, telling them to stay away from fake news and divisive messages.

Gandhi’s visit to New York City coincides with the U.N. General Assembly’s annual high-level session, during which global leaders convene for meetings in the U.N. and elsewhere in the city. Shudh Parkash Singh, president of the Indian National Overseas Congress wing in the U.S., told IANS he was organizing the meeting for Gandhi so “NRIs can know first-hand what his (Gandhi’s) vision is, what his ideology is and Congress is. We wanted him to have meetings with people, face-to-face, in order to turn around (his) image projected by the BJP through managed media. They are out to destroy his image and we are trying to do the opposite.” Singh said the event is financed entirely by the INOC, supplemented with contributions from sponsors and advertisers in a brochure published for the event.

Rahul Gandhi’s US visit is part of ‘new conversation’ on India’s future

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

In an effort to create and continue a new dialogue with India, especially with the powerful Indian Diaspora in the United States, Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi is on a two-week visit to the US during which he has been interacting with global thinkers, political leaders, business leaders, and address overseas Indians as part of a new conversation on the future of India as well as an outreach initiative by his party. During his trip to the US, Gandhi has been engaging with the Indian diaspora with the purpose of making them a part in India’s development.

In his first engagement, Gandhi, vice president of the Congress Party,  addressed a packed audience of students at the prestigious University of California, Barkley on Monday, September 18th on ‘India at 70: Reflections on the Path Forward’, in which offered his reflections on contemporary India and the path forward for the world’s largest democracy. Gandhi, 47, was received at the San Francisco airport by senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda and Shudh Singh, the president of Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC) US.

“He is here at the University of California Berkley, where Pandit (Jawaharlal Nehru) addressed in 1949 as the Prime Minister. Today we are at the cross roads where core value of Indian democracy secularism and pluralistic society is in danger,” Congress spokesman Madhu Goud Yaskhi said. Rahul Gandhi’s ongoing two-week visit to the United States is a belated attempt by the Congress to compete with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the goodwill of the Indian diaspora.

Gandhi has repeatedly raised the issue of joblessness during his meetings with experts, business leaders and Congressmen in the United States. “Currently, we are not producing enough jobs. 30,000 new youngsters are joining the job market every single day and yet the government is only creating 500 jobs a day. And this doesn’t include the massive pool of already unemployed youngsters,” Gandhi had said in his address at the University of California in Berkeley.

During his interaction with students at the prestigious Princeton University in New Jersey admitted that the Narendra Modi-led BJP came to power in India because people were angry with the Congress party over the issue of unemployment. Employment is an all-encompassing means to empower, enfranchise and involve Indians in the nation building process, he said.

“I think, the central reason why Mr Modi arose and to an extent why Mr Trump came, is the question of jobs in India and in the United States. There’s a large part of our populations that simply do not have jobs and cannot see a future. And, so they are feeling pain. And they have supported these types of leaders,” Gandhi told students, while pointing out that the prime minister was not doing enough to solve the key problem facing India.

At Princeton, Gandhi said India needed to transform itself to compete with China, and for that the people in the country required jobs. “Those same people who got angry with us because we couldn’t deliver on those 30,000 jobs (a day) are going to get angry with Mr Modi. The central question is resolving that problem. My main issue with Mr Modi is that he diverts that issue and points the finger somewhere else instead of saying listen we have a problem,” he said.

“There is anger building up in India right now. We can sense it. So to me the challenge is how to solve that job growth problem in a democratic environment. That is the challenge,” he said. “So we have to first accept it as a problem. Then we have to unite and try to solve it. Right now, nobody is even accepting it as a problem,” he argued. Gandhi also raised the issue of “polarization in India”. He said that the “politics of polarization” was a central challenge in India and some sections of the society, including the minority communities and tribal people, who do not feel that they are a part of the ruling BJP’s vision.

“In the 21st century, if you leave some people out of your vision, you are asking for trouble. New ideas would come, new different visions would develop. So, to me, central challenge in India is politics of polarization where you pit one community against the other and you create spaces for other people to come in,” Gandhi said. “There is a belt of 100 million tribal people who do not feel comfortable with the vision (of the BJP). There are a number of states in India, which don’t want a single vision forced down their throat. There are minority communities, they do not feel that they are a part of the vision. So that’s where the real danger is,” Gandhi said in response to a question. India’s strength has always been its ability to embrace people, he said.

The central pitch, according to Pitroda, is that the “existing world order”, which came up around the United States, is on its way out and India can take a lead in shaping the new order, which, for instance, is inclusive to begin with — “you cannot ignore 200 million Muslims (in India)”.

Gandhi was accompanied by former ministers Shashi Tharoor and Milind Deora. Overseas Indians wield considerable influence in the American establishment and in India. Gandhi’s visit is part of Pitroda’s plan to harness NRI support for the party – a strategy that has been a success for the Bharatiya Janata Party. While the Congress has large base among academics, intellectuals and the media, the BJP has been able to create a much broader support base among NRIs, mobilizing several thousands to attend Modi’s meetings in New York and San Jose in mammoth arenas. The plan is to create a network to connect NRIs to party leaders at state and district levels and to help returning NRIs enter Indian politics.

On Tuesday, this week, Gandhi met with a host of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, think tanks and experts in California, and then travelled to Washington DC. In DC earlier this week, he began his visit to the capital, starting with think tank Centre for American Progress (CAP). The liberal-leaning CAP was founded by John Podesta, who chaired Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, and is run by Indian American Neera Tanden, a veteran of many Democratic administrations, including President Barack Obama’s. Former editor Gautam Adhikari is one of its experts.

Gandhi then visited another DC think-tank, the Atlantic Council, which has a strong focus on South Asia, and then the US-India Business Council, an advocacy group that works on promoting business ties between the two countries and which is now emerging from a specially bruising split. Gandhi had an evening interaction with experts at an interaction organized and hosted by conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation and Republican strategist Puneet Ahluwalia. Experts invited included Ashley Tellis of Carnegie and Anish Goel, a former Obama White House India hand. The tour concluded with Gandhi meeting about 2,000 prominent members of the Indian community at New York’s Marriott Hotel on September 20.

UN General Assembly opens 72nd session with focus on the world’s people

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Sushma Swaraj to Address the General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly opened its 72nd session, with an emphasis on striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet on September 12th, 2017. The General Debate will open on Tuesday, 19 September 2017, with a focus on the theme, ‘Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet’.

“The UN was created for people,” Miroslav Lajčák said in his first address as President of the General Assembly. “The people who need the UN the most are not sitting in this hall today. They are not involved in the negotiation of resolutions. They do not take the floor at high-level events. It is one of the tasks of the General Assembly to make sure that their voices can still be heard.”

Ahead of the opening, the career diplomat from Slovakia spoke to UN News about his hopes for his one-year tenure, and said that conflict prevention and migration would top his agenda. He noted that while it was “impossible” to select one priority for the UN to focus on this year, his aim will be to strive for balance, so that all points of view are represented. He also stressed quality and transparency in his future work.  Lajčák takes the reins one week before the start of the high-level General Assembly debate, and said he hoped the 193 UN Member States participating would treat each other with diplomacy and mutual respect. Speaking to reporters later in the day, Mr. Lajčák reiterated the importance of using the world body to assist people around the world.

Addressing the opening of the General Assembly, Secretary-General António Guterres also emphasized the importance of focusing on people in the UN’s work and underscored his proposed reforms to streamline the Organization.

“People around the world are rightly demanding change and looking for governments and institutions to deliver,” he said. “We all agree that the United Nations must do even more to adapt and deliver. That is the aim of the reform proposals that this Assembly will consider.” He added that one key change within and beyond the UN must be the empowerment of women and girls around the world, and highlighted his own roadmap for achieving gender parity.

In preparation for the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the UN has released documents related to its agenda items on Education, Environmental Conventions, and Social Development. A summary of UNGA 72 documents on Trade, Gender and Human Development, and a summary of documents on Globalization and 2030 Agenda, Technology and Innovation, and Water and Sanitation have been released.

The President of the 72nd session of the UNGA, Miroslav Lajčák, identified the following six overarching priorities for his tenure following his election: making a difference in the lives of ordinary people; prevention and mediation for sustaining peace; migration; political momentum for the SDGs and climate; human rights and equality, including equal opportunities for genders; and quality of events organized by the Presidency. A number of events will take place in parallel to the opening of the 72nd session of the UNGA, including Global Goals Week 2017 and Climate Week NYC 2017.

India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will address the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 23 in New York. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the UNGA session for the first time in three years.

Prime Minister Modi in 2014 presented the UN summit his vision for India’s foreign policy that decisively moved away from the vestiges of the polemics of the anti-colonial era while committing to promotion of global democracy. He had also pitched the creation of International Yoga Day, which was quickly adopted by the Assembly.

AAPI condemns the brutal murder of Indian American Psychiatrist

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Appeals to Trump Admin. to prevent violence against physicians and bring to justice those behind the murder

Chicago, IL: September 165, 2017:  “AAPI is heartbroken over the loss of Dr. Achutha Reddy and want to express our hearty condolences and prayers to his family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his dear family. Dr. Reddy’s death is a tragic loss to our medial fraternity,” Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of American Association of Physicians of India Origin (AAPI) said here today.

In a statement issued here Dr. Gautam Samadder condemned the brutal murder of 57-year-old Achutha Reddy. He urged the US administration and the local leadership to bring to justice those behind the cruel murder of the Indian American physician who had dedicated all his life for serving the sick, the disabled and those with mental health issues.

“We at AAPI, the largest ethnic medical organization in the nation, urge the US administration to make all the efforts possible to prevent violence against medical professionals and enable them to continue to serve the country with dignity, pride and security,”

The Indian American psychiatrist was found dead on September 13 in the alley behind his East Wichita, Kansas office, his body covered with multiple stab wounds. Police arriving at the Holistic Psychiatry Clinic pronounced Dr. Reddy dead at the scene. About 17 minutes after the first call to report Reddy’s death, the department received a call from a security guard at the Wichita Country Club, reporting a young male sitting in a car with blood all over his body.

Police arrived at the country club and arrested Umar Rashid Dutt, who is also Indian American. Dutt, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held at Sedgwick County Jail in Kansas, on a $1 million surety bond.

The police officer reported that Dr. Reddy was found with multiple stab wounds on his upper body. Dr Reddy a prominent Psychiatrist, was also a specialist in absolute yoga, a type of yoga which connects mind, body and breath and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Holistic Psychiatric Hospital released a statement Sept. 14. “Yesterday, we experienced a great loss in our lives,” wrote psychotherapist Brenda Trammel. “Dr. Reddy was an amazing, compassionate man who was kind and loving to anyone he met.”

“He thought of himself as our father and his job was to guide us to do well in our lives,” wrote Trammel, adding: “He expected the best from us, and we gave it to him with the same abandon he gave to us.”

Hailing from Nalgonda district in Telangana, Reddy graduated from Osmania Medical College in 1986. He later moved to the U.S., where he completed his residency in psychiatry from the University of Kansas Medical School in Wichita.

Recalling that from ancient times, physicians across the world have been revered for dedicating their lives for the noble mission of preventing people from getting and saving millions of lives of people from illnesses, Dr. Samadder said. “We as a community of physicians and individual members of this fraternity have decided to go into the medical profession with the best of intentions. We as physicians want to help people, ease suffering and save lives. Physicians of Indian origin are well known around the world for their compassion, passion for patient care, medical skills, research, and leadership.”

Expressing shock that despite these noble intentions, many doctors and nurses put their own lives on the line in the course of their jobs, facing attacks from the very people they are trying to help.

The members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), an umbrella organization which has nearly 110 local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations, with over 35 years of history of dedicated services to their motherland and the adopted land, are appalled at the growing violence against our fellow physicians, Dr. Samadder said. “We strongly condemn this ongoing violence. And we want immediate action against the culprits, who have been carrying on these criminal acts. We are shocked by the lack of coherent action against such violence and protect members of this noble fraternity.” For more information on AAPI, please visit: www.aapiusa.org

Maria Paul honored for leading blood donation campaign in Dubai

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Maria Prince, President of ATMA, a not-for-profit organization, based in Dubai was honored for organizing blood donation camps in the Middle East. ATMA was formed 14 years ago by the immigrant Indian community in the Middle East with the objective of “creating new possibilities to inspire creativity, humanity and happiness.”
Maria was honored in the presence of Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, as part of his launching a campaign by donating his blood at the blood donation centre in Latifa Hospital, Dubai. The campaign was part of Dubai Police social initiatives during the Year of Giving, urging people to donate blood to help the sick and injured, police said. “Donating blood is a great human duty and strengthens the bond between members of a society. I urge everybody to donate their blood to help the sick and injured people,” Maj-Gen. Al Merri said in statement.
The need for blood is universal, whether one lives in the United States, Middle East or in India. “Apparently in the past years, there has been an acute shortage of Blood platelets in Dubai. Cancer patients & Thalsemia patients need platelet the most,” says Maria. “I keep getting calls almost every 3-4 weeks to organize a platelet donation,” she adds as the reason for organizing such life saving events.
A small group of friends in Dubai, got together & formed an association named ATMA which stands for ‘A Theme for Mind & Arts’.  ATMA stands for: Attitude to Make it happen; Teamwork – A Team makes it impossible to fail; Members: Committed in delivering the best; and, Accountability: Taking responsibility for our actions and decisions both individually and collectively.
This is the sixth consecutive year that ATMA has organized blood donation camps. Maria, a young mother of three adorable daughters, with a heart to serve and support those in need of help, says, “Unlike whole blood, Platelets cannot be stored for too long a period. So, we get them 15 -20 donors each time as per their requirement. On the other hand, whole blood donation is a simple process where 1 unit of blood is taken from your body. But in platelet donation, the blood taken from the body goes through a segregation where the platelets are removed & rest blood is pumped back into your blood. This is almost thrice time-consuming process than whole blood donation. Also the donors go through a painful experience during this. We find it really difficult to get even this small number donors (15-20),”
 “One of its activities is to reach out to the needy. So for, last 6 years we have been organizing blood donation camps in association with Dubai Blood bank, Latifah Hospital,” Maria adds with a sense of satisfaction.
ATMA, is a well-knit group revealing a marvel in terms of a perfect blend of talents, a community of enthusiastic couples and their brood of budding juniors of various age groups. At ATMA members strive to nurture their goals and ambitions as a group that is socially inclined and at the same time project to the forefront a platform to reveal our quintessential art-centric selves. “The credit for the long standing goodwill that enriches the group activities and relationships goes out to this spirited members. We love to challenge ourselves and create history in our ATMA books. Let us all unite for the unity in ATMA,” says Maria.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.69 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment. In the United States, every two seconds someone needs blood, while approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S. alone. It is estimated that sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood. For more information on ATMA and its many activities, please visit: http://atmavs.com

 

Onam celebrations by MASCONN in Trumbull, CT

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Culture/Religion 0
(Trumbull, CT: September 11th, 2017): Over 300 people from across the state of Connecticut came together to celebrate their culture, traditions, and fellowship during the 9th annual Onam celebrations organized by Malayalee Association of Southern Connecticut (MASCONN) at Madison Middle School, Trumbull, CT on Saturday, September 9th, 2017.
Men, women, children and youth dressed in traditional attire, were welcomed with a colorful Pookoalm and the traditional lamp with a sandalwood tilak on forehead at the entrance of school, giving them a warm traditional Indian welcome.
Onam celebrations at the Madison Middle School auditorium began with the lighting of the traditional Nailavilakku or lamp by honored guests of MASCONN and the executive committee members. Legendary King Mahabali was welcomed to the stage with “Pancha Vadyam” and a warm traditional welcome by a dozen beautiful women dressed in traditional attire, who later on performed Thiruvathirakkali, a folk dance, typically a Keralite dance, well known for its essence, grandeur and simplicity.
Aparna Bijoy Namboodri, Aswathi Rajesh, Amy Lolyd, Sabitha Ranjit, Mahima Hardy, Veena Ramesh, Mia Wilson, Teressa Joseph performed theThiruvathirakkali to the delight of the audience. In this traditional dance form, women clad in traditional Kerala attire with gold brocade attached to it and wearing jasmine garlands on their heads, rhythmically moved around a lighted Nilavilakku, singing and clapping their hands, to the tune of a particular genre of songs called Thiruvathirappaattu, which  is meant solely for this graceful dance.

“Onam awaits one very special visitor, Kerala’s most loved legendary King Maveli. He is the King who once gave the people a golden era in Kerala. The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the nether world to see his people living happily. It is in honor of King Mahabali, affectionately called Onathappan, that Onam is celebrated,” Unni a young child on stage explained the story behind this cultural festival of Kerala, a southern Indian state.

The cultural events began with a prayer recital in Sanskrit invoking Lord Ganesha for His blessings by young Tejas Puthiyaveetile. The multicultural programs by the young and the old ranging from ages 3 to 60 were a testimony to the love and affection for Indian culture and how the old strive to pass on their traditions and culture to the 2nd and 3rd generation of Indian Americans in this country.
The over four hours long cultural extravaganza consisted of several live dances, classical Bharatnatyam, fusion, Bollywood, folk and contemporary dances, live music and songs, sung in Malayalam, a language spoken by Malayalees around the world. Each and every young artist delighted the audience with one’s melodious voices, and several dances both cinematic and traditional, showcasing the rich variety of dance forms prevalent in India.

“MASCONN an offshoot of the natural growth of the Indian-American especially Malayalee Community in the southern Connecticut region,” said Unni Thoyakkattu, President of MASCON, in his welcome address. “In a very short period, we have grown by leaps and bounds and we strive to meet the growing needs of our community. He praised the Masconn YOuht group who have successfully organized a picnic and have now brought out their maiden issue of their own magazine, which was launched by the President as he received the first copy from the Youth Group President, Mia and the editorial team.

The whole ambience was filled with nostalgia since it was an occasion for all the Malayalees in Connecticut to cherish their childhood memories, especially everyone enjoyed the sumptuous Onam Sadhya (meal), the most important and main attraction of the day with different traditional dishes and ”payasam” that was served on banana leaves. Participants were dressed in their traditional attire. The most traditional costume for the men of Kerala is the “Mundu” which is mostly white in colour. It is worn tightly at the waist with a knot and comes down till the feet. Women following Hinduism wear a blouse and mundu known as “Mundu neriyathu.” Children were seen elegantly in mundus, shirts, sarees and salwar.

In his Onam message, Mahabali told the audience that the “beauty of the festival lies in its secular fabric. People of all religions, castes and com

 

munities celebrate the festival with equal joy and verve. Onam also helps to create an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood by way of various team sports organized on the day,” he added.  Tijo Josh proposed vote of thanks, while thanking all the organizers for the great event they had worked so hard to put together.
Living in countries that are far away from their homeland, in the midst of different cultures, busy with the day-to-day mundane work and home tasks, the Non Resident I

ndian (NRI) community made this “land of opportunities” their home, have brought with them these cultural traditions and have sought to pass them on to their children, who are often born and raised here.

Onam is a festival celebrated in the south-western state of Kerala, India. The Keralites or the Malayalees, the illustrious people of the beautiful state are known around the world, celebrate the festival of Onam wherever they are.
The celebration of Onam festival provides them with a perfect opportunity to encourage the new generation of children of Indian origin to witness, learn and appreciate these rich traditions, even while it offers the first generation NRIs to stay connected and cherish the rich cultural heritage they hold so dear to them.
Malayalee Association of Southern Connecticut (MASCONN) which was formed less than ten years ago, the cultural extravaganza was in many ways “reliving the culture and traditions” and “cherishing the past with a view to pass it on to the future generation.”

Uncertainty over DACA leaves future of thousands of “dreamer” NRI kids in doubt

Ajay GhoshTravel 0

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program – an Obama-era initiative providing relief from deportation to more than 800,000 undocumented young people, now under consideration by President Donald Trump, has left the future of nearly 7,000 children of Indian origin in the United states in uncertainty.

Nearly 800,000 people who got a reprieve under an executive order by President Obama and on way to be legal residents, could face deportation if President Donald Trump pulls the plug on a program that protects undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. His decision could come as early as this week. It could also strip them of their work permits and rescind in-state tuition for undocumented college students. The program also allowed its recipients to obtain social security numbers.

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services latest statistics – collected until March 31 – an estimated 7,028 undocumented Indian American students are DACA recipients, many who arrived as young children with their parents and have never been able to return to the land of their birth. India ranks 11 amongst the top countries of origin for DACA students; 7,881 have applied for the program. More than 17,000 are eligible, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute. Pakistan ranks 22nd in countries of origin for DACA recipients: USCIS reports that 3,476 applications have been accepted to date.

The DACA program officially started on June 15, 2012, when the Obama administration announced that certain illegal immigrants who came to the US as children and met some guidelines – including being in school, or high school graduates, had served or were serving the military, had no criminal record, had a record of paying taxes and were not welfare recipients – may request consideration for a work permit, to be renewed every two years.

These individuals had to be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, and had to show they had come to the US before reaching 16th birthday. It allowed these immigrants to study and work without fear of being deported.

DACA’s future has been murky ever since Trump took office. As a candidate, he vowed to slash it, but he hinted at a softer stance once he made it to the White House, pledging to handle the situation “with heart.” Now the President is said to be weighing his options on DACA as a potential court fight looms.

Last December, Trump told Time magazine in an interview that he would “work something out” for DACA beneficiaries. “They got brought here at a very young age, they’ve worked here, they’ve gone to school here. And they’re in never-never land because they don’t know what’s going to happen.”

In February, Trump said the DACA executive order was one of the most difficult issues he has had to grapple with. “You have some absolutely incredible kids, I would say mostly,” hedging his remarks by noting that some were drug dealers and gang members.

But the president is under deadline to repeal Obama’s executive order: a June 29 letter sent by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatens to sue the administration if DACA is not repealed by Sept. 5. The attorney generals of eight other states – Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia – and Gov. Butch Otter of Idaho were co-signatories to the letter.

The national coalition has petitioned Trump to rethink his plans to scrap the program. Doing so would imperil the economy and jeopardize the futures of nearly 800,000 young people — 97 percent of whom are in school or in the workforce, they wrote.

“Dreamers are vital to the future of our companies and our economy,” the executives wrote. “With them, we grow and create jobs. They are part of why we will continue to have a global competitive advantage.”

They have already submitted to extensive background checks. They pay income taxes. Without them, the economy would lose $460.3 billion from the national GDP and $24.6 billion in Social Security and Medicare tax contributions, the letter said. A study issued in January by the CATO Institute – a libertarian think tank – estimated that deporting all 800,000 DACA recipients – also known as DREAMERs – would cost the federal government $60 billion, and reduce economic growth by $280 billion over the next 10 years.

The letter, organized by Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg’s FWD.us and signed by leaders of nearly 400 other companies, also urged Congress to pass legislation that would provide a permanent fix for the young undocumented immigrants.

Among the signatories are business magnate Warren Buffett, fashion designer Diane von Furstenburg, Tim Cook of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, and Meg Whitman of Hewlett-Packard. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella wrote in a LinkedIn post that “smart immigration can help our economic growth and global competitiveness” in addition to creating more jobs for Americans.

“As I shared at the White House in June, I am a product of two uniquely American attributes: the ingenuity of American technology reaching me where I was growing up, fueling my dreams, and the enlightened immigration policy that allowed me to pursue my dreams,” he wrote. “As a CEO, I see each day the direct contributions that talented employees from around the world bring to our company, our customers and to the broader economy. We care deeply about the DREAMers who work at Microsoft and fully support them.”

Nadella added: “This is the America that I know and of which I am a proud citizen. This is the America that I love and that my family and I call home. And this is the America that I will always advocate for.”

NBC reported that many advocacy groups have pressed Trump to ignore the “arbitrary” deadline set by 10 attorneys general around the US to end DACA. Immigrant rights groups are on the offensive, holding rallies and pressuring Congress to stand up for the program and pass a more permanent solution. Meanwhile, Dreamers across the United States are bracing themselves for the possibility of losing driver’s licenses, jobs or funding for their educations — and eventually facing deportation to countries many of them barely remember.

Two days before Trump’s executive order banning immigration from seven countries and halting refugee resettlement, which is currently suspended by the courts, the Trump administration issued another order that has caused widespread alarm among undocumented immigrants. The January 25 order greatly expands the definition of who is considered a criminal and therefore a target for deportation. It prioritizes removal of undocumented immigrants who have “committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense,” regardless of whether they’ve been charged or convicted of a crime.

Even if Trump does not end the DACA program, hundreds of DACA beneficiaries could be subject to deportation under the expanded definition, said attorney Leon Fresco, who headed the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration under President Obama. At particular risk are DACA recipients with outstanding orders of removal from the country. Any run-in with the law they might have had, however minor, could endanger their reprieve from deportation under DACA. “There is a 100 percent guarantee that some will have their DACA status revoked and they’ll be deported,” Fresco said. “It could happen any moment.”

John Bartlett from New Jersey running For Congress

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett of Wayne, a Democrat,  has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Congress from the 11th Congressional District. In a speech announcing his run, Bartlett drew upon his connections to the Indian-American community to garner support.

“I’m the son of a country doctor. He kept his doctor’s bag in the back of his pickup truck, with a chainsaw in case a downed tree ever stood between him and a patient. Dad’s example of commitment and service guides me every day,” Bartlett is quoted saying in a press release. He is married to Khyati Y. Joshi, a full Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she teaches about race and religion in America. “I’m equally inspired by the example of my father- and mother-in-law, Dr. Yogesh and Madhu Joshi, who traveled halfway across the world, and helped build an Indian American community for themselves and their daughters and so many others,” Bartlett added. Khyati Joshi is also co-chair of the South Asian American Caucus of the N.J. Democratic State Committee.

Bartlett stresses the diversity of his interfaith (Christian and Hindu) and inter-racial family. The family attends St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, and are involved with Hindu temples in the area, the press release said.

Bartlett, a Harvard Law School graduate and two-term freeholder, announced his run for the Democratic party nomination at the Alps Diner in his hometown of Wayne on Friday. The 45-year-old attorney said he will begin his campaign with “30 coffees in 30 days,” meeting with residents around the 11th District to hear their concerns.

“I want to hear from you, the voters, about your lives, your kids, and your parents, and your hopes, you dreams and your fears,” Bartlett told about two dozen supporters gathered at the diner.

Bartlett is an attorney with Murphy and Orlando LLC, a firm that frequently litigates on behalf of Democratic party interests, such laws regarding voter registration, at both the state and federal level. His partner is Michael Murphy, the former Morris County Prosecutor who was appointed by Gov. Jim Florio in the 1990s.

Murphy was at the diner for the campaign kick-off on Friday. Bartlett took aim at Frelinghuysen, a 12-term congressman who has was once considered a moderate Republican, but has supported President Donald Trump on the travel ban and repeal of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

“Congressman Frelinghuysen’s 100 percent voting record in support of the Trump agenda this year is the culmination of a decade-long and continuing transformation of the congressman from someone who represented the 11th Congressional District’s moderate and pragmatic New Jersey values to someone who answers to ideologues in Washington while dodging contact with his own constituents,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett is the latest contender for the Democratic party nomination. He joins two candidates who have already entered the race, Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor from Montclair, and Jack Gebbia, a 26-year-old U.S. Army National Guard veteran from Boonton. Assemblyman Jack McKeon of West Orange has said he’s considering making a run for the seat, and Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark is also thinking about running.

Some Indian-Americans Bartlett met during his campaign are quoted saying favorable things about him.  “We hadn’t met John previously, but we came away from the evening impressed by the depth and breadth of John’s knowledge of the issues, his record of results as a Freeholder and his commitment to hear out and respond to all our neighbors’ questions and concerns,” Rob Soni, who hosted a coffee in Randolph along with his wife Rachita, is quoted saying.  “He’s a family man, and understands what it’s like to live in our area.  Everyone who joined us was struck by his ability to speak to the issues we’re concerned about, and issues affecting families like ours,” Soni added.

Trump seeks to work with India while talking tough on Pakistan’s ‘terrorist’ havens

Ajay GhoshIndia, U.S. 0

President Donald Trump has called on India to play a greater role on Afghanistan, while chastising Pakistan over its alleged support for Afghan militants – an approach analysts say will probably not change Pakistan’s strategic calculations and might push it in directions Washington does not want it to go. President Donald Trump committed the U.S. to an increase in troop levels to Afghanistan and enlisted India’s help in the 16-year conflict.

In a televised prime-time address to the nation from Fort Myer, Virginia, U.S., August 21, 2017, Trump criticized Pakistan for providing “safe havens to terrorist organizations” and warned Islamabad it had much to lose by supporting insurgents battling the U.S.-backed Kabul government. “We are committed to pursuing our shared objectives for peace and security in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

Pakistan, he said, has much to lose by continuing to harbor terrorists. “It is time for Pakistan to demonstrate a commitment to civilization, order and peace,” Trump said, adding that 20 organizations designated as terrorists by the U.S. operated in Afghanistan and Pakistan. “For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror,” and noted the threat was heightened when two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, lived side-by side.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, America’s interests are clear, said the president. “We must stop the re-emergence of safe-havens that enable terrorists to threaten America; and we must prevent nuclear weapons and materials from coming into the hands of terrorists and being used against us,” Trump said.

Successive U.S. administrations have struggled with how to deal with nuclear-armed Pakistan.

In some ways, the US is dependent on the South Asian nuclear nation. The United States has no choice but to use Pakistani roads to resupply its troops in landlocked Afghanistan. U.S. officials worry that if Pakistan becomes an active foe, it could further destabilize Afghanistan and endanger U.S. soldiers.

According to reports, Trump did resist some advisers’ calls to threaten to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism unless Islamabad pursued senior leaders of the Afghan Taliban and the allied Haqqani network. “Pakistan should not be reassured by this speech, but it could have gone a lot worse for them,” said Joshua White, a National Security Council director under former President Barack Obama. “There were voices within the administration who wanted to move more quickly and aggressively to declare Pakistan not just a problem, but effectively an enemy.”

“Trump’s policy of engaging India and threatening action may actually constrain Pakistan and lead to the opposite of what he wants,” Zahid Hussain, a Pakistani security analyst, was quoted to have said. “It is kind of putting Pakistan on notice,” said Rustam Shah Mohman, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Kabul, predicting a bumpy road ahead for relations. Hussain said Trump “crossed a red line” as far as Pakistan was concerned when he implored India to deepen its involvement in Afghanistan.

Relations between Pakistan and the United States have endured strain during the 16-year war in Afghanistan, especially after al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces inside Pakistan in 2011. The Obama administration had already begun trimming military aid to Pakistan. Last year, the Pentagon decided not to pay $300 million in pledged military funding, and Congress effectively blocked a subsidized sale of F-16 jets to Pakistan.

Analysts say Trump is likely to further curtail military aid to pressure Pakistan. But any effort to isolate Pakistan would face problems from China, which has deepened political and military ties to Islamabad as it invested nearly $60 billion in infrastructure in Pakistan. The “billions” would stop flowing, Trump said, and outlined a sharp contrast toward India with which he said, Washington would strengthen the strategic partnership as a major pillar of South Asia and the Indo-Pacific policy.

Mohman, a former ambassador, said if the United States kept putting pressure on Pakistan, then Islamabad would drift farther from the American sphere of influence. “We have options,” he said. “We can go to China and Russia, and I think the U.S. can’t afford that.”

The Pakistani government said Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif met with the U.S. ambassador on Tuesday and would speak in coming days with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson “on the state of play in the bilateral relationship as well as the new U.S. policy on South Asia”.

Indian-Americans have welcomed the tough stance on Pakistan, and the public recognition of India’s positive role in Afghanistan as a successful culmination of their years of advocacy in every administration to recalibrate South Asia policy. “It’s definitely a positive change — a clear, unquestionable, and open pivot to India,” said Krishna Srinivas, vice president and executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan non-profit, US-India Security Council. “There are no ifs and buts about it,” said Srinivas.

“This is a drastic 180-degree change,” in U.S. policy, Dr. Sampat Shivangi, a longtime Republican activist from Mississippi, and current president of IAFPE, said. “For decades, we have been fighting hard to have Washington lean toward India and see Pakistan for what it is,” Shivangi said. “U.S. administrations have always ultimately bowed down to Pakistan,” not so now, Shivangi said.

Fareed Zakaria, an Indian-American talk-show host on CNN, contended Trump’s remarks on Pakistan were not a strong break from the previous administration. “… people appear to have forgotten the unusually blunt testimony that Adm. Mike Mullen, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave to Congress in 2011,” Zakaria noted.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, said, “The president made a strong pitch for assistance to Afghanistan and noted India has already contributed $3 billion in aid (to Kabul). It signals a very positive development. The two countries are going to grow closer.”

“Pakistan has to be fairly nervous this morning,” Richard Rossow, senior adviser and Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said. “We’ve got a president who has shown he is pretty willing to turn on a dime,” he said.

Milan Vaishnav, director and senior fellow of the South Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, largely praised Trump’s speech, noting that New Delhi was likely breathing a sigh of relief as Trump re-committed to combating terrorism in the region, repudiating his past position before he sought office, in which he sought to end the longest war the U.S. has ever engaged in, which has thus far claimed an estimated 2,400 American lives.

“A rising Taliban creates dilemmas for New Delhi that it cannot live with,” stated the Indian American researcher. New Delhi welcomed the hard line Trump took on Pakistan, insisting it must cut off support for terrorist groups of face strict consequences, said Vaishnav. “Indians have reveled in this harsh rhetoric.”

AAPI Hosts Leadership Seminar, Media Event At The Indian Consulate in New York

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

API leaders share health and wellness message at India Day Parade in New York

(New York, NY: August 19, 2017) “As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of India’s Independence. AAPI, the premier organization that represents over 65,000 physicians and 25,000 Residents of Indian Origin in the United states, want to convey our greetings to all peoples of Indian origin on this day of national celebration,” Gautam Samadder, M.D. AAPI, President, declared at the Indian Consulate in New York during a press conference on August 19th.

On August 20th, AAPI joined the India Day Parade with a multi-color float spreading the message of health and wellness at the largest India Day Parade in New York City, organized by the Federation of Indian Americans. “AAPI takes special pride in saluting our beloved tricolor. Let us recall with pride the great sacrifice of our freedom fighters, whose undying love for India secured us our freedom,” Dr. Samadder said, as the float carrying AAPI leaders overflew with delegates from across the nation. Dr. Samadder and a host of AAPI delegates wer5e seen dancing to the melodious tunes from Bollywood, while waving cheerfully to the large crowds that had gathered to greet the leaders. AAPI delegates joined the Meet and Greet with Grand Marshal Rana Daggubati on August 21st, 2017 at Royal Albert Palace Edison, NJ.
Addressing the AAPI members from around the nation, media leaders and representatives from the tri state region at the Consulate, Dr. Samadder, who had assumed office in June this years as the President of the largest ethnic association of the medical fraternity, highlighted the importance and the major role played by the physicians of Indian origin. “AAPI physicians represent only 10% of all physicians in the United States but service approximately 30% of the US patient population,” Dr. Samadder said. “Many have fostered personal relationships with members of Congress (as well as the highest levels of Government in India) that are invaluable assets to influencing legislation and insuring appropriate, patient-focused healthcare reform. Our business partners can be assured of a receptive audience and, once engaged, a loyal client and ambassador of the product and company,” he added.
In his key note address, Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty said, “You have excelled in your fields of medicine, and thus make significant contributions through hard work, commitment and dedication to your profession and the people you are committed to serve.” While conveying his greetings and best wishes to AAPI leaders for the success of the convention and Global Healthcare Summit, Consul General of India in New York Sandeep Chakravorty described the fast-growing health sector, particularly the pharmaceutic industry in India. Ambassador Chakravorty lauded the efforts of AAPI, particularly for the free clinics across India, and the new clinic planned to be inaugurated in the state of West Bengal.
AAPI members just returned from an all sold out exciting tour to the most exotic and scenic places on earth: South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana from August 4th through 13th, 2017. “Being busy in our work and caring for our families through the year, this “getaway” from all the daily challenges of our lives, was a way to reenergize our bodies and minds in the company of our beloved ones during this nature tour,” said Dr. Samadder.
 “I am extremely pleased to announce the new phase in our relationship and collaboration with the American Medical Association. AAPI has signed a MOU with AMA, the premier organization, working with whom, AAPI will succeeded in bringing to the forefront the many important health care issues facing the physician community and raising our voice unitedly before the US Congress members,” Dr. Samadder told media persons during the press event.
Within the few weeks since assuming office, the executive team led by Dr. Samadder has taken many initiatives, Dr. Samadder provided an overview of the programs AAPI plans to undertake in the coming months. Pointing to some of the new initiatives, Dr. Samadder referred to the Clinical Fellowship in Allergy and Immunology; Healthy Heart program; International Research competition; and, a new free clinic by the AAPI Charitable Foundation in the state of West Bengal.
Towards making this goal and other objectives of AAPI, Dr. Samadder has an excellent and dedicated executive committee, consisting of Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect; Dr. Suresh Reddy, Vice President; Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Secretary; Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Treasurer; and Dr. Ashok Jain, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Samadder thanked Dr. Raj Bhayani and Dr. Kusum Punjabi, among many others for their leadership and the initiatives in organizing the conference today.
As President of AAPI, the nation’s largest ethnic association, the team is committed to unify AAPI by breaking down the barriers of various regions, languages, medical education within the organization and bringing everyone together as a whole organization rather than separate fragments of the organization.
Dr. Ashok Jain, Chairman of the BOT, AAPI, in his address, assured AAPI members of the sound financial status of AAPI. “AAPI is strong financially,” he told members. Dr. Jain praised the leadership of Dr. Samadder and his executive committee for their leadership and leading the organization to new heights.
Dr. Raj Bhayani welcomed the AAPI delegates and the media persons to the press conference, while Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda proposed vote of thanks. Dr. Shashi Shah, past BOT chairman introduced the Consul General to the audience. In his felicitation remarks, Dr. Ajay Lodha, the immediate past president of AAPI, praised the leadership of Dr. Samadder. “Under the leadership of Dr. Gautam and his team, AAPI has been brought to new heights,” he said.
According to Dr. Samadder, for AAPI to retain its influence, AAPI must mentor and develop the next generation of doctors in leadership. “I want to encourage medical students, residents, and fellows and all second-generation Indian American physicians to be actively involved in both local and national level efforts to building a strong association focusing on leader development and strengthening our professional relations.”
Earlier, during the day, AAPI members attended an outstanding Leadership Conference, addressed by renowned speakers with a working lunch and was followed by a Conference from 1pm to 5.30 pm. The Leadership conference agenda focused on: Effective Media Communication; Learn Team Building Skills; How to Succeed as Entrepreneur; and, Why Giving Back to your Community Helps You as a Leader.
The physicians of Indian origin are proud of their great achievements and contributions to our motherland, India, our adopted land, the US and in a very significant way to the transformation of the Indo-US relations. Towards this end, AAPI. The 11thannual Global Healthcare Summit is a testimony to AAPI’s commitment to their motherland, India.
AAPI continues to march ahead and 2017 will reach West Bengal with the 11th AAPI GHS scheduled from Dec 28 to 30 in the beautiful city of joy, Kolkata. “Our focus will be continue making progress with the TBI guidelines dissemination, training of first responders and engaging local authorities to help address one of the major causes of road fatalities by pursuing four key aspects, awareness, pre-hospital care, in hospital and rehab. We are very fortunate that Mr. Amitabh Bachchan has been a strong supporter of our message and his name, voice and message on prevention continues to make a significant difference. AAPI will continue to broaden this activity in West Bengal,” declared Dr. Samadder.
The AAPI GHS has also served as a sounding board for many Healthcare Leaders to freely exchange views, ideas and help resolve challenges that are addressed during the very effective CEO forums usually chaired by MOH officials and leading CEO. This has helped in attracting investment, advanced training and setting up hospitals, medical institutions etc. AAPI will continue the international research competition, EP, Cardiology, Urology and other workshops that will help in training several India based physicians. AAPI’s emphasis on promoting maternal and infant health has been a very well received initiative under the banner of “Women’s Leadership Forum”. This also serves as an inspiration for aspiring women leaders to see and hear from role models.
The GHS 2017 will have a pre-session for AAPI delegates in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai, exploring the modern marvels, while post GHS session will take members to the natural wonders in the Himalayan regions in Bhutan. Registration for GHS and the sessions for the Dubai and Bhutan are open and members are encouraged to register online at www.aapighs2017.org

Shrimad Bhagvat Katha on Royal Caribbean Cruise Brings 750 Participants to Experience the Divine

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

In the midst of one’s busy life, there is a longing in everyone to be united with the Divine, to listen to the spiritual discourses, and read the Scriptures. With the challenges of meeting one’s daily needs of work, family, and social life, it’s hard to find time for spirituality, prayer, and divine experience.

To help fulfil these noble desires, as well as to provide an opportunity for participants to experience the divine in a fun and memorable way, a seven-day cruise with spiritual teachings of Shrimad Bhagvat by Shri Rameshbhai Oza, popularly known as Pujya Bhaishree, was organized aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship departing from Seattle starting July 14th courtesy of Jaya Travel & Tours.

Attended by 800 devotees, this Bhagvat katha was inspired by members of the Board of Trustees of the Sanskruti Foundation USA. The volunteer force comprised of devotees from Detroit, Seattle, and  many other cities across the United States, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Madagascar, and India as well.

The presence of divine Saints – Karshni Gurusharanananda Swami of the Udasin Ashram in Raman, Reti Gokul and Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, and the spiritual head of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh. This made for a special experience on this unique cruise. The collective presence of three holy sages created a supremely religious environment and devotees felt that they were in the presence of the divine trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva.

Specially prepared Jain vegetarian meals were available to devotees round-the-clock. The abundant comforts, good food, lack of any physical wants, and the relative isolation provided a perfect environment for devotees to develop focused attention and love for the most beloved scripture and their Lord. Pujya Bhaishree acknowledged the inspirations that he received with the presence of these holy sages.

Daily satsang inspired from the readings of Shrimad Bhagvat took the devotees into a different plane of existence. Devotees transcended current reality and were transported back in time and place to Vrajbhumi where they participated in the divine birth of Lord Shri Krishna, watched his many childhood Leelas unfold before their eyes, enacted the Govardhan Leela, and participated in the wedding of the Lord with Shri Rukminidevi. Devotees stood and danced in the unobstructed joy as Pujya Bhaishree would intersperse the discourse with melodious bhajans. The guru and devotees became one with each other, and together, one with their beloved Lord Sri Krishna.

Devotees and sages also attended some cultural programs which included musical and comedy sessions from the famous standup comedian Sri SaiRam from Gujarat, which had everybody  laughing.  On another occasion, devotees played Raas-Garba and they were joined by Pujya Bhaishree.  Everyone took time for some shore excursions whenever the ship was docked on land.  Pujya Bhaishree and Pujya Muniji took a helicopter ride over a glacier and walks in parks that were filled with abundant natural beauty.

Having this Srimad Bhagvat katha aboard a cruise ship was a unique event as the ocean is the residence of the Lord Ananta as he rests on  Sheshnaga.  In that sense, the participants felt as though they were in the house of the divine.  According to Vedic scriptures, the ocean is also the father of Sri Lakshmimata, and since all humans are children of the Lord Vishnu and mother Lakshmi, Pujya Bhaishree compared the luxuries of the cruise ship with the pampering care of the maternal grandfather of humanity.  Although holy vibrations are normally felt in pilgrimage places, Pujya Bhaishree specifically referenced the positive vibrations emanating from the Vyaspeeth located in the ship as it floated on the ocean.

The holy book of Shrimad Bhagvat is unique in that Lord Shri Krishna resides within the scripture for the benefit of all devotees in this age of Kaliyuga.  The Lord himself is an infinite ocean residing within this Holy Scripture which is itself an ocean of love and devotion. This cruise katha was therefore extremely unique in that an ocean (Shri Krishna) present within an ocean (Shrimad Bhagvat) was present within an ocean (Pacific Ocean). For the first time, as per instructions from Pujya Bhaishree, the pothi (holy book of Shrimad Bhagvat) rested in a devotee’s room each night, instead of residing in a single location as per tradition. Devotees would gather and sing bhajans to Shri Krishna in these different locations.

 

While the katha delved into some deep philosophy ranging from “Who am I,” and the “creation of this universe,” and “how do we please our beloved Lord,” the devotees also were enveloped in the heavy outpouring of love for Lord Sri Krishna from hearing his childhood stories as well as stories of Raas-Leela.  This occasion was unique in that devotees got intimate connection with Lord Shri Krishna, Shrimad Bhagvat, Pujya Bhaishree, Gurusharanananda Swami, and Pujya Muniji. This occasion was also unique as this event fell within the dates of Guru Poornima and Pujya Bhaishree’s upcoming 60thbirthday on August 31st.  Devotees celebrated both of these events in spirit and in person.  This cruise katha was seven days of continuous celebration of Lord Krishna, his creation, his saints, and his devotees.

“Nearly a year of hard work, planning, and reaching out to the Indian community and Americans around the world, paid off,” said Arvin Shah, founder and CEO of Jaya Travel which organized the cruise. “Hearts overflowed with joy, tears welled up in our eyes as the participants of the cruise personally experienced the presence of Lord Sri Krishna. It was indeed heartening to see the nearly 800 participants from around the world have a unique experience of the divine and at the same having a memorable cruise with the inspiring presence of Pujya Bhaishree Rameshbhai Oza, Karshni Gurusharanananda Swami, and Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati.” For more details on the Shrimad Bhagvat Katha  on Royal Caribbean cruise 2017  please call 1-877-FLYJAYA (1-877-359-5292) or visit www.jayatravel.com

GOPIO-CT honors 5 distinguished NRIs at 11th annual gala

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

 

“This country is the greatest nation in the history of the world because of our diversity,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal

“This country is the greatest nation in the history of the world because of our diversity,” Richard Blumenthal, the senior United States Senator from Connecticut, told a packed audience at the 11th annual Gala and awards nite organized by The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)-Connecticut Chapter in the Ballroom at The Hilton Hotel in Stamford, CT on Saturday, July 8th, 2017. “We have become a great nation because of your contributions. We have welcomed talent, energy and dedication. There is no greater example of this than our relationship with India; two great democracies on earth. Our nation faces biggest challenge to rule of law today than ever before.”
The sold out and much anticipated event was attended by over 250 guests from across the state of Connecticut, including community leaders, elected officials, and honorees and their families. The gala included a cocktail reception, dinner, music, live DJ and dances by participants, eloquent speeches, touching life-stories and inspiring narratives on the lives of the five distinguished honorees. The program was compered by Gayatri Mahesh.
Prominent among those who had attended and spoke at the annual gala included, Congressman Jim Himes, Stamford Mayor David Martin, Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling, Connecticut State Senators Tony Hwang and Toni Boucher and CT State Assemblymen Dr. Prasad   .
In her presidential address, Anita Bhat described the mission and vision of GOPIO-CT under her leadership. “Our mission at GOPIO-CT is to be active participants in the local community through involvement in community events and local politics, and by providing services to the Indian community at large here in Connecticut. This lofty goal of providing services and a political voice to the local Indian population has evolved into an exemplary community service organization thanks to the tremendous support of our local Indian community.”
Describing some of the programs GOPIO-CT initiates, Bhat said, GOPIO members serve in local soup kitchens, do walkathons to support cancer patients, and jointly celebrate Diwali and India’s Independence Day with the members of multiple Indian groups in our community. “This year we want to take our mission a step further and become the voice of Indian Americans living in Connecticut. This lofty goal is not easy to reach without your support. Please become a member of GOPI-CT and make our goals come true,” she said.
Congressman Jim Himes, who represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the United States House of Representatives, said he was delighted to be at the event to honor the accomplishments of so many talented individuals. Congressman Jim Himes, in his felicitations, “This is the largest ever dinner you I have ever attended of GOPIO. We are experiencing one of the backsliding moments in the history of the where the core strength of this nation, the immigrants, are being threatened. There is no bigger rebuttal than the people in this room. You are scientists, educators, engineers, entreprenros, community activists, philanthropists, who represent the success and contributions of immigrants to the country”
Riva Gaangulay Das, Consul General of India, in her address, “The Indo-US relationship has been strengthened by who you are; your accomplishments. Though you are only 1% of the US population, you have excelled in education, income level, economic standing and contributions to the society, you are the model for all other immigrant communities.” Describing the partnership as strategic, she pointed out to the fast growing and maturing of collaboration between the two nations.
Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President of GOPIO International who is also a Trustee of GOPIO-CT, chairman of the Awards Committee, said, “The evening is a celebration – a celebration not just of the accomplishments of our awardees, but also a tribute to a strong and vibrant Indian-American community in Connecticut.”
“You are the community. You are not part of the community,” Mayor David Martin told the Indian Americans. Pointing to the historic nature of the upcoming general elections in November, Mayor Martin urged the members to register and vote, and thus become ensure that your voices are heard.”
Mayor Harry Rilling said,  “I am honored to be here to celebrate among friends and am thankful for the warm welcome the Indian community has always extended to me and my family.” He also congratulated GOPIO-CT for its 11 years of service and bringing the Indian community together.
The founder and CEO of T V Asia, H. R. Shah, a charismatic Indian American, who is a well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist and community leader who endeared himself as a close friend of who’s who of the world, and was honored with Padma Bhushan, one of the highest honors by the Indian Government, was honored by GOPIO for his accomplishments and contributions to the Indian American community. While thanking GOPIO, Shah said, “For getting success in life you have to have a goal, vision, and determination. Money comes later. You have to work hard.”
Ila Paliwal was honored for her contributions in the field of Performing Arts. A classically trained Indian vocalist, songwriter and producer based in New York, Paliwal released her album NAVARATNA in 2015 at the Carnegie Hall to a sold-out audience. NAVARATNA celebrates India’s secular and festive spirit and is executive produced by legendary music composer AR Rahman. In 2015, She also released a video, HOLI celebrating the Indian ancient phrase Vasudev Kutumbakam. Through her music, Ila focuses to spread the message of Unity in Diversity. Ila along with her family supports several philanthropic organizations through their Family’s Charitable Foundation. In her acceptance speech, she said, “May this award given to me today be an inspiration to the younger generation.”
Dr. Draupathi Nambudiri was honored for her accomplishments in the field of Medicine and Health Care. Currently serving as the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Stamford Hospital, Dr. Nambudiri is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and has been practicing psychiatry for over 30 years. She has been an active clinician, leader, mentor, and educator over the course of her career. In addition to being Board Certified in Geriatric Psychiatry, Dr. Nambudiri also holds Board Certifications in Addiction Psychiatry, General Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine. In her acceptance speech, Dr. Nambudiri said, “May the Lord grant me the grace to serve the neediest, and be able to dedicate my life to serve the country.”
Dr. Rupendra Paliwal, who was honored for his accomplishments in the field of Education, currently serves as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Sacred Heart University. Before taking on the role of provost, Paliwal served as vice president for strategic planning, special assistant to the president for strategic planning, associate dean of the Jack Welch College of Business (WCOB), interim dean of the WCOB, associate dean for Academic Affairs and associate professor of finance. Prior to coming to Sacred Heart, he was a senior officer of the National Stock Exchange of India. “It is very special for me to be in the company of so many distinguished persons,” he said and dedicated the award to his family.
Captain Alpa Ladani, a distinguished 20-year Veteran of the Connecticut Army National Guard, was honored for her services to the nation. Captain Alpa Ladani was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Germany and Bahrain in a number of different capacities. Most recently, Captain Ladani served as the Executive Officer for Forward Support Base, Headquarters Resolute Support in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, and Iraq Campaign medal with 2 Campaign Stars, amongst a host of other honors accrued over her lengthy time in service. Captain Ladani currently works as the Senior Program Manager of Emergency Planning for the Boston Public Health Commission’s Office of Public Health Preparedness.  She applauded GOPIO and said, “Your efforts show that you are working to have our community integrated with the mainstream world.”
GOPIO-CT President’s Young Professional Achiever Award was given to Nitesh Banta. A Harvard alumni, Banta was selected for the well-known Forbes 30 Under 30 List in the New Venture Category. He is an active angel investor and is the CEO and co-founder of B12 which has been recognized as the hottest emerging startup by Nasdaq at the Founders Forum. Nitesh is a participant in the AI Xprize. In October 2016, Nitesh won the Rising Star Award for B-12.  In 2012, Nitesh co-founded Rough Draft Ventures, a student-run venture initiative where each student entrepreneurs can receive up to $25k to fund their new start-up.
For the third year in a row, GOPIO-CT Scholarship for College Tuitions were given to four young students from Connecticuttowards their higher education. The recipients are Praneetha Desu (Indiana University), Vivek James (University of Pennsylvania), Arjun Ahuja (University of Connecticut) and Ruhi Patel (Norwalk Community College), GOPIO-CT Scholarship Committee consisted of Shelly Nichani (Chairman), Shobhna Bhatnagar and Priya Easwaran coordinated GOPIO-CT efforts and led the fund-raising at the event to expand the scholarship to other parts of Connecticut in the coming years.
Over the last 11 years, GOPIO-CT, a chapter of GOPIO International has become an active and dynamic organization hosting interactive sessions with policy makers and academicians, community events, youth mentoring and networking workshops, and working with other area organizations to help create a better future. GOPIO-CT – Global Organization of People of Indian Origin – serves as a non-partisan, secular, civic and community service organization – promoting awareness of Indian culture, customs and contributions of PIOs through community programs, forums, events and youth activities. It seeks to strengthen partnerships and create an ongoing dialogue with local communities.

AAPI supports Dr. Jerome Adams for United States Surgeon General

Ajay GhoshHealth 0

CHICAGO, IL – “The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin is pleased to support the nomination of Dr. Jerome Adams for United States Surgeon General, currently serving as Indiana Health Commissioner with a proven leadership record with a steadfast dedication to improving the lives of the communities around him,” said Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI, in a statement issued here.

Dr. Jerome Adams was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the new Surgeon General of the United States on June 29th. Adams, a physician anesthesiologist, has a long-tenured history in the health industry and is from Vice President Mike Pence‘s home state of Indiana.

If he is confirmed by the US Senate, he would serve a four-year term and would take over for Sylvia Trent-Adams, who’s served as the acting surgeon general since April 21 when Trump asked Vivek Murthy to resign from the top job as America’s Doctor. Murthy, a member and friend of AAPI, had served in the role since December 18, 2014 and was nominated by President Barack Obama.

According to Dr. Samadder, who assumed charge as the President of the largest ethnic organization of physicians in the US representing nearly 100,000 physicians and fellows of Indian origin, Dr. Adams has demonstrated this leadership on numerous fronts including during the recent HIV outbreak in southeast Indiana and with the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic nationally. He is also an active leader within organized medicine and serves on the Health and Public Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee for the American Society of Anesthesiologists and has served on several boards of the American Medical Associations including the Young Physicians Section.

Dr. Adams is an anesthesiologist who has been outspoken against the opioid epidemic. He began serving as the Indiana State Health Commissioner in 2014 under then-governor Mike Pence and was in that role during the 2015 outbreak of HIV that spread among users of a prescription opioid, Opana. In the role, Adams oversees a number of branches of the state’s health departments: Public Health Protection and Laboratory Services, Health and Human Services, Health Care Quality and Regulatory, and Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commissions. In addition to serving as the health commissioner, he’s also the secretary of the Indiana State Department of Health’s executive board and is also the chairman of the Indiana State Trauma Care Committee. Adams has testified in front of the US Congress and the Senate Committees

Dr. Adams holds a master’s degree in public health and was a key player in navigating Indiana’s response to an HIV epidemic directly associated with drug use in 2015. “I would respectfully suggest that we’re here today not so much to look back at what happened,” Adams said to the committee. “But to make sure it doesn’t happen in another community. You need to ask yourself, ‘Are you helping more people than you’re hurting?” Adams, who earned his medical degree from Indiana University’s School of Medicine, currently works as an assistant professor of clinical anesthesia at the school and also works as a staff anesthesiologist at Eskenazi Health. At Eskenazi, he’s the chairman of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

Dr. Adams, with his wide range of experiences in the healthcare sector, understands the healthcare landscape, and will be a strong advocate for state public health, bringing a unique and valuable set of skills to the nation’s healthcare system. “AAPI would like to work closely with Dr. Adams in helping shape healthcare policies and programs benefiting the entire nation and the people of this great nation,” said Dr. Samadder, who has made making AAPI’s voice heard in corridors of power in the nation a top priority of his presidency.

11-year-old Arnav Sharma beats Einstein in Mensa IQ Test

Ajay GhoshYouth 0

Arnav Sharma, an 11-year-old Indian-origin boy in London has scored 162 in the prestigious Mensa IQ test, two points higher than geniuses Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. Arnav from Reading town in southern England, passed the infamously difficult test a few weeks ago with zero preparation. The Mensa IQ test was developed in Britain to form an elite society of intelligent people, the Independent reported.

The so-called genius benchmark is set at 140 and Arnav Sharma gained a score of 162 – the maximum possible result you can achieve on the paper.  It is a whole two points higher than German-born theoretical physicist Einstein and celebrated cosmologist Hawking.

Arnav passed the infamously difficult test a few weeks back with zero preparation and had never seen what a typical paper looked like before taking it. His mark in the exam, which primarily measures verbal reasoning ability, puts him in the top one percent of the nation in terms of IQ level.

“The Mensa test is quite hard and not many people pass it, so do not expect to pass,” Sharma told the media. “I had no preparation at all for the exam but I was not nervous. My family were surprised but they were also very happy when I told them about the result.”

The boy’s mother, Meesha Dhamija Sharma, said she kept her “fingers crossed” during his exam. “I was thinking what is going to happen because you never know and he had never seen what a paper looks like,” she said.

Sharma said his hobbies are coding, badminton, piano, swimming and reading. He also has an unusually good geographical knowledge and can name all the capitals of the world. His mark in the exam, which primarily measures verbal reasoning ability, puts him in the top one per cent of the nation in terms of IQ level.

“The Mensa test is quite hard and not many people pass it so do not expect to pass,” Arnav confidently told the media. “I took the exam at the Salvation centre and it took about two and a half hours,” he recalled. “There were about seven or eight people there. A couple were children but the rest were adults. It was what I thought it would be.”

A spokesperson for Mensa praised the 11-year-old boy, saying: “It is a high mark which only a small percentage of people in the country will achieve.” Mensa was founded in 1946 in Oxford by Lancelot Lionel Ware, a scientist and lawyer, and Roland Berrill, an Australian barrister, but the organization later spread around the world. Its mission is to “identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity.”

Aziz Ansari nominated for Television Critics Association Award

Ajay GhoshEntertainment 0

Aziz Ansari, the popular Indian American actor, has been nominated for the Television Critics Association Award in the ‘Individual Achievement in Comedy’ category, courtesy his Emmy-winning series, “Master of None.”

The Indian American comedian/actor, was nominated by the Television critics across the country. Aziz, who co-created and stars on the Netflix show, was nominated last year in the same category, but Rachel Bloom walked away with the award.

This year, Ansari is pitted against Pamela Adlon of “Better Things,” Kristen Bell of “The Good Place,” Donald Glover of “Atlanta,” Julia Louis-Dreyfus of “Veep,” Issa Rae of “Insecure,” and Phoebe Waller-Bridge of “Fleabag.”

“Master of None,” which recently wrapped up its second season, has also won a nomination in the ‘Outstanding Achievement in Comedy’ category, alongside FX’s “Atlanta,” ABC’s “black-ish,” Amazon’s “Fleabag,” NBC’s “The Good Place,” and “HBO’s “Veep.”

More than 200 professional TV critics and journalists from the United States and Canada form the TCA. The 2017 TCA Awards recognize outstanding television programming in the 2016-2017 season, honoring actors, producers and programs in a variety of categories, including news and information, youth, reality, drama and comedy.

This year’s nominations are spread across three broadcast networks —ABC, CBS and NBC — as well as PBS, 10 cable networks, and internet-streaming services Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix. For the second consecutive year, HBO is in the lead with 12 nominations; FX has 11; Netflix has 10; NBC has seven; Hulu has four; ABC and PBS have three each; Amazon, Disney and Showtime each have two; and A&E, AMC, BBC America, CBS, CNN, ESPN, and TBS finish with one each.

The nominations are remarkable — not because they represent a shift in the way Hollywood is doing business, per se, but because the TV shows and networks that have made an effort to champion diversity in their programming and hiring practices are reaping the rewards in the form of quality shows, which are subsequently being recognized by critics and viewers. It’s the circle of Peak TV.

“This was truly a landmark season for diversity in television, and the TCA nominations reflect this. Our members have chosen a variety of series that celebrate and represent a wide spectrum of performances,” said TCA President Amber Dowling in a statement. “With so many great programs—both new and returning—it was a real challenge for our members to whittle these nominees down. We’re excited to see which programs and performers make the cut as voting now gets underway to determine the TV standouts of the 2016-17 season. The 33rd annual TCA Awards will be announced Aug. 5 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Dr. Gautam Sammader, President of AAPI, wants to make AAPI’s voice heard in healthcare debate a top priority

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

Atlantic City, NJ – June 27, 2017: Working with his dedicated executive committee, Dr. Gautam Samadder, the President of President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), wants that “our voices must be heard by the people making the laws. AAPI must succeed in bringing to the forefront the many important health care issues facing the physician community and raising our voice unitedly before the US lawmakers. Our membership is our strength; as the 2nd largest medical association behind the AMA, we cannot stay silent any longer,” he said.  “We should be at the table during debate and implementation stages of health care reform and all issues facing medical professionals. Remember, if you are not at the table, then you are most probably on the menu,” he told the AAPI members.

“In order for AAPI to retain our influence, we must mentor and develop the next generation of doctors in leadership,” he said. “I want to encourage medical students, residents, and fellows and all second-generation Indian American physicians to be actively involved in both local and national level efforts to building a strong association focusing on leader development and strengthening our professional relations.” According to him, “One thing is clear, if you are a team player, hardworking, and willing to serve in the best interests of the organization.  There is always a leadership opportunity for you in AAPI.”

Dr. Gautam Sammader assumed charge as President of AAPI during the ground breaking 35th annual convention at the Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City on Saturday, June 24th, 2017 as the convention came to a conclusion with the gala attended by over 1,500 delegates from across the nation. Along with Dr. Sammader, his executive committee consisting of Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect; Dr. Suresh Reddy, Vice President;  Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Secretary; Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Treasurer; and Dr. Ashok Jain, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, also assumed office.

“AAPI must be responsive to its members, supportive of the leadership and a true advocate for our mission,” Dr. Gautam Samadder, president of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, said soon after taking charge of AAPI, the nation’s largest ethnic association. “I am committed to unify AAPI by breaking down the barriers of various regions, languages, medical education within the organization and bringing everyone together as a whole organization rather than separate fragments of the organization,” Dr. Samadder said.

Dr. Gautam Samadder rose through the ranks of AAPI due to his hard work and dedication. He was a Regional Director for the AAPI NE Central-II Region, and had served as the Editor-in-Chief of AAPI Journal, a quarterly published by the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI). He was instrumental in reviving the journal and turning it around to a ‘sought-after’ publication.

“My leadership involvement with the AAPI started during my Global Health Summit trip to India in Rajasthan in the year of 2010 although I have been a patron member of AAPI for more than 20 years.  I had the opportunity to know Dr. Narendra Kumar and Dr. Ajit Singhvi, past AAPI presidents, who had encouraged me to take on a leadership role at AAPI and here I am seven years later.” And he thanked Dr. Anjana Samadder “who has been with me through this journey to stand before you tonight as your AAPI president.”

Enumerating some of the current issues the nation faces, especially with regards to healthcare, including the status of the ACA, expansion of access to quality care for those who cannot afford coverage, stemming of the opiate crisis spreading across the country, treating obesity, changing Medicare and Visa programs, Dr. Sammader told the cheering audience, AAPI members as leaders in healthcare are called to be leaders in finding the answers. “That’s why it will take a unified AAPI to solve these problems,” he said.

According to Dr. Samadder, the heart of what we do revolves around education. The AAPI Global Healthcare Summit will serve as a sounding board for many health care leaders to freely exchange ideas, and help resolve challenges that are addressed during the very effective CEO forums.  “Leadership in medicine begins with the members of AAPI. It is up to us to lead on the issues; to make our voices heard, to develop leaders, and to educate everyone involved in healthcare,” he said.

With ribbon cutting and lighting of the traditional lamp Pandit Jasraj officially inaugurated the 35th annual convention of AAPI on June 22, 2017. Pt. Jasraj led the more than 1.000 delegates at the Convention Centre with an invocation prayer song, moving everyone’s heart seeking God’s bountiful blessings. In his opening remarks, Pandit Jasraj shared with the audience his heartfelt gratitude for inviting him and making him the special guest of honor. “This is the warmest welcome I have ever received in my life,” the Padma Vibhushan awardee told the AAPI delegates.

In his warm inaugural address, Dr. Ajay, President of AAPI, reminded the delegates from across the nation of the importance of the convention. “It’s with very great joy that I want to invite you all to come and be part of the 35th annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Convention 2017,” he said.

Dr. Lodha shared with the audience the many programs and initiatives he and his executive committee have taken in the past year since assuming charge as the President of AAPI. Dr. Lodha, among others, highlighted the successful organization of Global health Summit in Rajasthan and the many initiatives at the Summit, Crash Courses in India for police officers as first responders in accidents, EPS lab studies, AYUSH, first ever international research contest and the many charitable works through AAPI the Charitable Foundation.

The five days long convention was packed with CMEs, spiritual discourses, yoga, fashion show, town hall meeting, Bollywood extravaganza, India forum, young physicians forum, children’s activities, and delicious food from around India.

On June 24th at the AAPI Board of Trustees Luncheon Gala, Dr. Ajay Lodha, the outgoing President of AAPI was honored for his outstanding leadership, commitment to AAPI’s mission, and for carrying the entire AAPI family together, as well as for his contributions to realize the lofty goals of AAPI, by Dr. Madhu Aggarwal and the Board of Trustee members.

At the BOT luncheon, physicians with distinguished achievements and community services were honored. Winners of the Research/Poster Presentation from across the nation who had presented the abstracts of their research on diverse medical topics, were honored with cash awards.  While addressing the audience, Rep. Leonard Lance praised the contributions of Indian Americans and the achievements of the Indian American community and in particular that of the physicians of Indian origin in the US. While criticizing the GOP Bill being considered by the US Senate, Rep. Lance urged the lawmakers to work unitedly to fix the system rather than repeal the Obama Care.

Baba Ramdev, the world renowned yoga guru known for his work in ayurveda, business, politics and agriculture, led the members to an hour long early morning yoga session.  Later on, during a packed session, the famous guru addressed the audience for over 70 minutes, leading them to learn and practice simple ways of living healthy. According to him, the source of happiness is to “enjoy whatever you do.” He told the told the physicians of the glorious past of the Indian civilization that gave birth to the most advanced forms of practicing medicine thousands of years ago, and urged them to be knowledgeable to be AYUSH.

During an inspiring discourse by Brahmakumari Sister Shivani on June 23rd, the Indian spiritual teacher and inspirational speaker and a member of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University challenged the physicians to be “healing angels.” In an hour long address, she appealed to the delegates “to work on the inner thing. You can do whatever you want to do, provided you can keep the right state of emotion.” As physicians, she told the delegates, “You can learn to stay peaceful inside and share that feeling with your patients, staff and everyone you work with, so that they can free themselves from their own anger.”

She was part of the Women’s Forum, which has come to be a major attraction among the delegates at the annual conventions, and was led by Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, Dr. Udaya Shivangi, and Dr. Purnima Kothari. Panelists at the Women’s Forum included, Dr. Madhu Aggarwal, Chair, AAPI BOT; Poonam Alaigh, MD – Acting Under Secretary for Health, Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs; Ambassador Mrs. Riva Ganguly Das Consul General, NY; Dr. Jayesh Mehta, Chair of MCI, India; Dr. Ratna Jain; and Neha Kakkar, Bollywood Singer. The distinguished panelists discussed on the challenges for women in the 21st century; do women lack leadership skills? How did each of them rise above and became leaders in their own fields?

In her key note address during the gala on Thursday, Sadhvi Ji, said, “Having all the successes, comforts and luxuries in life does not lead one to happiness or real joy and peace. It’s found within and that’s what the Indian culture is teaching us, which emphasizes as you think so you become.”

During the luncheon, Dr. Prasad Srinivasan, who is currently serving his fourth term as the State Representative in Connecticut and is a candidate aspiring to be the next Governor of the state, in his passionate address, challenged his colleagues. “We have the choice to be at the table or on the table. Given our heritage, we the Indian Americans belong at the table. Get actively involved in the affairs of the local community and that’s the path to larger role in the nation.”

Speakers at the gala included, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthy, who spoke passionately about the fast growing Indian American community. “The Indian-American community is often hailed as one of the most successful ethnic groups in the United States. According to census data, its members have obtained income and education levels far above the national average. But this socio-economic achievement has not translated into commensurate political clout, as shown, for example, by the community’s lack of success in federal elections.”

Congressman Tom Suozzi spoke about his close association with the Indian American community and praised their contributions in his home state and around the nation.
Ambassador Ravi Ganguly Das Consul General, NY lauded the many initiatives AAPI both in India and the United States, while wishing them a successful convention.  “You have excelled in your fields of medicine, and thus make significant contributions through hard work, commitment and dedication to your profession and the people you are committed to serve,” she said.

The Town Hall Meeting with Congressmen Frank Pallone and Tom Suozzi provided insights into the current Healthcare Bill and how it’s going to be affecting the way healthcare is expected to be delivered in the coming years, if the Bill becomes law. Both the members of the US Congress passionately spoke about the deficiencies in the current Bill in the working, While acknowledging the limitations in Obama Care, they both showed the delegates that how the GOP will affect patients, physicians, hospitals and the entire delivery system. They answered several questions from AAPI delegates on issues that affect physicians.

At the Dinner gala, AAPI Charitable Foundation Fundraising helped raise funds for the various causes around India. The long nite on Friday was filled with spectacular performances by Bollywood singers Neha Kakkar and Sreeramachandra. Each day was packed with back to back seminars and CMEs and conferences. Several non medical topics were also offered to educated physicians and others.

The India Global Engagement Forum showed about concrete ways AAPI delegates can contribute to the growth of the nation. Children were engaged in several activities challenging their minds. A beautifully choreographed fashion show was a treat to the hearts and souls of all as beautiful women and handsome men cat walked wearing elegantly designed Indian attire.

Physicians of Indian Origin in the United States are reputed to be leading health care providers, holding crucial positions in various hospitals and health care facilities around the nation and the world. Known to be a leading ethnic medical organization that represents nearly 100,000 physicians and fellows of Indian Origin in the US, and being their voice and providing a forum to its members to collectively work together to meet their diverse needs, AAPI members are proud to contribute to the wellbeing of their motherland India, and their adopted land, the United States. The convention is forum to network, share knowledge and thoughts, and thus, enrich one another, and rededicate for the health and wellbeing of all the peoples of the world.

Dr. Gautam Samadder invited all delegates to come and participate at the 36th annual convention to be held in Columbus, OH from July 4th to 8th 2018. We look forward to seeing you all in Columbus, OH!” For more information on AAPI and the 36th convention, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org

AAPI’s 35th annual Convention CEO Forum focuses on innovation and healthcare policy

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0
AAPI QLI, Convention Host Chapter, honored during inaugural nite gala
“Delivery and access of healthcare in the United States and around the world is rapidly changing, leading to many describing the healthcare environment as dynamic, complex, and highly uncertain,” said Dr. Ajay Lodha, President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), in his welcome address at the CEOs Forum attended by a distinguished panel of experts from around the world. Dr. Lodha reminded the panelists of how healthcare impacts everyone and economics play a crucial role. Engaging leaders of healthcare, business, academia and community is an essential component for any debate, discussion or development of a robust healthcare system.
While stressing the importance of the presence of leaders from diverse fields, who had assembled on the inaugural day of the 35th annual convention of AAPI at the Harrahs Convention Center, Atlantic City NJ on June 21, 2017, he said, “With the changing trends and statistics in healthcare, we are refocusing our mission and vision and AAPI would like to make a positive meaningful impact on the healthcare delivery system. What we discuss today on ‘Healthcare Beyond 2020’ and recommend will be presented to the US lawmakers on behalf AAPI, who represent almost 100,000 physicians of Indian origin.”
Anwar Feroz, Honorary Advisor of AAPI, moderated the CEOs Forum, consisting of a very diverse group of leaders representing a broad segment of society, said, said, the Forum was  being organized with a view to create an opportunity to discuss and gain key insights and perspectives and the recommendations that were suggested by the distinguished panel will be presented in the form of a white paper to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Lawmakers in Washington, DC as they are in the midst of drafting a Healthcare Bill, replacing Obama Care.
The CEO Forum focused on the changing trends in the healthcare sector and how they impact the providers, hospitals, pharmaceutical, medical devices, technology and corporations as well as the patients. The Forum offered insights into managing efficiently the growing costs in the delivery of healthcare services.
Panelists who provided their insightful thoughts on the issues included, Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director Apollo Hospital Group; Dr. Arthur Klein, President & CEO Mt.Sinai Health Network;. William W. Pinsky, MD, President and CEO, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG); Dr. Humayun Chaudhry, President and CEO, Federation of State Medical Boards; Chintu Patel, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Amneal Pharmaceuticals; Robert Levine, Executive Vice President & COO, Flushing Hospital NY; Suresh Venkatachari, Chairman and CEO at 8K Miles Software Services Inc.; Amit ”Al” Limaye Logistic Solutions, Inc (LSI); Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Padma Shri Awardee, Philanthropist, CEO Parikh Worldwide Media; Dr. Amit Powar, Chief Executive Officer of Reading Health Physician Network (RHPN); Saleem Iqbal, CEO, President and Director Habib-American Bank; Neal Simon, President American University of Antigua; Manjul Bhargava, R. Brandon Fradd Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University, Dr. Madhu Aggarwal, Chair, BOT of AAPI; and Dr. Ajay Lodha, President of AAPI.
The round table discussion focused on two areas: innovation in healthcare and healthcare policy. Speakers shared their views with passion on innovation, emerging medical technology, new drug delivery pathways, newer medications, and medical equipment. “Technology is changing the way healthcare is delivered,” Sangita Reddy said. “However, it’s  the mindset of the people that shapes the system. Technology is a tool in the hands of the physicians empowering them to provide the best care for patients.”

A section of the audience at the gala
Suresh Venkatachari of India Abroad said, “Technology is a game changer. The Cloud innovation has a tremendous impact on how healthcare is delivered.” While acknowledging that technology is not a substitute for human power, he added, “Technology helps make human lives better.” The importance of telemedicine was another major topic discussed during the Forum. Neal Simon referred to numerous rural areas across the United States that could benefit from telemedicine. “Use technology wisely for new discovery,” he said.
Another area of discussion was on AAPI’s views on healthcare policy even as the new administration is determined to abolish “Obama Care.” As leaders in healthcare delivery system, the panelists were asked to offer their perspectives that a robust health plan must have to enable business to deliver quality and affordable health plan. Panelists shared their views on individual ownership and responsibility for wellness and prevention vs. entitlement and Government role in healthcare. Other recommendations that came out of the panel included the need for portability of insurance across state lines and of the need to increase the number of medical schools and Residency slots that will meet the growing needs of millions of patients around the world.
AAPI QLI host committee being honored at the convention

Later on, at the inaugural gala attended by nearly 1,000 participants from around the nation, Dr. Ajay Lodha while welcoming delegates to the 35th annual convention praised the hard work and efforts of AAPI host chapter, AAPI QLI and members from several other chapters. Describing AAPI as his extended family, Dr. Lodha called AAPI QLI as his own family, and thanked them for their dedication and leadership in hosting the convention.

Elaborating on the efforts and preparations that have been devoted to put together this unique event, Raj Bhayani, MD, 2017 Convention Chair, said. “We have been working hard to put together an attractive program for our annual get together, educational activity and family enjoyment. I and the Co-Chairs are fortunate to have a dedicated team of convention committee members from the Tri-State region helping us. We are happy to have a record turnout and active participation of all delegates at the convention.”
“We have come a long way since the inauguration of the first ever gala of the AAPI QLI Chapter, with a few dozen physicians joining in to give shape to this noble initiative by Association of Physicians of Indian Origin in the state of New York,” Dr. Rakeesh Dua said. Today, I am so proud to welcome you all, on behalf of the hundreds of physicians and fellows of Indian origin, representing AAPI QLI, the largest Chapter of AAPI with nearly 800 members. AAPI’s
AAPI QLI Chapter has been actively engaged in harnessing the power of Indian Diaspora.”
Saleem Iqbal, CEO, President and Director Habib-American Bank, presented a detailed description of similarities between AAPI and his Bank and invited the AAPI delegates to utlize the financial services offered by Habib Bank. Dr. Richared A. Shlofmitz, Chairman, Department of cardiology at St. Francis Hospital, Roselyn, NY gave an insightful talk on Precision PCI. The evening concluded with a delicious dinner and a mesmerizing classical rendition by Pandit Jasraj and was followed by a musical nite by Kailash Kher that went beyond midnight.
The 35th annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Convention 2017 is being held at brand new state of the art Convention Centre, the prestigious Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey from June 21 – 25, 2017. Many of the physicians who are attending this convention have excelled in different specialties and subspecialties and occupy high positions as faculty members of medical schools, heads of departments, and executives of hospital staff.
The AAPI Convention offers an opportunity to meet directly with physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and services. “Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally are participating in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year. We are so excited to have a record turn out in Atlantic City, New Jersey!” said Dr. Ajay Lodha.  For more details, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org  and www.aapiusa.org
Picture Captions;
1.      CEO Forum discussing Healthcare Beyond 2020 during the inaugural day of AAPI’s 35th annual convention
2.      Dr. Ajay Lodha welcoming the delegates at the inaugural dinner gala
3.      AAPI QLI host committee being honored at the convention
4.      AAPI leaders at the podium on the inaugural nite
5.      A section of the audience at the gala
6.      Pt. Jasraj performing at the inaugural nite gala during AAPI’s 35th annual convention

Pandit Jasraj inaugurates AAPI’s 35th annual convention in Atlantic City

Ajay GhoshHealth 0
Sadhvi Ji shows the way to true joy and peace
Atlantic City, NJ: June 22, 2017: With ribbon cutting and lighting of the traditional lamp Pandit Jasraj officially inaugurated the 35th annual convention of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) at the Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City in New Jersey on June 22, 2017. Pt. Jasraj led the more than 1.000 delegates at the Convention Centre at the prestigious Harrah’s Resort to a prayer song, moving everyone’s heart seeking God’s bountiful blessings.
In his opening remarks, Pandit Jasraj shared with the audience his heartfelt gratitude for inviting him and making him the special guest of honor. “This is the warmest welcome I have ever received in my life,” the Padma Vibhushan awardee told the AAPI delegates.
In his warm inaugural address, Dr. Ajay, President of AAPI, reminded the delegates from across the nation of the historic nature of the convention. “It’s very great joy that I want to invite you all to come and be part of the 35th annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Convention 2017,” he said.
Dr. Lodha shared with the audience the many programs and initiatives he and his executive committee have taken in the past year since assuming charge as the President of the largest ethnic medical organization in the nation, representing nearly 100, 000 physicians of Indian origin. Dr. Lodha, amlng others, highlighted the successful organization of Global health Summit in Rajasthan and the many initiatives at the Summit, Crash Courses in India for police officers as first responders in accidents, EPS lab studies, AYUSH, first ever international research contest and the many charitable works through AAPI the Charitable Foundation.
Physicians of Indian origin are well known around the world for their compassion, passion for patient care, medical skills, research, and leadership, he said. “Indian-Americans constitute about one percent of the country’s population, but we account for nine percent of the American doctors and physicians, serving one out of seven patients being treated across the nation.” Also, he said, nearly 20% of the new Medical students enrolling in the US schools are of Indian origin. Dr. Lodha was particularly appreciative of the contributions of young physicians and said, “You are the future of AAPI.”
William W. Pinsky, MD, President and CEO, ECFMG, provided the audience with the details on the demography of medical students and physicians in the US. Neal Simon, President, American University of Antigua, shared with the audience his close association with AAPI and the numerous initiatives AAPI and AUA have been doing together for the betterment of the society. During the luncheon, AAPI honored AAPI members, who had worked hard to make the convention a memorable one for all. Mammen Verghis of Prudential Life addressed the audience on the many valuable service his company offers, particularly, focusing on the diverse needs of physicians of Indian origin.
In her key note address during the gala, Sadhvi Ji, showed the audience who listened with total attention and silence, as the ways to true joy and peace. In her eloquent and passionate address, she said, “Having all the successes, comforts and luxuries in life does not lead one to happiness or real joy and peace. It’s found within and that’s what the Indian culture is teaching us, which emphasizes as you think so you become.” According to her, stress is leading us into disconnection from family and ourselves. “When there is something wrong in us, we blame everyone and everything else.. Mind is the source and solution to all the problems.” Quoting research done at elite US schools, she pointed out how people who are religious are less likely to have strokes.
Humayun J. Chaudhry, DO, MS, MACP, FACOI, President, FSMB, presented the process of obtaining accreditation to medical school programs. Michael Nisanov, COO, Empire City Labs was honored for his support for AAPI. Dr. Lodha, in his welcome address, praised the contributions of Regional Directors to the growth and expansion of AAPI. “For the very first time, AAPI is glad to recognize and honor your hard work and dedication for the cause of AAPI by having a gala in honor of AAPI’s 12 Regional Directors.
 
The day was packed with back to back seminars and CMEs and conferences. Dr. Nani Bhalla of AstraZeneca led the CME on Understand the Ongoing Risk of Atherothrombosis Beyond the Culprit Lesion. The Medtronic team offered an insightful session on Multidisciplinary Approach to Managing Ischemic Stroke: From Acute Management to Transition of Care.
 
The India Global Engagement Forum showed about concrete ways AAPI delegates can contribute to the growth of the nation. The day began with an hour-long yoga session led by professionals. Children were engaged in several activities challenging their minds. A beautifully choreographed fashion show was a treat to the hearts and souls of all as beautiful women and handsome men cat walked wearing elegantly designed Indian attire.
Several non medical topics were also offered to educated physicians and others. Dr. Benjamin Dyches offered insights into “Keys to Locking Out Lawsuits and Lowering Taxes.”  Sam Takkar of Perfect Tax explained to the audience why Warren Buffet, Mit Romney, and Donald Trump don’t pay more than 15% tax. For those who want to invest in India, Kotak Mahindra Bank offered insights into “How India has emerged as the favorite investment destination.”
The night ended with a fabulous performance by Standup Comedian Shailesh Lodha. The AAPI has got talent event was a super hit with the event bringing out the hidden talents from AAPI delegates from across the nation.  For more information on AAPI and the 34th convention, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org

Dr. Ajay Lodha honored by AAPI BOT for outstanding leadership

Ajay GhoshHealth 0
Brahmakumari Sister Shivani urges physicians to be “healing angels”
Yoga transforms your life: Baba Ram Dev tells AAPI delegates
 Atlantic City, NY: June 24, 2017: During the AAPI convention on June 24th at the AAPI Board of Trustees Luncheon Gala, Dr. Ajay Lodha, President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) was honored for his outstanding leadership, commitment to AAPI’s mission, and for carrying the entire AAPI family together, as well as for his contributions to realize the lofty goals of AAPI, by Dr. Madhu Aggarwal and the entire Board of Trustee members as the entire audience numbering over 1500 cheered him.
At the BOT luncheon, physicians with distinguished achievements and community services were honored. Winners of the Research/Poster Presentation from across the nation who had presented the abstracts of their research on diverse medical topics, were honored with cash awards.  While addressing the audience, Rep. Leonard Lance praised the contributions of Indian Americans and the achievements of the Indian American community and in particular that of the physicians of Indian origin in the US. While criticizing the GOP Bill being considered by the US Senate,
Rep. Lance urged the lawmakers to work unitedly to fix the system rather than repeal the Obama Care.
Expressing his gratitude to AAPI’s executive committee members, including Dr. Gautam Samadder President-Elect; Dr. Naresh Parikh,  Vice President; Dr. Suresh Reddy, Secretary; Dr. Manju Sachdev, Treasurer; Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Aditya Desai, YPS president; and Atul Nakhasi, MSRF President; Dr. Raj Bhayani,  AAPI’s 2017 Convention Chair; various committee chairs and members, volunteers and sponsors for their continued dedication and visionary leadership in their efforts to make this convention truly a historic one for all, Dr. Lodha, said. “The organizing committees have been working hard to make the AAPI Convention of 2017 rewarding and memorable for all with Continuing Education Meetings, National and India based Health Policy Forums, Youth Seminars, New Physician and Resident Student meetings. Physicians attending this convention will benefit not only from cutting edge CME, but also the camaraderie of their alumni groups and share in our common heritage. Social events are all being planned meticulously so that maximum benefit can be accomplished.
Earlier, the day began with Yoga led by Baba Ramdev, the world renowned yoga guru known for his work in ayurveda, business, politics and agriculture.  Later on during a packed session, the famous guru addressed the audience for over 70 minutes, leading them to learn and practice simple ways of living healthy. According to him, the source of happiness is to “enjoy whatever you do.” He told the told the physicians of the glorious past of the Indian civilization that gave birth to the most advanced forms of practicing medicine thousands of years ago, and urged them to be knowledgeable to be AYUSH.
To make yoga known around the world, Ramdev said, “We will make yoga popular in the entire world. We will open 10,000 Patanjali Wellness and Health Centers in the world, starting with 1,000 centers in the country in a short time.” he said.
During an inspiring discourse by Brahmakumari Sister Shivani on June 23rd, the Indian spiritual teacher and inspirational speaker and a member of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University challenged the physicians to be “healing angels.” In an hour long address, she appealed to the delegates “to work on the inner thing. You can do whatever you want to do, provided you can keep the right state of emotion.”
According to her, “Happiness is only possible when we are able to accept everyone as they are, at every moment, in every situation. That means an end to judging or resisting others, an end to complaining and blaming, an end to criticizing and controlling and an end to competing with anyone. It means the awakening and the acceptance of self-responsibility. It is only when we choose thoughts and feelings aligned with our true nature of purity, peace and love that we shift from asking to sharing; holding on to letting go; expectations to acceptance; past & future to being in the now. We create a life of joy, contentment and bliss, because we have the choice and the power. Happiness is a Decision.”
As physicians, she told the delegates, “you can learn to stay peaceful inside and share that feeling with your patients, staff and everyone you work with, so that they can free themselves from their own anger.  If someone throws something at me, like an insult or an angry comment, I can just let it drop and leave it lying there. By not picking up another person’s anger, I protect myself and at the same time give them the chance to take it back,” she said.  By staying in my own peace and patience and keeping my self-respect, I help others to do the same. By seeing people’s good qualities, I empower both myself and them. This is true generosity.”
She said, “When I create sweetness inside, I can share it with others. For this I need to spend time in silence and really get to know and love my true, spiritual self and connect with the Divine. At the Brahma Kumaris, we use the words, ‘Om shanti’, which mean ‘I am a peaceful soul’, to remind us of who we really are – no matter what is happening around us.  To be peaceful is to be powerful.”
She was part of the Women’s Forum, which has come to be a major attraction among the delegates at the annual conventions, and was led by Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, Dr. Udaya Shivangi, and Dr. Purnima Kothari. Panelists at the Women’s Forum included, Dr. Madhu Aggarwal, Chair, AAPI BOT; Poonam Alaigh, MD – Acting Under Secretary for Health, Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs; Ambassador Mrs. Riva Ganguly Das Consul General, NY; Dr. Jayesh Mehta, Chair of MCI, India; Dr. Ratna Jain; and Neha Kakkar, Bollywood Singer. The distinguished panelists discussed on the challenges for women in the 21st century; do women lack leadership skills? How did each of them rise above and became leaders in their own fields?
During the luncheon, Dr. Prasad Srinivasan, who is currently serving his fourth term as the State Representative in Connecticut and is a candidate aspiring to be the next Governor of the state, in his passionate address, challenged his colleagues in the medical profession to be hardworking, dedicated to public cause, family-oriented and stay focused, which are keys to becoming state and national elected officials. “We have the choice to be at the table or on the table. Given our heritage, we the Indian Americans belong at the table. Get actively involved in the affairs of the local community and that’s the path to larger role in the nation,” he said.
During the evening gala that was attended by over 15,000 delegates, AAPI officers were honored for their dedication and contributions for the mission of AAPI. Speakers at the gala included, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthy, who spoke passionately about the fast growing Indian American community. “The Indian-American community is often hailed as one of the most successful ethnic groups in the United States. According to census data, its members have obtained income and education levels far above the national average. But this socio-economic achievement has not translated into commensurate political clout, as shown, for example, by the community’s lack of success in federal elections.”
Congressman Tom Suozzi spoke about his close association with the Indian American community and praised their contributions in his home state and around the nation.
Ambassador Ravi Ganguly Das Consul General, NY lauded the many initiatives AAPI both in India and the United States, while wishing them a successful convention.  “You have excelled in your fields of medicine, and thus make significant contributions through hard work, commitment and dedication to your profession and the people you are committed to serve,” she said.
The Town Hall Meeting with Congressmen Frank Pallone and Tom Suozzi provided insights into the current Healthcare Bill and how it’s going to be affecting the way healthcare is expected to be delivered in the coming years, if the Bill becomes law. Both the members of the US Congress passionately spoke about the deficiencies in the current Bill in the working, While acknowledging the limitations in Obama Care, they both showed the delegates that how the GOP will affect patients, physicians, hospitals and the entire delivery system. They answered several questions from AAPI delegates on issues that affect physicians.

At the Dinner gala, AAPI Charitable Foundation Fundraising helped raise nearly $175,000 for the various causes around India. Dr. Madhu Aggarwal, who passionately led the fund raising urged the delegates to help AAPI establish at least 1 clinic in every Indian state. The long nite on Friday was filled with spectacular performances by Bollywood singers Neha Kakkar and
Sreeramachandra. For more information on AAPI and the 34th convention, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org

India and the United States in the Trump era: Re-evaluating bilateral and global relations

Ajay GhoshIndia, U.S. 0

As Trump-Modi Summit is planned for June 26th, the bilateral relations between India, the largest democracy and US, the most powerful nation on earth has come under scrutiny. The Donald Trump’s election at a time of growing and converging interests between India and the United States necessitates a re-evaluation of several aspects of Indian domestic and foreign policy, wrote Dhruva Jaishankar, a political analyst and foreign policy fellow at Brooking New Delhi. He has identified four areas in which Trump’s election affects Indian interests: bilateral relations (encompassing trade, investment, immigration, and technological cooperation), the Asian balance of power, counterterrorism, and global governance.

Marshall M. Bouton, senior fellow for India with the Asia Society Policy Institute, says all variables point to the Trump administration “seizing the opportunity decisively” to strengthen ties with India on shared interests vis-a-vis China, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the economic front. In a recent paper entitled “The Trump Administration’s India Opportunity” he argues both President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi  are “highly nationalist and pro-business” with their ‘India First’ and ‘America First’ slogans. They consider themselves dealmakers. Couple that with bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for a strong relationship with India, and you have a recipe for success at the bilateral talks scheduled for June 26.

The meeting between Modi and Trump has been described as a get-acquainted meeting and a personal one, an aspect important to both men. Trump puts a great deal of importance to how he is seen and treated,” she said. The two leaders see themselves as having certain similarities – being outsiders to the traditional political power system; being sneered at by many political observers; yet managing to win. Nevertheless, Modi has traveled around the world and established personal relations, even with a person as different from him as former President Barack Obama, which is not yet an opportunity Trump has grasped, if anything, to the contrary

Jaishankar argues that India needs to continue to engage with the Trump administration and other stakeholders in the United States—including the U.S. Congress, state governments, and the private sector—in all of these areas. New Delhi must attempt to convince Washington that India’s rise is in American interest. This idea provided the underlying logic behind the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations’ engagement with India, but it will be more difficult to sustain given the United States’ new political realities and impulses.

According to him, India must insure against the prospect of a more “normal” America, an imbalance of power in the Asia-Pacific, divergent counterterrorism priorities, and a relative vacuum in global governance. While in many instances U.S. power cannot be fully replaced or replicated, India will have little choice but to invest in relationships with other countries to achieve its desired outcomes, while more forcefully projecting its own influence and leadership. This will mean deepening bilateral economic, social, and technological relations with the likes of Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, China, and Russia, as well as smaller powers such as Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Canada, and Australia, especially in areas where they boast comparative advantages.

Jaishankar also notes that New Delhi must double down on its “Act East” policy in order to preserve a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. This will mean enhancing its military capabilities, deepening its Indo-Pacific security partnerships, assuming greater regional leadership, developing eastward connectivity, and participating more actively in Asian institutions, even while continuing to seek opportunities for sustainable economic and commercial cooperation with China. On counterterrorism, India will have to convince the United States to adopt policies that compel the Pakistani state to stop its support and tolerance for terrorist groups. India must also consider the possibility of contributing more in military terms to support the Afghan government in Kabul. Finally, without harboring unrealistic expectations, India must continue efforts to advance its entry into apex institutions of global governance, in order to position itself to play the role of a leading power.

However, experts acknowledge the lack of India expertise in the Trump administration which to-date has not named an ambassador to India, leave alone an assistant secretary of state for South Asia to replace Nisha Desai Biswal, who stepped down when President Trump was elected.

“Clearly they don’t know each other and the major purpose is to develop a personal relationship,” said Walter Andersen, director of the South Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, in Washington, D.C. in the first one-on-one meeting at the White House. Plus of course, reviewing important issues, he added.

Trump and Modi are showmen who go with the gut. and both are expecting a good relationship. Andersen even speculated that in the few days left for the June 26 meeting, Trump would appoint an ambassador or even an assistant secretary of state for South Asia. Bouton sees a convergence of U.S. and Indian security interests in his perceived similarities between the two leaders, qualities that have potential benefits for both nations. “President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both highly nationalist and pro-business in their orientation, are likely to find common ground,” Bouton says. Especially as each prides himself as a dealmaker, and somewhat of a rebel within their party folds. Add to all these, the bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, for strong U.S.-India ties.

Bouton urges in his May essay that Trump first of all, develop a common strategic view of the U.S.-India relationship, especially as it relates to shared interests in China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan; then make India a clear strategic and diplomatic priority; demonstrate American commitment to India’s expanding role in Asia; develop new avenues for U.S.-India cooperation on defense and security; and lastly, manage economic relations, especially on trade and immigration issues, positively while looking for ways to expand ties.

A Brookings Institution paper published this month authored by Dhruv Jaishankar, urges Modi to continue to engage with Washington, even if it is more difficult in a Trump administration, in the areas of trade, investment, immigration, technological cooperation, the Asian balance of power, counterterrorism, and global governance.

India is in a good place with the U.S. as the bilateral takes place, analysts say. Despite the political divide in the country, members of the Indian-American community on both sides of the divide hope for and expect a positive outcome to the first meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their overarching concern however, is the status of H-1B visa holders and future applicants, who they say make up a significant part of the Indian-American community and are invaluable to the American economy and brain trust in the 21st century.

“I have conservative expectations from the meeting – not too high and not too low,” said Shekhar Tiwari, a Washington, D.C.-based businessman, supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party, founder of the U.S-India Security Council and the American Hindu Coalition.

Mahinder Tak, a leading Indian-American Democratic political activist and fundraiser in Greater Washington, D.C., however, was very upbeat about the upcoming bilateral. “I am very happy about the meeting. It is critical. President Trump must respect India as the largest democracy,” she said. “I hope Prime Minister Modi will ask about H-1B visa regulations. We need technology experts and India has such bright young people who can contribute to this economy,”  Tak said.

Ohio’s only Indian-American state representative Niraj Antani, a millennial, told News India Times via a text statement that he expected a “productive and great meeting between the leaders of the two most important democracies in the world. I am confident President Trump and PM Modi will strengthen the relationship between the United States and India,” Antani said.

Friends, family of Dr. Ramesh Kumar set up Foundation in his name

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

Friends and family of Michigan-based Indian American physician Dr. Ramesh Kumar, who was found dead last month in an apparent suicide, have set up a foundation in his name to help make medical treatment more affordable for people in financial need.

The Dr. Ramesh Kumar Foundation was created in honor of the urology resident at Henry Ford Hospital to continue his generosity, according to a Detroit News report. Kumar was known for his largesse, once paying for the surgery of a woman he didn’t know, friends said, according to the report.

The Indian American doctor was the son of Narendra Kumar, former president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, and Meenakshi ‘Minni’ Kumar. He also leaves behind his sister, Sarada Das. Dr. Ramesh Kumar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Detroit late evening on May 4. Kumar, 32, who worked in the Urology Department of the Henry Ford Hospital, was found dead on the passenger seat of a car in a rest area, some 90 miles from Detroit, Michigan.

Police are investigating the case to ascertain the cause of his death. The family members of Kumar say they do not suspect anyone and have ruled out the possibility of it being an incident of hate crime. “We do not know (the reason for his murder). They (The police) are yet to find out,” his father

Kumar was born in Cleveland and raised in Saginaw. He graduated from Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Boston University before receiving his medical degree from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, India.

A YouCaring crowdfunding page has been set up to raise funds for the foundation. At the time of press, the crowdfunding effort had reached $34,517 of its $100,000 goal. “Our family has been overwhelmed by the love and support and kind words we have received over the last several days,” Kumar’s sister Sarada Das, who serves as the foundation president and a board member, wrote in a post on the crowdfunding page.

“Ramesh is not gone,” Mason Kashat, one of Kumar’s friends and vice president and board member of the foundation, said in the Detroit News report. “His legacy is not dead. This is not how it ends. We’re going to continue the giving and helping of others, just like he did.” More information about the foundation can be found at www.drrameshkumarfoundation.org.

Rev. Tomi Thomas appointed by Pope Francis appointed a member of Vatican’s bio-ethics advisory board

Ajay GhoshProfiles 0

Fr. Tomi Thomas, a former director-general of the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) and Indian Missionary Society priest, has been appointed a member of Vatican’s bio-ethics advisory board by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis on June 13 appointed 45 new members of the Pontifical Academy for Life, having eliminated all of the Academy’s members earlier this year. He also appointed five prominent officials of the old Pontifical Academy as “honorary members.”

The Pontifical Academy for Life was established by Pope St. John Paul II for the promotion and defense of human life, especially regarding bioethics in line with Christian morality. All the papal appointments to the academy have expertise in different fields of biomedical sciences and related disciplines.

Pope Francis has revised the statutes of the Pontifical Academy for Life and encouraged a new approach that gives less direct attention to the “culture of life” issues that has previously been the focus of the Academy. Because there had been no expiration date for the terms of members, the Pontiff chose to end all memberships and re-appoint some members to a new roster.

Three of the new members are from Asia, one from India and two from Japan. Fr. Tomi Thomas served as director-general of CHAI from 2011 to 2016.  The association, headquartered in Secunderabad, was established on 29th July 1943 by Australian nun-doctor Sr. Mary Glowrey with a vision to provide holistic health for all – physical, mental, social and spiritual.

The other two Asian members are Professor Etsuko Akiba and Professor Shinya Yamanaka, both from Japan. Professor Yamanaka is 2012 Nobel Laureate in Medicine. He is Director and Professor at the Center for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, and a Professor at the Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences at Kyoto University.

Professor Akiba is a Professor of Law in the Department of Economics at the University of Toyama. The most outspoken members of the Pontifical Academy were missing from the list of appointments announced by the Vatican on June 13. At least one new member—Nigel Biggar, an Oxford theologian—has suggested that abortion should be legal during the first 18 weeks of pregnancy.

The Pontifical Academy for Life had been forced to postpone its annual assembly earlier this year because of the lack of members. The assembly will now be held in October. The topic for the meeting has also been changed: from a discussion of Donum Vitae, the Vatican’s statement on artificial reproduction, to a broader forum on “new responsibilities in the technological era.”

Rev. Dr. Tomi Thomas IMS, the former Director-General of the Catholic Health Association of India, has been appointed a member of Pontifical Academy for Life for five years by Holy Father Pope Francis. The Pontifical Academy for Life was established by Pope St. John Paul II for the promotion and defense of human life. Fr. Tomi was one among the three of the new members from Asia and the other two from Japan. It is a proud moment for the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) and its Member Institutions. Fr. Tomi Thomas serves the community as an Associate Pastor at St. Mathew’s Church, works in Stamford, CT.

Dr. Ashok Jain Elected Chair, BOT of AAPI

Ajay GhoshProfiles 0

Dr. Ashok Jain, M.D., M.S., FACR, chief medical officer for Beaumont Hospital, Wayne, MI, has been elected Chairman of Board of Trustees, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin for the year 2017-18.

Soft spoken, caring, gentle, intelligent, and committed to give back to the society, and gentle in his approach, Dr. Jain has been associated with AAPI since its initial launch over 35 years ago. “I have been involved with AAPI since its inception in 1983 as a young physician who had just started practicing in Michigan.” Ever since, he has been actively associated with AAPI and worked hard to the growth of this organization since its inception.

As a young physician filled with love and commitment, he had worked with Wayne County Medical Society and Michigan State Society for the establishment of first IMG section at state level in Michigan. One of his contributions, Dr. Jain feels very proud of today is that, “I worked for keeping same criteria for IMG’s and AMG’s for state medical licensure.”

Dr. Jain was elected as MAPI President in 1994 , and had served at the AAPI Executive Committee as the Regional Director in 1995-1996. His connections with the political leaders from India and the US made Dr. Jain more popular and much sought after. Dr. Jain served as the Alumni Committee Chair, and AAPI’s prestigious Legislative Affairs Committee Chair in 2004-2005.

All along his life, Dr. Jain was filled with passion for giving back to the society. He was elected to serve as the MAPI Board of Trustees Chair and the Foundation of MAPI (FOMAPI) Chair in 2015.

His visionary and leadership skills were seen all over as Dr. Jain, helped FOMAPI raise $180,000 for MAPI free clinic, serving the less privileged. In the 1980’s Dr. Jain raised $500,000 in five  years benefiting Nargis Dutt Foundation for cancer patients for different charities in india.

His love for his country of birth was seen in Dr. Jain building and running Girls High School in his village in Rajasthan in 1997, where 650 girls study year until they complete High School.  Dr. Ashok Jain had also served as a member of the Board of Trustee of Jain Temple in Detroit.

Dr. Ashok Jain, who serves as the Senior Vice President at Beaumont Health and as the Chief Medical Officer at Beaumont Hospital in Wayne, MI, has a Masters of Science Degree in Medical Practice Management. Dr. Jain has served as a  member of Board of Trustee at Oakwood Health Care System and now at the  Beaumont Health. Dr. Jain serves as Chief of Medical Staff of Beaumont Hospital, Wayne from 2011 onwards.

Dr. Jain is married to his beautiful wife, who is also involved with MAPI auxiliary. His son finishing medical school and his daughter has a degree in MHA, Masters in Healthcare Administration, and is Trinity Health in Ann Arbor, MI.

Beaumont Hospital, where Dr. Jain serves as the Chief Medical Officer, is a 185‐bed teaching hospital that is part of Beaumont Health, Michigan’s largest health care system, based on inpatient admissions and net patient revenue.   Dr. Jain was appointed to this role at Beaumont, Wayne in 2015. He closely collaborates with medical and hospital leadership, including its Medical Executive Committee, hospital president and elected chief of staff.

Dr. Jain is responsible for overall hospital performance and developing the vision and strategic plan for clinical activities. He also serves as the hospital’s patient safety officer and oversees site‐related patient safety and quality activities. A practicing radiologist, Dr. Jain joined Beaumont Hospital, Wayne in 1982 and was elected chief of staff in 2011. Dr. Jain is a graduate of the M.S. University of Baroda Medical College and completed a residency in radiology and fellowship in ultrasound/CT through the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Ashok Jain, M.D., M.S., FACR Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Beaumont Hospital, Wayne Beaumont Health is a not‐for‐profit organization formed in 2014 by Beaumont Health System, Botsford Hospital and Oakwood Healthcare to provide patients and families with compassionate, extraordinary care, no matter where they live in Southeast Michigan. It consists of eight hospitals with 3,429 beds, 174 outpatient sites, nearly 5,000 physicians, 36,000 employees and 3,500 volunteers. In 2016, the organization had $4.4 billion in net revenue with nearly 178,000 inpatient discharges, 568,000 emergency visits and more than 17,500 births.

“I bring years of health care management experience, organized medicine leadership experience to AAPI,” Dr. Jain says the newly elected Chair of AAPI BOT. “My goal as the the BOT, AAPI in the coming year is to formalize and create AAPI leadership academy working with American college of physician executives for development of leadership roles for all AAPI membership. I want to work hard to engage young physician and attract them to AAPI. They are the future of AAPI.”

AAPI’s 35th annual convention will be held at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, June 21-25, 2017

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0

“It’s very great joy that I want to invite you all to come and be part of the 35th annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Convention 2017 to be held at brand new state of the art Convention Centre, the prestigious Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey from June 21 – 25, 2017,” Dr. Ajay Lodha, President, AAPI, said  here today.

Dr. Lodha expressed his gratitude to AAPI’s executive committee members, including Dr. Gautam Samadder President-Elect; Dr. Naresh Parikh,  Vice President; Dr. Suresh Reddy, Secretary; Dr. Manju Sachdev, Treasurer; Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Aditya Desai, YPS president; and Atul Nakhasi, MSRF President;  AAPI’s 2017 Convention committee chairs and members, volunteers and sponsors for their continued dedication and visionary leadership and efforts to make this convention truly a historic one for all.

The annual convention this year is being organized by AAPI’s New York Chapter. Dr. Lodha expressed his gratitude to the organizers, various committee chairs and members, including Convention Chair, Dr. Raj Bhayani, Co-chairs, Drs. Vinod Sanchetti, Kishen Kumar, Jayesh Kanuga, and Kusum Punjabi; Convention Advisory Committee Chair, Shashi Shah; and Drs. Hital Gor, Jagdish Gupta, and Himanshu Pandya.

According to Dr. Lodha, the convention will have Continuing Medical Education, National and India based Health Policy Forums, Youth Seminars, New Physician and Resident Student meetings, Fashion Show, Women’s Forum, and mega Bollywood shows. Physicians attending this convention will benefit not only from cutting edge CMEs, but also the camaraderie of their alumni groups and share in our common heritage. Social events are being planned meticulously so that maximum benefit can be accomplished.

Attended by AAPI leadership, various committee members, community leaders, and media personnel from across the United States, the kick off event was inaugurated by lighting of the traditional lamp by Ambassador Riva Ganaguly Das, Consul General of India in New York on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Ganguly Das lauded the achievements of AAPI and the leadership of Dr. Lodha. “We have watched how AAPI has grown over the years and how we want other NRI groups to emulate the success model of AAPI,” Ganguly Das told the cheering audience. Stating that the government of India “values our relationship with AAPI and the many initiatives and contributions you have made for the people in India,” the Indian envoy said.

At the kick off event, Dr. Lodha highlighted the many accomplishments under his leadership, including the Leadership Seminar at Columbia University, the Cruise to Brazil, participation and leading the Independence Day Parade in New York, the successful organization of Global Healthcare Summit in Rajasthan and the many initiatives at the Summit, Crash Courses in India for police officers as first responders in accidents, EPS lab studies, AYUSH, raising AAPI’s voice against hate crimes in the US and against violence against physicians in India and championing AAPI’s role in healthcare policy and agenda through AAPI’s legislative conference in Washington DC in April this year. Dr. Lodha has been successful in bringing in financial stability and carrying forward all the Chapters in a cohesive manner with visits and meetings with members and leaders of several Chapters. Dr. Lodha is ever grateful to the media for its continued support all along.

Many of the physicians who will attend this convention have excelled in different specialties and subspecialties and occupy high positions as faculty members of medical schools, heads of departments, and executives of hospital staff. The AAPI Convention offers an opportunity to meet directly with these physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and services.

Alumni meetings for networking, match-making, also an AAPI-India Strategic Engagement Forum to showcase the AAPI initiatives in India like Trauma Brain Injury Guidelines, MoU on TB Eradication in India and recognition of AAPI award winners will make this Convention unique.

The Convention offers 8-10 credit hours of cutting edge CMEs as per AMA guidelines by well renowned thought leaders in their respective areas, being organized by Drs. Jagat Narula and Atul Prakash. Spiritual session is to be led by renowned Brahmakumari Shivani Didi. The Women’s Forum will feature well renowned women leaders, politicians, academicians, artists, sports women, and is being coordinated by Drs. Purnima Kothari and Udaya Shivangi.

The CEO Forum, which is by invitation will have CEOs of leading healthcare firms, who will give their thought process on the development of medical science and current changes, especially with the ongoing national discussions on the repairing/repealing of the Healthcare delivery in the nation. Also, for the first time, AAPI is inviting CEOs preferably with their innovative technologies in the field of medicine. The AAPI Research Symposium is an exciting venue to learn about and present new and exciting research as well as case reports and discussions. The Convention 2017 will also offer special emphasis on Integrative Medicine (AYUSH) and Medical innovations.

The AAPI Research Symposium is an exciting venue to learn about and present new and exciting research as well as case reports and discussions. The Convention will also offer special emphasis on Integrative Medicine (AYUSH) and Medical innovations. AAPI Talent show at the Harrah’s newly built elegant Theatre will provide a perfect setting for our AAPI delegates to display their talents. Being put together by Drs. Seema Arora and Amit Chakrabarty, the competitive session for the AAPI members will be judged by well renowned artists and philanthropists, has attractive prizes.

The dazzling Fashion Show will be one of a kind by famous fashion designers from the nation. The extravaganza mouth-watering ethnic cuisine with everyday “Theme Menus” with variety of display of best of the culinary will be a treat for the young and the old.

AAPI Talent show at the newly built elegant Harrah’s Theatre will provide a perfect setting for our AAPI delegates to display their talents. Being put together by Drs. Seema Arora and Amit Chakrabarty, the competitive session for the AAPI members will be judged by well renowned artists and philanthropists, has attractive prizes.

In addition, the exhibition hall featuring large exhibit booth spaces in which the healthcare industry will have the opportunity to engage, inform and educate the physicians directly through one on one, hands on product demonstrations and discussions, there will be focused group and specialty Product Theater, Interactive Medical Device Trade Show, and special exhibition area for new innovations by young physicians.

AAPI members represent a variety of important medical specialties. Sponsors will be able to take advantage of the many sponsorship packages at the 35th annual convention, creating high-powered exposure to the highly coveted demographic of AAPI’s membership.

Representing the interests of the over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, leaders of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, for 35 years, AAPI Convention has provided a venue for medical education programs and symposia with world renowned physicians on the cutting edge of medicine.

“Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally will convene and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year. We look forward to seeing you in Atlantic City, New Jersey!” said Dr. Ajay Lodha.  For more details, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org   and www.aapiusa.org

Narendra Modi to meet with Donald Trump on June 26th

Ajay GhoshIndia, Politics, U.S. 0

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump will meet for the first time on June 26 during the Indian leader’s two-day visit to the United States, with their discussions expected to set the agenda for strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership.

“Their discussions will provide a new direction for deeper bilateral engagement on issues of mutual interest and consolidation of multi-dimensional strategic partnership between India and the US,” the Indian external affairs ministry said in a statement on Ju ne 12th.

The White House said the leaders can be expected to set forth a “common vision” for expanding the US-India “partnership” in an “ambitious and worthy way”. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week and said he looked forward to playing host to a visit by Modi to Washington.

President Trump is looking forward to “advancing our common priorities — fighting terrorism, promoting economic growth and reforms and expanding security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region”, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters.

Trump saw India as a “true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world. The two discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the US and India in broad areas such as the economy and defense,” it said. Modi said he had “also invited President Trump to visit India

The US statement added that Trump and Modi resolved to “stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism”. Modi had congratulated Trump after his election win in November, saying he appreciated his “friendship” with India.

During the US election campaign, Trump wooed Indian-American voters and was largely positive about India. He had praised Modi for championing bureaucratic reform and economic growth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Washington DC on June 25 and hold talks with President Donald Trump the following day, the Ministry of External Affairs said. This will be his first visit to the US after Trump became president earlier this year. Contentious issues such as the Paris Climate Change Agreement and H1-B visa are likely to figure in the talks between the two leaders.

The White House said Trump spoke with Modi to congratulate him on the outcome of recent state-level elections. Trump expressed support for Modi’s economic reform agenda. “President Trump also said he looks forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi in Washington later this year,” the White House said in a statement. No date for the visit was mentioned.

Terrorism is expected to figure significantly on the agenda of both countries, according to officials and experts. The issue of America’s H-1B visas for highly skilled foreigners could be next for India, and trade for the US.

The US has emerged as a top arms supplier to India and the two sides will be looking to move forward with deals such as unarmed drones that India wants for its navy, Reuters reported citing sources in New Delhi.

Equally important, the two leaders, who have spoken three times on phone since Trump’s election last November, will use the meeting to strike a personal rapport for the future. Their officials have met and interacted over phone multiple times.

The US withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and Trump’s harsh remarks could come up, but Indian officials have said that climate change was never going to figure prominently in discussions with this White House, knowing where it stands on the issue.

Another area for discussion between the two leaders is Trump’s efforts for stricter norms for the H1-B visa program — often used by IT companies to hire Indian engineers in the US. Terrorism is another major area to be discussed during the talks.

Bilateral trade between the 2 nations could find a prominent place during discussions. The US trade deficit with India is among those Trump has tasked the US commerce department to investigate and recommend correctives.

Trump recently pulled US out of the Paris accord, accusing India of receiving “billions of dollars” in exchange for signing it. India hit back saying there was no truth in Trump’s claims.  “First of all, there is absolutely no reality. India signed the Paris agreement not because of pressure from any country nor greed. We signed the agreement because of our commitment to protecting the environment,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said at a press conference.

Trump’s “America first” policy has also put a considerable strain on Indian tech companies’ earnings. The Trump administration is also looking to put a cap on the H1-B work visa, there by putting thousands of Indian engineers at risk of losing their jobs.

It is expected that Modi-Trump discussions will provide a new direction for deeper bilateral engagement. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders, the ministry added. “Prime Minister will hold official talks with President Trump on June 26. Their discussions will provide a new direction for deeper bilateral engagement on issues of mutual interest and consolidation of multi-dimensional strategic partnership between India and the US,” the ministry said.

With abandoning Trump climate pact, world rallies around Paris deal

Ajay GhoshEnvironment 0

President Donald Trump has announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change. The move creates uncertainty around not only global climate change cooperation, but also U.S. leadership on the international stage, as countries including China, Russia, and India have signaled their intention to stay the course with their commitments.

Trump announced the US was leaving for economic reasons, saying the deal would cost American jobs. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US would still curb emissions. The Paris agreement commits the US and 194 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels and “endeavour to limit” them even more, to 1.5C. The UN World Meteorological Organization said that, in the worst scenario, the US pullout could add 0.3C to global temperatures by the end of the century.

The United States, with its love of big cars, big houses and blasting air-conditioners, has contributed more than any other country to the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is scorching the planet. “In cumulative terms, we certainly own this problem more than anybody else does,” said David G. Victor, a longtime scholar of climate politics at the University of California, San Diego. Many argue that this obligates the United States to take ambitious action to slow global warming.

Trump characterised the Paris agreement as a deal that aimed to hobble, disadvantage and impoverish the US. He said it would cost the US $3tn (£2.3tn) in lost GDP and 6.5 million jobs – while rival economies like China and India were treated more favourably.

Trump indicated he was open to another climate deal “on terms that are fair to the United States” but the leaders of France, Germany and Italy quickly issued a joint statement rejecting any renegotiation. The Democratic governors of New York, California and Washington states all quickly vowed to respect the terms of the Paris deal.

In the past five months, he has already demolished the moderate attempts made by Obama to tackle greenhouse gas emissions in the US through a series of orders. So much so that US commitments under the Paris deal were already dead in the water. President Trump rescinded Obama Administration’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). His “America First Energy Plan” promised to do away with “burdensome regulations on our energy industry” and reviving America’s coal industry. His executive order on “energy independence” initiated the process of “suspending, revising, and rescinding” a number of existing policies, including the Clean Power Plan. Several other federal policies aimed at controlling emissions are under review.

Just doing away with the CAP, which was to improve energy efficiency and reduce methane emissions by 40-45%, especially from the fracking industry, will add about 1,000 million tons of greenhouse gases (measured in carbondioxide equivalent terms). The Clean Power Plan, which was to reduce power sector emissions by 32%, was blocked by the American Supreme Court and is now under review by the Trump administration.

Its scrapping will lead to an addition of 200 million tons of gases by 2025. Emission standards for cars and light trucks are under review, the moratorium on federal coal leases has been lifted, methane reporting requirements have been withdrawn and the Social Cost of Carbon, an accounting arrangement to build in costs of emissions, has been rescinded.

The US had committed at Paris to reduce emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. Obama’s policies would have reduced emissions by 10%, the rest was still a work in progress. But all that is history now. With Trump’s anti-environmental, ultra nationalist stance, the downward trend of emissions of the last decade will be reversed, although efforts by States and cities may keep the momentum going.

In a survey of registered voters taken just weeks after the 2016 election, 69 percent said that the United States should participate in the agreement. This figure included 86 percent of Democrats, 61 percent of Independents, and 51 percent of Republicans. By a margin of 40 to 34 percent, even a plurality of self-described conservative Republicans backed the agreement. The administration has argued that the Paris Agreement is “unfair” because large polluting countries such as India and China are not required to do anything until 2030. The voters don’t buy this argument.

Two-thirds of them—79 percent of Democrats, 56 percent of Independents, and 51 percent of Republicans—say that the United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions regardless of what other countries do.

President Trump’s advisers may have suggested that withdrawing from the Paris climate accord would be a popular move. Howvere, as per experts, this could become yet another self-inflicted wound, because vast majorities of Americans want to remain in the Paris accord, including many of Trump’s own supporters.

Nearly 150 countries have ratified the Paris climate agreement, representing over 80 percent of global emissions. Nicaragua and Syria are among the only countries that have not signed the agreement.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed strong support for the Paris Agreement, and globalization in general, in his keynote address in Davos this January. European Council President Donald Tusk said after meeting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that the two powers took their responsibilities seriously. “Today, China and Europe have demonstrated solidarity with future generations and responsibility for the whole planet,” he told reporters at a joint news conference.

France’s President Macron calls on the world to “make our planet great again. The fight against climate change and all the research, innovation and technological progress it will bring will continue with or without the United States,” he added. A spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, Hua Chunying, said China was ready to take a leading role in the fight against climate change. “In the future, China will continue to tackle climate change in all ways, will proactively participate in the multilateral process of tackling climate change and resolutely uphold the global climate management process,” she said.

Indian Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said: “As far as the Paris accord is concerned… our government is committed, irrespective of the stand of anyone, anywhere in the world.” The group of the world’s 48 least developed countries accused Trump of showing disregard for millions of lives.

“Paris or no Paris, our commitment to preserving the climate is for the sake of future generations,” Prime Minister Modi said at St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The Prime Minister said India had been working to protect the environment even before 190 countries had agreed to sign the Paris deal in 2015. “I have in simple way stated the dream of ‘new India’. I quoted from 5000-year-old Vedas to say humans have a right to milk the nature but have no right to exploit it,” PM Modi said.

Scientists have warned the poorest countries across the globe will be the hardest hit by climate change as they lack capacity to cope with extreme weather events.

China and the US, the world’s first and second biggest polluters, respectively, are together responsible for some 40 per cent of the world’s emissions. India accounts for 4.1 percent of global emissions and is the third largest carbon-emitting country. Climate change, clearly, is real. It’s already doing damage around the world. Scientists and the leaders of virtually every country in the world take climate change seriously. There is only one major exception: the Republican Party in the United States.

Amnesty International USA’s Executive Director Margaret Huang called the decision an “assault on a range of human rights.” “By refusing to join other nations in taking necessary steps to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change, the President is effectively saying: ‘Let them drown, burn, and starve,’” she continued.

The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement is a huge foreign policy blunder that will reverberate through our relationships with our allies. During the negotiation process, the United States pushed to make the agreement flexible to bring all countries on board and to keep them in the fold even if their situations and priorities changed. This flexibility means that our withdrawal would be completely unnecessary—the administration could have remained party to the agreement while still pursuing its policy goals.

Abdicating U.S. responsibility in climate change mitigation and the coming clean energy transition is likely to make other international negotiations more challenging, particularly with respect to trade. The withdrawal also opens up a geopolitical space in climate leadership that may or may not be filled. The United States was a crucial force in bringing the Paris Agreement to fruition, especially in bringing China into the fold.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have increased significantly in recent years from 317 parts per million in 1960 to more than 400 parts per million in 2016, levels that have not been observed for over 10 million years. This has lead to a rise in global average temperature of over 0.9 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above its 1960 level, and it is only projected to increase further without curbing fossil fuel use and thus emissions.

Countries in the G7, European Union, and Asia have already stepped up to reaffirm their commitments to the Paris agreement in response to the U.S.’ wavering stance. An upcoming EU-China Summit in Brussels is expected to result in a detailed action plan to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) as laid out in the climate deal.

“Small Island States cannot afford to be dismayed or feel down about any of this, we have to move on for the sake of our countries [and] for humanity in general and for all countries,” Juneau concluded. Climate change is already contributing to extreme environmental events including rapidly melting ice caps, more frequent and devastating storms, and prolonged droughts which have and will continue to impact hundreds of millions of peoples’ human rights around the world.

Ananya Vinay wins Scripps National Spelling Bee

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

Ananya Vinay, one of the youngest finalists in the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition, won the prestigious championship on June 1 taking home a $40,000 cash prize after 12 hours of picking her way along a precarious lifeline of consonants and vowels. The winner, said of her composure, “I just focus on my word and try to spell it right.”

The 12-year-old Indian American sixth grader at Fugman Elementary School in Fresno, Calif., showed extreme poise in correctly spelling “marocain,” defined as “a dress fabric that is made with a warp of silk or rayon and a filling of other yarns and is similar to but heavier than canton crepe,” in the 36th round to beat Rohan Rajeev of Edmond, Okla., also an Indian American student.

“It’s like a dream come true, I’m so happy right now,” said Vinay, who in her free time imagines stories that she has not written down yet, and loves watching movies and playing with her younger brother.

Vinay battled one-on-one against Rajeev for 19 rounds before the runner-up tripped up on the word “marram,” spelling it “marem.” Vinay followed up by correctly spelling “gifblaar” and “marocain” to win the title.

“It was intense,” Vinay said of the back-and-forth with Rajeev. “It was interesting to go back and forth for so many rounds,” she added. Much like her route to victory, Vinay was seemingly unfazed by winning. When it was announced she correctly spelled the word to win the title, the youngster remained standing with a stoic look, barely smirking until her family rushed the stage to congratulate her and as confetti streamed down.

Said Vinay’s father Vinay Sreekumar of her win, “I’m really excited and happy to see she won. She deserved it,” but added, “It’s not a surprise for me. She worked hard for it.” Sreekumar went on to say that his daughter “came here to win and knew she could do it.”

Vinay said that she felt the words she got were easy to spell. Her mother Anu Poliyedath said of her daughter, who has a passion for spelling, “I’m proud she was so confident.”

Also in attendance rooting for Vinay, whose favorite word “spizzerinctum” means ambition to succeed, was her grandmother, who traveled from India to watch live. She also had family and friends in India and California watching and supporting on TV.

Vinay and Rajeev were the last two standing when Mira Dedhia, a 13-year-old eighth grader from Western Springs, Ill., and the daughter of bee participant in 1988 through 1990 Lekshmi Nair, failed to spell “ehretia” in Round 16.

The Indian American ended up placing third in the competition. The win for Vinay comes in her second appearance at the bee. In 2016, Vinay, who says she considers spelling a sport, tied for 172nd place when she misspelled “multivalent.”

Along the way, Vinay beat out 291 finalists, 75 of whom were Indian American or South Asian Americans, from May 30 through June 1 in Washington, D.C., as well as the more than 11 million spellers who began the competition.

Going into the final day of the competition, Indian Americans accounted for roughly 25 of the 40 remaining spellers. When the finale began as part of an ESPN primetime broadcast, 15 spellers remained, including 13 Indian Americans: Rohan Sachdev of Cary, N.C.; Shrinidhi Gopal of San Ramon, Calif.; Tejas Muthusamy of Glen Allen, Va.; Sreeniketh Vogoti of Saint Johns, Fla.; Saketh Sundar of Elkridge, Md.; Raksheet Kota of Katy, Texas; Naysa Modi of Monroe, La.; Shourav Dasari of Spring, Texas; Alex Iyer of San Antonio, Texas; and Shruthika Padhy of Cherry Hill, N.J., as well as the top three finishers. Erin Howard of Alabama and Alice Liu of Missouri were the other spellers.

“Ananya proved her depth of knowledge of root words and word origins to master round after round of some of the most challenging words in the English language,” said chairman, president and chief executive officer of the E.W.

Scripps Company Rich Boehne, who awarded Vinay the championship trophy. “The entire week was an impressive showcase of talented students who have dedicated so much time and effort to this skill. They exude commitment and true grit. Scripps takes great pride in serving as steward of the nation’s largest and longest-running educational event.”

Kamala Harris considering a presidential run in 2020

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Profiles 0

There are over three years and the 2020 presidential election. But, with Donald Trump in the White House, Democratic politicians are already eagerly jockeying for position with the expectation that the party’s nominee will have a very good chance of ousting the incumbent — if his poll numbers stay anywhere as low as they are at the moment.

There are several hopefuls who want to beat Trump in the next presidential elections, but one of the leading candidates is none other than, a first-term U.S. Senator from California, considered a rising star, hoping to lead the party in the 2020 presidential race. The newly-minted California senator is avoiding any talk about her future ambitions. But her history-making Senate bid — she’s the first Indian American and first black senator from California — and the state’s size and massive Democratic dominance makes her appealing, CNN commented last week.

She is Kamala Harris who, according to her Senate bio, “was the first African-American and first woman to serve as Attorney General of California and the second African-American woman to be elected to the United States Senate in history.”

While she has denied interest in running in 2020, she appears to making the moves that a potential candidate would, including speaking to key groups and on high-profile panels, fundraising for fellow Democrats, and connecting with journalists.

As Democratic political adviser Bob Shrum told the news outlet, “From everything I’ve seen of her she’d be an attractive candidate, she could be a compelling candidate, and I think she’d have a lot of appeal for primary voters.” Others have agreed, with the Washington Post calling her “formidable” due to her “California fundraising and activist base coupled with her historic status in the party…”

And in the wake of Hillary Clinton’s failure to become the first female president, the Huffington Post has suggested Harris could be “the next best hope for shattering that glass ceiling.” Both outlets compared her rise to that of former President Obama who also ran with just one Senate term under his belt.

Even if she decides to join the race in 2020, she may have some tough competition for the Democratic nomination in the form of former Vice President Joe Biden, Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Andrew Cuomo, a two-term governor of New York with a record of liberal accomplishments and a famous last name.

However, when the Los Angeles Times’ Patt Morrison asked her about running for the top job a few months ago, Harris deflected the question, saying, “I don’t know why my name is in that context. I’m focused on being the junior senator from California and very proud to be representing our beautiful state.”

 

Chhavi Verg wins popular vote, but loses title to be Miss USA 2017

Ajay GhoshFashion, Profiles 0

Chhavi Verg, a 20-year-old Miss New Jersey 2017  nearly won the 2017 Miss USA competition Sunday, May 14th in Las Vegas, but for the second year in a row, the crown and sash ended up going to Miss District of Columbia. Verg of Edison, who in October became the second Indian-American Miss New Jersey USA, emerged as first runner-up to Miss USA, Kara McCullough. And some say that given their answers to questions during the competition final, Jersey should have won.

During an evening that celebrated beauty and diversity Kara McCullough was crowned Miss USA 2017, while Chhavi Verg was adjudged the first runner-up on May 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Verg, wearing a sparkly black dress, stood alongside McCullough and Miss Minnesota, Meridith Gould, who was second runner-up, as the winner was announced. On Twitter, many seemed to be pulling for Miss New Jersey to take the title, especially after McCullough, who majored in chemistry at South Carolina State University and works as a scientist at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, referred to healthcare as a privilege, not a right (she was asked if it was a privilege or a right and why).

The Indian American student, of Edison, N.J., who bested 49 other contestants but ultimately lost the title to Miss District of Columbia Kára McCullough during a night full of glitz and glamor, ended up winning the popular vote on social media with her phenomenal poise, elegance and intelligence. The second runner-up was Miss Minnesota Meridith Gould.

A student at Rutgers University studying marketing and Spanish, Verg is a total fitness freak, a certified personal trainer, and a Bharatanatyam dancer. She also runs a health/fitness website, which features vegan/vegetarian recipes and other healthy living tips and tricks. She used the platform to address the faceless demon called cyberbullying.

“With social media, I believe it has given us so much power in this world, but with great power comes great responsibility and I have seen both ends of social media,” said Verg. “For me, it has been one of the most empowering experiences because I have met so many empowered women, but at the same time, I have also been a victim of cyberbullying like many of the contestants with me standing on this stage. Social media is again a privilege, it’s something you have to be careful of, you can’t just say anything just because you are anonymous, and once we realize that, that’s when we can truly live in a better world for everyone.”

After these answers, both the contestants moved on to the top three spots, where they were asked the same question, “What do you consider feminism to be, and do you consider yourself a feminist?” McCullough said: “I don’t want to call myself a feminist,” she said. “Women, we are just as equal as men, especially in the workplace.”

Verg, who is strong proponent of female empowerment through education, said: “Feminism is striving for equality and I do consider myself a feminist. I think it’s a misconception when people believe that feminism is women being better than men. But it’s really not. It’s a fight for equality. And we need to realize that if we want a stable society, a better future for every single individual, we need to be equal. And that’s why I advocate for education for women, because women are still held back in places of the world. They still don’t have that right to their independence, that right to their equality, all because of education. And once we do take that step, I believe that an equal world will be a better world.”

Though McCullough’s answers may have helped her clinch the crown, they also sparked a row on social media, with netizens mostly criticizing her for both her answers, and at the same time lauding Verg for hers. “#MissUSA Miss DC just lost me with that answer…Affordable healthcare is a privilege? Girl bye,” wrote one user on Twitter. Few went as far as saying that “Miss New Jersey was robbed” of her title.

“I want to show Americans that the definition of what it means to be American is changing,” Verg said. “It’s not just one face. There are many different people who are Americans, and I feel like Asian-Americans often-times are left out of the conversation.”

Preet Bharara Calls for Independent Probe of Trump’s Russia Ties

Ajay GhoshProfiles 0

Preet Bharara, the Indian American prosecutor who was fired by the Trump administration in March, has called for the appointment of an independent counsel to lead the investigation into allegations that Russia tampered with the 2016 presidential election, the media reported.

The former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Bharara, in an op-ed published May 14 in the Washington Post, said the move would be “common sense,” especially given last week’s dismissal of former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey.

Comey was heading the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s alleged links with Trump’s presidential win. “Jim Comey was once my boss and remains my friend. I know that many people are mad at him. He has at different times become a cause for people’s frustration and anger on both sides of the aisle. Some of those people may have a point… I am proud to know a man who had the courage to say no to a president,” Bharara wrote. “And in the tumult of this time, many should be asking, Are there still public servants who are prepared to say no to the president?” he wrote.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority leader, called for a special prosecutor in the investigation of ties between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, after the president fired FBI Director James Comey. “I have said from the get-go that I think a special prosecutor is the way to go, but now with what’s happened it is the only way to go,” Schumer told reporters on Tuesday.

The FBI had been investigating Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election as well as any possible links to the Trump campaign, as part of its counterintelligence mission.

Schumer called on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to appoint a special prosecutor in the Russia probe. “Mr. Rosenstein, America depends on you to restore faith in our criminal justice system, which is going to be badly shattered after the administration’s actions today,” Schumer said.

Bharara said a special prosecutor must be “independent and uncompromised” and that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is now overseeing the Russia investigation after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from it, must appoint one. “Given the manner of Comey’s firing and the pretextual reasons proffered for it, there is no other way,” he wrote. “History will judge this moment,” Bharara said. “It’s not too late to get it right, and justice demands it.”

Loyola Marymount University offers Master’s degree in Yoga Studies in America

Ajay GhoshEducation 0

Top-ranked Roman Catholic “Loyola Marymount University” (LMU), rooted in the Jesuit and Marymount tradition and “institutionally committed to Roman Catholicism”, claims to offer “the first Master of Arts in Yoga Studies in America”.

Loyola Marymount University offers the first Master of Arts in Yoga Studies in America. Graduate students engage in deep study of Yoga philosophy and history, Sanskrit, elements of physical practice, comparative spirituality, study in India. View the Curriculum page for a detailed overview of subjects.

The program produces knowledgeable leaders in the field of Yoga. Post-graduation, our students have gone on to further study in related PhD programs, have begun teaching Yoga in undergraduate institutions, opened centers and studios, found leadership work in Yoga media companies, and work to train other teachers in Yoga.

LMU also offers various yoga related Certificate Programs, including Prime of Life Yoga; Yoga, Mindfulness and Social Change (claimed to be “only professional certificate program of its kind”); Yoga Philosophy;  Yoga Therapy Rx; Yoga and the Healing Sciences; etc. It also runs Vinyasa Krama Yoga Summer Institute and undertakes a Prison Yoga Project.

Yoga, referred as “a living fossil”, was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted.

Yoga, although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.

Yoga is regularly practiced by an estimated 20 million Americans, but often physical practices are emphasized. The MA in Yoga Studies program works to explore a full picture of the tradition from practice to text to theory.

Yoga’s origins date back at least two thousand years to the Indian subcontinent. It has been linked with practices of meditation in Buddhism, ethics in Jainism, and movement and breathing in medieval Hindu spiritual practices. The traditions and practices of Yoga have been embraced by Muslims (particularly in India) and Sikhs, and, for more than a century, by many Jews and Christians. The health benefits of Yoga have been well-documented.

Cambridge University scholar, Elizabeth de Michelis, has written that Yoga offers “some solace, physical, psychological, or spiritual, in a world where solace and reassurance are sometimes elusive.” This formal course of study in Yoga advances the mission of Loyola Marymount University, particularly the commitment to learning, and the education of the whole person.

According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to “2016 Yoga in America Study”, about 37 million Americans (which included many celebrities) now practice yoga; and yoga is strongly correlated with having a positive self image.  Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche.

LMU, founded in 1911 and headquartered in Los Angeles (California), claims to take “its fundamental inspiration from the combined heritage of the Jesuits, the Marymount Sisters, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange”. Paul S. Viviano, Timothy Law Snyder and Christopher Key Chapple are Trustees Chair, President and Yoga Studies Director respectively of LMU.

New York Indian Film Festival showcases major ethnic movies from India

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Culture/Religion, Entertainment 0
For the first time, New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) showcased movies from almost all major states in India. Indo-American Arts Council President & Executive Director Aroon Shivdasani welcomed guests to the opening night screening to what has been described as “the Sundance of Indian film festivals”. Presented by the Indo-American Arts Council, the film festival took place from April 30 to May 7 in New York City.
NYIFF is considered the oldest, most prestigious film festival of its kind in the United States, screening premieres of films made from, of, and about the countries in the Indian subcontinent in all different genres.
Konkona Sen Sharma has been named the best director for her directorial debut “A Death in the Gunj” and the best actress for “Lipstick Under My Burkha” at 2017’s “#NYIFF2017 Awards Winner Best Director is Konkona Sensharma @konkonas @chhabs @aroonshiv,” the official account of NYIFF announced on Twitter.
Sen, 37, won the award for directing the drama thriller which stars Kalki Koechlin, Vikrant Massey, Jim Sarbh and Tanuja. The film also features one of the last performances by veteran actor Om Puri, who passed away in January this year. “#NYIFF2017 Awards Winner Best Actress is @konkonas @chhabs @aroonshiv,” the account read.
She received the top honor for her performance in Alankrita Shrivastava’s “Lipstick Under My Burkha,” a film which explores women’s sexuality. Alankrita also congratulated the actress for her win at the festival on the microblogging site. “Yay! @konkonas wins the best actress at @nyindianff for @lipstickmovie #lipstickundermyburkha,” she wrote.
K Kaladharan won the best actor for Malayalam film “Ottayaal n Paatha” (“A Narrow Path”) and Shubhashish Bhutiani’s “Mukti Bhawan” was declared the best film at the 17th annual film extravaganza. “An Insignificant Man” won the best documentary and Malayalam film “Kammatipaddam” was honored for the screenplay. Onir’s film “Aaba” was declared the best short film at the festival.
Director Alankrita Shrivastava’s controversial new film “Lipstick Under My Burkha”, which had earlier been refused a certification by India’s Central Board of Film Certification, opened the 17th Annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) to much anticipation and fanfare. The gala premiere was held on the evening of April 30th at Village East Cinema in Downtown Manhattan.
Produced by Prakash Jha and starring Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur, the film tells overlapping stories of four women as they try to break out of their repressive lives in a conservative society.
The title comes from a Muslim college student who secrets lipstick under burkha, as she aspires to audition for a pop music competition at her school. The other characters include a young, married beautician having an affair; a photographer; an oppressed, entrepreneurial mother and homemaker selling household items door-to-door and a middle-aged widow who conducts a romance by phone.
Although “Lipstick Under My Burkha” was censored by the Central Board back in January, as being among other things “lady-oriented”, director Shrivastava said that their decision was successfully appealed to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. “They have found that the decision of the Central board was wrong and have overturned it,” she confirmed. Shrivastava also anticipates that the release date of film will be announced in the next few weeks, which might mean the film could be in theaters over this summer.
Shrivastava reiterated that even though there are constitutional guarantees of women’s rights, the status of many women is still very repressed. Kumra commented, regarding how there are so few good roles for female actors, that “You don’t get these types of scripts every day!”
Much-talked about “Lipstick Under My Burkha” did receive somewhat mixed reviews from the premiere’s attendees. Noted cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey thought the film showcased women’s issues and was “wonderfully directed”. On the other hand, filmmaker Kawa Hatef, showing his short film “Aarsa” later in the Festival, thought that while “Lipstick” raised important issues, it had “missed its mark technically”.
Village East Cinema was an ideal venue for “Lipstick Under My Burkha”s New York debut and will host the NYIFF features. Of vintage Moorish design, with an analog marquee and staggered balcony seating, the theater gives the effect of being in an old-style movie palace.
Among the 250 audience members sharing the experience were such glittering luminaries as writer Salman Rushdie, Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi and actor Rahul Bose. The red carpet was literally rolled out at the theater for the dignitaries, as well as the film people who were presenting the results of their efforts later in the Festival.
 “It’s a lovely festival, we love the people in the Festival, they always have a wonderful program!” commented Meenu Gaur, director of “Jeewan Haathi” (“Elephant in the Room”)

AAPI Legislative Day highlights healthcare, visa, physician-patient relationship, hate crimes, insurance issues during Legislative Day on Capitol Hill

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0

(Washington, DC: May 6, 2017) The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, (AAPI) brought to the fore some of the major concerns of the Indian-American community, and particularly  those affecting the physicians and their patients during AAPI’s Legislative Day on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., on May 3rd, 2017.

Attended by nearly 30 Congressmen and women from both the major political parties, the event held at the Rayburn House Office Building, had a historic 100 representatives of AAPI in attendance at the annual event, highlighting healthcare, Green Card, physician-patient health relationship, hate crimes, and insurance issues. In a show of support for AAPI, all the four Indian-American House members, Reps. Ami Bera, D-California, Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington; Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois; and Ro Khanna, D-California, addressed the AAPI delegates and listened to their concerns and promised support.

A White Paper outlining demands and concerns was submitted to lawmakers who addressed the delegates. Some of the issues outlined in the White Paper included, increasing residency slots; passing hate crime laws; the Green Card backlog; reforms to the Stark Law to improve physician-patient health care; and the ability of insurance companies to sell health plans across state lines.

“We are pleased with the enormous turnout of both AAPI members and the showing of bipartisan members of Congress at this year’s Legislative Day,” said Dr. Ajay Lodha, AAPI President. “It is a testament to the strength of AAPI’s reputation as strong leaders, with our physicians proudly serving as health care providers in all 50 states. With this event, we are building a strong foundation for future advocacy and legislative successes at both the federal and state level,” said Lodha.

“This immensely successful event, including our partnership with the Indian Embassy, has showcased AAPI’s strength relationship building and maintaining ties with our elected officials,” said Dr. Sampat Shivangi, Legislative Committee Chairman. “From our work combating hate crimes, to supporting reforms to the legal immigration process, AAPI continues to serve as a shining example of leadership among Indian American community organizations,” said Shivangi.

AAPI Legislative Day highlights healthcare, visa, physician-patient relationship, hate crimes, insurance issues during Legislative Day on Capitol HillAAPI members would like to see the Green Card backlog addressed, which it says has adversely impacted the Indian American community. So the focus was on “The Fairness for High­ Skilled Immigrants Act of 2017, or House Resolution 392, a measure which has already garnered more than 200 signatures from members of Congress and seeks to remove the 7 percent cap on Green Cards on every country regardless of their size. It “will address many of the concerns facing the Indian American community,” AAPI said in its list of demands.

According to AAPI, there is an ongoing physician shortage, which affects the quality of care provided to American patients. There are patients who face lengthy delays in various specialties, a situation which will worsen over time. Legislation was introduced in previous sessions of Congress that would add 15,000 residency slots, training up to 45,000 more physicians, AAPI points out in its White Paper. “By adding more residency positions today, Congress can train more physicians to treat patients in the future,” AAPI stated.

The bipartisan members of Congress discussed ways to reform health care delivery, to ensure its cost-effectiveness, and the negative effects of defensive medicine, which has driven up the cost of health care. Tort reform and immigration reform was also discussed, with AAPI members expressing their viewpoints. Additionally, many AAPI members expressed concerns over legislation that would prohibit international medical graduates from securing residency positions in the U.S.

AAPI members told the gathering of both Republican and Democratic congressmen how important it was to increase the number of residency positions to address the upcoming physician shortage. This includes providing opportunities for all qualified doctors of Indian origin to secure residency slots and the opportunity to become fully trained to practice medicine.

On the hate crime issue and H-1B, Rep. Jayapal told the gathering she had been an immigration attorney for 15 years and would be trying her best to push through legislation relating to both issues. AAPI sent a letter to Kansas legislators calling on them to pass a hate crimes law named in honor of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, the young Indian techie shot to death by a white man in a bar in Olathe, Kansas.

More than 50 AAPI members gathered for dinner at the Bombay Club the night before the legislative fly-in, which was organized by Dr. Sudhir Sekhsaria, the past president of AAPI’s local chapter, the Greater Washington AAPI chapter. The Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. held a reception for AAPI’s delegation and for federal and state lawmakers and other prominent members of the Indian-American community including activists May 3 evening. The organization also recognized the four Indian-American lawmakers, as well as Rep. Gabbard, with appreciation awards.

The AAPI members, led by Dr. Lodha and Shivangi, met Reps. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Greg Harper, R-Mississippi, in part to press AAPI’s case to bring Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, to address the June annual convention of the organization.

AAPI’s lobbying efforts on some of the issues affecting the broader Indian American community and other immigrant groups is also a testament to its growth and reach. Being one of the oldest Indian American organizations, it’s also among the most influential, as was evident from the number of members of Congress who took time out of their busy schedule to address the group.

The growing influence of doctors of Indian heritage is evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in the healthcare, academic, research and administrative positions across the nation. With their hard work, dedication, compassion, and skills, they have thus carved an enviable niche in the American medical community. AAPI’s role has come to be recognized as vital among members and among lawmakers.

“We had a very fruitful discussion and we are very hopeful that Congress will act on the issues raised in our white paper,” Dr. Lodha, President of AAPI, summarized the day long event and the impact it has for the future of the growing Indian American community, healthcare providers and the healthcare industry. For more information on AAPI and its programs and initiatives, please visit:  www.aapiusa.org

Some praise, many criticize Trumpcare passed by Congress

Ajay GhoshHealth, Politics, U.S. 0

Indian-American groups have divergent views about the new Republican healthcare bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 4th. Seema Mehra, Trump’s administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, praised the GOP bill, even as Democratic Congressman Ami Bera, of California, one of the 10 physicians, 8 of them Republicans, in the U.S. House,, lashed out at it warning millions might lose healthcare. The GOP bill passed by a slim margin of 4 votes.

Bera said the American Health Care Act, that expects to keep President Trump’s top campaign promise to “repeal and replace” Obamacare, leaves “millions of hardworking Americans “worrying about whether they will be able to stay on their health care plans.  It also eliminates protections for pre-existing conditions, he said.

“We cannot play politics with people’s lives, and what happened today put political goals ahead of the lives of hardworking Americans.,” Bera said. All four Indian-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill voted against the Republican bill.

Meanwhile, Mehra, a 20-year veteran in the healthcare industry, called it a “historic” day as the country moves “toward patient-centered healthcare instead of government-centered healthcare.”

“I have worked in the field of Medicaid for 20 years and have heard from many mothers like myself who have shared their struggles and their hopes for a more affordable, more sustainable healthcare system,” Mehra said in a statement May 4 after the passing of the bill in the House.  “It is important that our most vulnerable citizens, the aged, the infirm, the blind and the disabled have more choices, greater access and peace of mind when it comes to their healthcare,” she added. “The bill that was passed today is a great first step achieving this goal,” Mehra claimed.

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin however, has taken a measured stand calling on Congress to “Amend not end” the existing system under Obamacare. The AAPI, during its Legislative Day May 3, on Capitol Hill, urged lawmakers to increase the number of residency slots, foreseeing a shortage of doctors in the future; reforming the Stark law relating to physician referrals for Medicare and Medicaid patients;  and allowing the selling of insurance across state lines.

The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, the nation’s only pan-Asian children and families advocacy organization, expressed its deep disappointment by the House that voted 217-213 to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The repeal bill, known as the American Health Care Act, sets out to dismantle major provisions of the ACA including consumer protections for those with pre-existing conditions; it dramatically cuts Medicaid; and it reduces financial assistance available. This repeal bill now goes to the Senate. If passed and signed by President Trump, 2.7 million New Yorkers will stand to lose coverage including over 1.6 million individuals living in NYC’s 5 boroughs.

“We’re dismayed by the House’s repeal vote. Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, we have witnessed a significant drop in the number of uninsured Asian Pacific Americans (APAs). The uninsurance rate among APAs has been slashed in half nationally,” said Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Director.

“As a navigator agency, we have helped hundreds of individuals and families enroll in health insurance and linked them to an array of health resources because of the ACA. In New York, Asian Pacific Americans account for roughly 20% of Medicaid, over 25% of Essential Plan, and 10% of Child Health Plus enrollees. Many Asian Pacific Americans are also solo-preneurs and small business owners who, before the ACA, would not be able to access affordable coverage for themselves and their employees. The ACA continues to be an essential lifeline for our children and families,” said Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, Director of Policy.

“The work to protect our health care is not over. We will advocate with the Senate to ensure that the ACA is upheld.  We will stand together with our partners to continue fighting so that all communities have opportunities to live healthy and productive lives and have access to quality and affordable health care,” Anita Gundanna, Co-Executive Director.

Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, released the following statement regarding the House of Representatives vote on the American Health Care Act: “The House of Representatives voted today to take a critical step forward in reforming our health care system by approving the American Health Care Act. We’ve continually urged Congress to adopt changes to our health care system that would benefit AAHOA’s 16,500 members and their 600,000 employees nationwide. We support provisions that would simplify employer reporting requirements, restore the definition of full-time employee and alleviate complex tax policies. While not perfect, the American Health Care Act is a step in the right direction. We’ll continue to speak to Congress about more reforms that will lower costs for employers and workers alike while leading to greater and more affordable coverage.”

Meanwhile, the nation’s premier medical body, the American Medical Association, strongly opposed the bill saying if it were to become law, “millions of Americans would lose health insurance coverage, and the safety net provided by Medicaid would be severely eroded.” It also criticized “Last-minute changes” to the bill allowing states to apply for waivers from critical consumer protections under current law and providing additional funding for high-risk pools and reinsurance mechanisms, saying those changes “failed to remedy the fundamental flaws of the bill.”  Six other specialty medical associations also issued a statement against the bill.

Report on women in India by Ellen Barry of The New York Times wins Osborn Elliott Prize

Ajay GhoshSocial Media, Tourism 0

Ellen Barry of The New York Times has won the 2017 Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia for a series of stories examining the role of women in India’s economy and society, and the barriers to their entry into the workforce despite a prolonged economic expansion. Her stories depict the struggles of women in a traditional Indian village to work outside the home and young women leaving their villages to work in a textile factory in the city of Bangalore.

“Ellen Barry’s subtle, beautifully descriptive narratives of the lives of working Indian women explore the conflict between deep-set traditions and the propulsive changes of a modernizing economy,” said Marcus Brauchli, who chairs the independent jury that made the selection. “Her vivid depictions of the gap between dreams and reality, between the past and the hurtling present, will bring understanding to all who read them.”

The jury also recognized as finalists Anna Fifield of The Washington Post “for her remarkable reporting on the long, dark shadow North Korea casts and the curious ways of its ruling classes” and a Reuters team “for its forthright and courageous coverage of the Philippines’ vigilante-style, state-sanctioned drug war, in which thousands were killed last year in mysterious and often suspicious circumstances.”

Barry will be honored at a luncheon event at Asia Society in New York on May 23, also featuring Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait and a special tribute to Seymour Topping, renowned foreign correspondent at the Associated Press, former managing editor of The New York Times, and former administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, according to the Asia Society.

“Asia Society is thrilled to honor Ellen Barry and The New York Times with the Osborn Elliott Prize,” said Asia Society Executive Vice President Tom Nagorski, in a statement. “With her eye-opening series on women in India, Barry joins an illustrious group of honorees, all of whom represent the kind of journalism that Osborn Elliott spent his career championing and that the prize was established to honor.”

Established in 2003, the “Oz Prize” honors the late Osborn Elliott, legendary journalist, author and former editor-in-chief of Newsweek. Elliott was a leading figure in the field of journalism who became one of the earliest practitioners of “civic journalism”—the deliberate focusing of the journalistic enterprise on urgent issues of public policy. The $10,000 cash award is presented annually to the best example of journalism about Asia during the previous calendar year.

Barry has been the Delhi Bureau Chief for The New York Times since June 2013. Barry served as a correspondent for the Times in Moscow beginning in 2008, and became bureau chief there in March 2011. In April 2011, she won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for her work with Clifford J. Levy, former Moscow bureau chief, on Russia’s faltering justice system.

Barry joined the Times as a Metro reporter in January 2007. She was previously a national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, covering the South as Atlanta bureau chief. From 1999 to 2003, Barry worked for The Boston Globe, first as a New England rover, then on foreign desks in Central Asia and Iraq, and as a mental health beat reporter. From 1996 to 1999, she was a feature writer at the Boston Phoenix, and from 1993 to 1995, she was a copy editor and staff reporter for the Moscow Times.

Barry began her career in journalism as a managing board member of the Yale Daily News in 1993. She was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2004 for her beat reporting on mental health. She was also a 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Feature Writing for her “Lost Boys of Sudan” series. That series also earned her the American Society of Newspaper Editors 2002 Distinguished Writing Award for Non-Deadline Writing. In addition, she is the recipient of the American Society of Newspaper Editors 2004 Jesse Laventhol Prize for Deadline News Reporting by a Team for coverage of the Rhode Island nightclub fire. Barry graduated from Yale University in 1993 with a B.A. in English literature and additional coursework in nonfiction writing and Russian language.

The Oz Prize Jury comprises Chair Marcus Brauchli, managing partner of North Base Media and former editor of The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal; Dorinda Elliott, editorial and communications director, Paulson Institute; Mei Fong, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author; Bobby Ghosh, editor-in-chief, Hindustan Times; Alec McCabe, executive producer, Bloomberg Podcasts; and Somini Sengupta, UN bureau chief, The New York Times.

Previous winners of the Oz Prize are: Sudarsan Raghavan, Washington Post for his series on Afghanistan (2016)

Dr. Ramesh Kumar is no more: The UNN Family Offers Condolences and Prayers

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0
The Entire team of The Universal News Network (www.theunn.com) is shocked to learn about the sudden death of Dr. Ramesh Kumar, son of D. Narendra Kumar, our close friend and supporter. We are saddened at the great loss and want to offer our prayers and condolences to Dr. Narendra Kumar and his family.
The Indian American doctor was the son of Narendra Kumar, former president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, and Meenakshi ‘Minni’ Kumar. He also leaves behind his sister, Sarada Das.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Detroit late evening on May 4. Kumar, 32, who worked in the Urology Department of the Henry Ford Hospital, was found dead on the passenger seat of a car in a rest area, some 90 miles from Detroit, Michigan.
Police are investigating the case to ascertain the cause of his death. The family members of Kumar say they do not suspect anyone and have ruled out the possibility of it being an incident of hate crime. “We do not know (the reason for his murder). They (The police) are yet to find out,” his father Narendra Kumar, a former president of the influential American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, told the media.
“We do not suspect anything. We do not think it was a hate crime,” said a shocked Dr. Narendra Kumar. Ramesh was a medical graduate from the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi. When he did not show up for his work, a hospital doctor called his father to enquire about him “This was quite unusual,” the father said.
The Family of Dr. Narendra Kumar
The Family of Dr. Narendra Kumar

He said he made several phone calls and sent text messages to his son, but there was no response. The father went to his son’s apartment and called the police when he did not find him there. After hours of search, police found the dead body of Ramesh in the passenger seat of a car at a rest area.

By late night on May 4, the body was identified as that of Ramesh.
Kumar said he spoke to his son the night before he was found dead. “He told me he had done six operations all by himself and that his mentor had told him his surgical skills were far superior to his level of residency,” said the heart-broken father.
“He told me, ‘Daddy, I know where I got those skills from,’” said Kumar, who is an ear, nose and throat specialist in Saginaw. “Ramesh told me he loved urology,” Kumar told India-West, adding: “He had such a magnetic personality: he drew so many people to him.”
Kumar noted that the chairman of the urology department at Henry Ford Hospital spoke at his son’s memorial service to say he had never come across such a promising resident: the “star” of his department.
Kumar’s family held a memorial service May 6 for the young doctor, who was training to become a urological surgeon. A smaller service was held at the family’s home May 7 in Saginaw, Michigan, where Ramesh grew up. Kumar was cremated May 8.
Kumar’s sister, Sarada Das, has set up a charitable foundation in her brother’s memory, gathering funds on the crowdsourcing platform youcaring.com, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Charitable Foundation. As of May 10, Das had raised more than $21,000 in two days.
Friends and associates poured in tributes to Kumar on the page: http://bit.ly/2qsLeay
Kya Russell, a registered nurse at Henry Ford Hospital, wrote: “I’ve worked alongside him for a few years in the recovery area of HFH and I’m so deeply saddened by Ramesh’s passing; we all really are. He has such an infectious personality and a smile that radiated such warmth.”
Sherrie Corbin, also a registered nurse who worked alongside Kumar in the operating room, wrote that she was heartbroken to hear of her friend’s death.
“His smile would light up the hallway and his personality made you enjoy his presence. His bedside manner with the patients made you warm inside to see him working,” said Corbin.
Educator Suzanne Murphy wrote: “From the time Ramesh was in my 5th grade classroom, I knew his dream of becoming a physician. He achieved this dream and is remembered as bright shining star.”

GOPIO launches Chamber of Commerce at Indian Consulate in New York

Ajay GhoshBusiness, Community 0
New York City, N.Y.  – May 1, 2017 – GOPIO, the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (www.gopio.net), together with the New York Consul General of India, announced the USA launch of GOPIO’s International Chamber of Commerce (GICC) at the Indian Consulate in New York on April 28, 2017. GICC was inaugurated earlier at India’s business capital in Mumbai on Jan. 10, 2017 by the Governor of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu Shri Vidyasagar Rao.
Honored chief guest Riva Ganguly Das, Consul General of India and GOPIO’s elected GOPIO officials hosted this event for the Indian Diaspora of the New York Tri-State region. The inauguration event was attended by approximately 150 members of the NRI (Non-Indian Resident) and PIO (Person of Indian Origin) community. The Networking Cocktail started at 6:30 pm, followed by the Launch Ceremony at 7:00pm and Dinner at 8:15pm.
Master of Ceremony Prakash Shah, Co-Chair of GICC kicked off the event, with introductory remarks, “GOPIO has tapped into a long-felt need for an international networking organization for the business People of Indian Origin. GICC has gotten off to a flying start after the January 10, 2017 global launch in Mumbai (India) by the Maharashtra Governor, with requests from around the world pouring in to open GICC chapters in all the major cities”. Shah stated GICC objectives as, “GICC aims to bring together the business people of the Indian Diaspora, providing them the networking opportunity on a common worldwide platform.”
Indian Consul General Riva Ganguly Das welcomed the attendees to the Consulate for the US launch of GICC, commenting “GOPIO is the only organization that truly represents the interests of the worldwide 30 million Indian Diaspora.”  She praised this latest GOPIO venture launch remarking, “GOPIO ‘s GICC initiative is most timely and very much needed at this time.”
Other speakers included H. R. Shah, Chair of the GICC launch; GOPIO Life Member and Parikh Media Chairman Dr. Sudhir Parikh and New Jersey Assemblyman Raj Mukherji. H R Shah, this year’s recipient of Padma Shri award from Indian President, who Chairs the GOPIO’s Board of Advisors and is Chairman of TV Asia, quoting a number of key statistics on Diaspora businesses explained why an effort such as GICC was very much needed. Mr. Shah also served as the GICC Launch Chair.
Event sponsor State Bank of India (SBI) was represented by senior officers at the launch. SBI’s new USA Country Head Ashwini Tewari sad that SBI fully supports GOPIO efforts and SBI see great opportunity ahead to work with Indian owned businesses.
Dr. Thomas Abraham Chairman of GOPIO International presented the details of GICC including the genesis of GICC, “The Biennial Convention in 2016 held in New York became a corner stone for GOPIO to be more involved in business, technology, investment and philanthropic activities to mobilize Diaspora resources for the common good. At this meeting, GOPIO General Body decided to initiate GOPIO International Chamber of Commerce (GICC) as a business platform for the Indian Diaspora.”
“GOPIO International is the most networked Indian Diaspora organization which is a brand, and unlike other chambers, GOPIO International Chamber of Commerce (GICC) will cater to the Indian Diaspora businesses and entrepreneurs and will be the only globally networked Indian Chamber of Commerce,” Dr. Abraham added
GICC would serve as a non-geographical chapter of GOPIO International and will create worldwide networking opportunity for people of Indian origin in business and professional services. As there are over 3 million businesses owned by People of Indian Origin around the world within the Indian Diaspora of 30 million, GICC provides a great opportunity for one to become a Sponsor Member or Life Member. GICC will encourage and promote increasing levels of business investments by and among NRI/PIOs in various parts of the world.
GICC will reach out and set up chapters in neighborhoods with large number of Indian owned businesses and services. It will also launch chapters in small towns, cities, counties, states/provinces and countries. Hopefully GICC will emerge as the most networked Indian Diaspora business group. Unlike other chambers, GICC’s biggest advantage and benefit to its members and chapters will be that it will be the most globally networked Indian Diaspora business group.
The launch program was put together by GOPIO’s Tri-State New York Area Coordinator Lal Motwani and GOPIO New York President Beena Kothari and was supported by other GOPIO Chapters in the New York area; GOPIO-Upper New York, GOPIO-Connecticut, GOPIO-Central Jersey and GOPIO-North Jersey. The event was sponsored by the State Bank of India in New York.
GOPIO is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, secular organization. GOPIO’s volunteers are committed to enhancing cooperation and communication between NRIs/PIOs, building bonds, friendships, alliances, and the camaraderie of citizens and colleagues alike.  GOPIO volunteers believe that when they help network the global Indian community, they facilitate making tomorrow a better world for the Indian Diaspora.
GOPIO publishes a very informative monthly newsletter. Interested persons can receive free of charge at www.gopio.net  or by request email to:  gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or by calling +1-818-708-3885 (USA).

Prof. Gyan Prakash to lead “The Culture and Politics of Resentment.”

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0
Professor Gyan Prakash, an Indian-American professor at New Jersey’s Princeton University will lead six scholars from around the world in a program focusing on “The Culture and Politics of Resentment.”
The Fung Global Fellows Program, administered by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, brings together international research scholars from the social sciences and humanities around a common topic. For the 2017-18 academic year, the scholars will work on “The Culture and Politics of Resentment.”
“Resentment is a powerful emotion for expressing culture and politics,” Prakash said. “Experiences and memories of humiliation, oppression and marginalization have stimulated emotions of resentment, and produced compelling demands for political inclusion and justice around the world. Alternatively, rage against what is seen as the ‘tyranny of the minority,’ inequality, the corruption and aloofness of elites, the ‘foreign,’ and the illegitimate have generated powerful populist upsurges against the perceived enemies of a homogeneous body of ‘the people.’
“The goal for our new cohort will be to explore the full range of phenomena involved in the culture and politics of resentment, the conditions that produce such sentiments, and the projects they advance,” he said.
“Given that the rise of populist politics that relies on a powerful sense of resentment has important implications for democracy across the world, our idea is to explore it from a historical perspective and from different disciplinary points of view,” Prakash explained. He will hold a series of seminars, lectures, and conferences on the topic during the year.
The program is funded by a portion of a $10 million gift from Princeton alumnus William Fung of Hong Kong that is designed to increase substantially the University’s engagement with scholars around the world and inspire ideas that transcend borders.
The first group of fellows came together around the theme of “Languages and Authority” — an examination of how languages interact with political, social, economic and cultural authority. The second cohort focused on “Global Diffusion,” an examination of how certain policies, specific modes of social categorization, and cultural templates spread to nations around the globe while others never catch on. In the program’s third year, fellows focused on “Ethnic Politics and Identities” — the causes, narrative modalities and consequences of the politicization of ethnic, racial and national divides from a comparative perspective. The cohort completing the current academic year is focused on “International Society — Institutions and Actors in Global Governance.” The scholars are working on examining the emergence, functioning and effects of international organizations and transnational associations of all types from a cultural, historical, political, sociological or other perspective.
Prakash specializes in the history of modern India. His book “Mumbai Fables” (Princeton University Press and Harper Collins, India), was adapted for the film, “Bombay Velvet”, released in 2015, for which he wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay. His general field of research and teaching interests concerns urban modernity, the colonial genealogies of modernity, and problems of postcolonial thought and politics. He advises graduate students on modern South Asian history, colonialism and postcolonial theory, urban history, global history, and history of science.
He is the author of several books including “Bonded Histories: Genealogies of Labor Servitude in Colonial India” (1990), and “Another Reason: Science and the Imagination of Modern India” (1999), and has co-authored a book on world history, “Worlds Together, Worlds Apart” (2002). He has also produced an edited volume, “Noir Urbanisms: Dystopic Images of the Modern City,” and a co-edited volume, “Utopia/Dystopia: Historical Conditions of Possibility” which were published by Princeton University Press in Fall 2010. “The Tower of Silence”, a book based on a 1927 detective novel manuscript that he discovered and edited, was published in 2013.

US Senate Confirmation Hearings held for Judge Amul Thapar even as civil rights groups express concerns

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

Judge Amul R. Thapar, who was on President Trump’s short list for the Supreme Court, faced questions from senators on Wednesday, April 26th regarding his nomination to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Thapar, who hails from Kentucky, was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, who praised Thapar as “a bright, fair, and dedicated man who will make a tremendous addition to the Sixth Circuit. He is a keen legal mind who applies the law fairly to all who enter his court-room.”

The Sixth Court of Appeals serves Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Thapar currently serves on the district court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He is the first Article III judge of South Asian descent. The American Bar Association – which does not recommend judges but does rate them – gave Thapar its highest ranking of “well qualified” on April 24. The judge has also received approbation from the South Asian Bar Association of North America, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Democrats were much less charitable. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin questioned Thapar at length about his membership in the Federalist Society, an organization the Illinois Democrat said had an outsized role in selecting the people on Trump’s short list to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.

Thapar noted that he was a member of group, which he identified as an “open-debate” society, for three or four years before he became a judge. Durbin expressed concern and said, “They like you and that’s the point I’m trying to get to.” Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse defended the Federalist Society during his questioning of Thapar.

The People for the American Way, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights – which will be led by Indian American civil rights activist Vanita Gupta, beginning in June – expressed “serious concerns” about the jurist’s record.

The Leadership Conference noted that Thapar had a history of controversial rulings, including a case in which he allowed a diabetic inmate to continue to be denied insulin; and sentencing three pacifists – including an 82-year-old nun – to lengthy prison terms after they broke into a nuclear power plant in Oakridge, Tennessee, and spray-painted peace slogans.

As his wife, father, mother, former law clerks and children looked on, Thapar was grilled on several issues, including controversial rulings, his alleged support of corporate and Republican interests, and his allegiance to Trump and to the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization which has had great influence in getting conservatives appointed to judicial roles.

“I’ve always ruled fairly to the best of my ability,” responded Thapar to a question regarding his alleged allegiance to corporate interests. “I’ve ruled time and again against corporations and in support of the little guy.”

The judge cited his ruling in a 2016 case regarding a woman who was stripped of her $800 per month Social Security benefits. In that case, Thapar said that the Social Security Administration had violated the due process rights of the woman by not allowing her to challenge evidence presented against her. “When the government re-determined her right to disability payments – and categorically excluded some of her medical evidence because it had ‘reason to believe’ the evidence was fraudulent – she never got a chance to challenge that factual assertion before anyone,” wrote Thapar in his 33-page ruling, saying that the SSA had acted unconstitutionally. He also referred to a 2010 case where he ruled against Massey Energy, in support of coal miners who were suffering from hazardous conditions underground, in violation of labor safety laws.

Shri Thanedar to run for Governor of Michigan

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

Ann Arbor, Mich.-based entrepreneur Shri Thanedar, the former chief executive officer of Avomeen Analytical Services LLC and three-time winner of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, has filed papers to run for governor of Michigan in 2018.

The Indian American filed papers with the Secretary of State’s Office April 5, allowing him to raise funds for his campaign. Though he has filed for his candidacy, Thanedar has made no formal announcements of his candidacy, according to a Detroit News report. Thanedar, who filed as a Democrat, launched Avomeen in 2010 and made headlines late last year when he gave his employees $1.5 million in holiday bonuses, collectively.

Thanedar, former CEO of Avomeen Analytical Services, was named 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year by multinational finance giant Ernst and Young and made local headlines in December for giving his employees a collective $1.5 million in holiday bonuses.

The India native submitted paperwork to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office on April 5 that would allow him to raise funds for a gubernatorial campaign, but he has not yet announced any formal plans to seek the post. If he runs, Thanedar would join a growing Democratic field that includes former state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed and former Xerox executive Bill Cobbs. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, is also considering a run for governor.

Thanedar, who earned an M.B.A. from Fontbonne University and a doctorate degree from the University of Akron, was named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 1999, 2007 and 2016. Thanedar made and lost a fortune in Missouri before moving to Michigan and finding new success. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported he bought and built up a chemical analysis firm there, eventually purchasing a Ferrari and constructing a 13,000-square-foot mansion.

But the Great Recession and financial industry crash hit his company and acquisitions hard, reportedly prompting a lender to take him to court, where a bankruptcy judge appointed a receiver to sell the business.

Jim Hines, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Saginaw and president of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, has announced his candidacy on the GOP ballot. Attorney General Bill Schuette and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley are contemplating bids, the report added. Incumbent Gov. Rick Snyder cannot seek re-election in 2018 under Michigan’s term-limits law. The Michigan 2018 primary is Aug. 7.

AAPI Legislative Day on May 3rd

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

(Washington, DC: April 28, 2017) The growing influence of doctors of Indian heritage is evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in the healthcare, academic, research and administrative positions across the nation. With their hard work, dedication, compassion, and skills, they have thus carved an enviable niche in the American medical community. AAPI’s role has come to be recognized as vital among members and among lawmakers.

In this context, and the nation is back on debating reforming of the Healthcare system in the nation, AAPI’s legislative day, comes to be a vital part of AAPI’s growing influence and having its united voice heard in the corridors of power. “We are excited to announce that our next Legislative Day is on Wednesday, May 3rd in Washington, DC,” said Dr. Ajay Lodha, President of AAPI.

“Our daytime program begins at 10:30 am and will include lunch in the U.S. House of Representatives (B-338 Rayburn Building). We will conclude in the afternoon, giving participants the opportunity to meet their own Congressman on their own time. That evening, we are planning for a reception and dinner with several dignitaries at the Indian Embassy,” summarized, Dr. Lodha.

Describing that AAPI is a non-political umbrella organization which has nearly 90 local chapters, specialty societies and alumni organizations. Almost 10%-12% of medical students entering US schools are of Indian origin. AAPI represents the interests of over 60,000 physicians and 25,000 medical students and residents of Indian heritage in the United States, Dr. Lodha, a prominent physician with decades of service to the country, said, “The mission AAPI, the largest ethnic organization of physicians, is to provide a forum to facilitate and enable Indian American physicians to excel at inpatient care, teaching and research, and to pursue their aspirations in professional and community affairs.  The new Executive Committee is working hard to ensure active participation of young physicians, increasing membership, and enabling AAPI’s voice to be heard in the corridors of power, and thus taking AAPI to new heights.”

There are many issues affecting our community. An important debate is ongoing in Congress about repealing the Affordable Care Act. Now is the time to ensure our voices are heard on these vital issues. The formal program will be released in the future. For now, we are asking all AAPI members to make the appropriate travel plans to be in attendance on May 3. Additionally, those with good contacts with their own congressman, should reach out to his/her office and ask them to join us at our program in the Rayburn Building, banquet room B-338, between 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. If your congressman would like to speak, we can arrange their participation.

According to Dr. Lodha, AAPI’s legislative initiatives for 2016-17 include, addressing Physician Shortage, and urged the Congress to increase Residency Positions across USA. “Our nation is currently experiencing a physician shortage, which will be exacerbated by retiring baby boomers. The result of such a shortage may affect thousands of patients’ access to a physician, and ultimately the health care they need. The only way to address this future crisis is to increase the number of residency positions available for future physicians to get trained, so that our nation can effectively manage the need for increased patient care. Increasing the size of medical school classes is not enough. There must be a simultaneous increase in the size of residency positions to train these future doctors. As Congress capped the number of residency positions in 1997, it is time for Congress to act NOW to remedy this critical situation. AAPI believes that ALL Americans have the right to see a physician,” Dr. Lodha said.

AAPI has appealed to the US Congress to increase the size of entering Medical School classes, Dr. Lodha said. Pointing out that from 1980-2005, while medical school enrollment remained flat, the U.S. population increased by more than 70 million people. Because the percentage of baby-boomer generation doctors (55 and older) rose from 27 percent to 34 percent during this time, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts that America will need 90,000 physicians by 2020, Dr. Lodha said, the number of physicians needed by 2025 according to the AAMC will reach a staggering 130,000. One way to address this shortage is to increase medical school class sizes to meet this future health care need. This issue is vital as it pertains to health care reform, as more physicians will be needed to provide quality health care to our nation’s uninsured patients.

Dr. Lodha has urged the newly elected President and his administration to enact Medical Liability Reform. “AAPI supports a healthy doctor-patient environment by curbing aggressive litigation targeting physicians,” Dr. Lodha said. Such lawsuits have had a chilling effect and driven up the cost of health care, through extra testing and the practice of defensive medicine. In the 112th Congress, The “Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011,” (H.R. 5) limited the conditions for lawsuits and punitive damages for health care liability claims. It established a statute of limitations and limited noneconomic damages to $250,000. AAPI signed a coalition letter led by the American Medical Association to the Deficit Reduction Committee, which noted that the Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost savings from implementing medical liability reform, including limits on noneconomic damages, to be $62.4 billion over 10 years. Fewer physicians today practice in areas such as obstetrics and gynecology, surgery and emergency medicine, due to increased lawsuits and increasing malpractice insurance premiums.

AAPI supports federal and state legislation that places effective caps on non-economic damages, limits the use of joint-and-several liability, provides physicians with flexibility to negotiate settlements with medical insurers and further limits the statute of limitations for filing medical malpractice claims, Dr. Lodha said.

Endorsing President Trump’s call, Dr. Lodha said, AAPI supports the modification of the Affordable Care Act.  “We believe that the current ACA could be improved upon greatly.  To merely repeal the ACA would result in 20 million losing their health insurance coverage and that would be problematic to say the least.  A more reformed system with emphasis on free-market while retaining the provisions protecting consumers with pre-existing conditions would be ideal.” According to Dr. Lodha, AAPI opposes MACRA and MIPS.  These systems detract from the care of patients by adding an excessive amount of paper work.  There is a tremendous burden to report all of these measures. “To raise our voices together and to have our voices heard on Capitol, Hill, we look forward to seeing you on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 3rd for our Legislative Day,” Dr. Lodha added.  For more information on AAPI and its programs and initiatives, please visit:  www.aapiusa.org

Ajit Pai kicks up net neutrality storm in USA

Ajay GhoshScience & Technology, Social Media 0

Indian-origin Ajit Pai, the chief of the telecom and broadcasting regulator, US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is backing a plan to end unhindered and non-discriminatory access to the internet, a controversial proposal that was first mooted by online giants such as Facebook in 2015.

Ajit Pai has revealed a proposal that looks to cut down the net neutrality law in US thereby allowing big cable companies to erect barriers and tolls that impede the free movement of data around the internet. Net neutrality in simple words mean that no specific site or content can be given any preference and also no internet service provider (ISPs) can charge users differently for accessing different sites or content.

The proposal coming from an Indian-origin person seems a little out of place as India in 2015 fought a heady battle for net neutrality triggered by Facebook’s Free Basics programme that claimed to provided internet to many citizens for the first time.

During a major speech in Washington, D.C., Pai outlined the need for a total revision of existing federal rules that seek to prevent companies like AT&T, Charter, Comcast* and Verizon from blocking or slowing down web content, including the movie or music offerings from their competitors.

To Pai, the FCC had erred back in 2015 when the agency — then under Democratic control — adopted “heavy-handed regulations,” he said, that treat internet providers similar to traditional utilities, like old-fashioned telephone companies.

Serving as an FCC commissioner at the time, Pai sided with the telecom industry, which saw the Obama administration’s move as a precursor to even greater regulation. Now that he’s the agency’s chairman, Pai said Wednesday that he plans to kick off a process next month to replace the net neutrality protections currently on the government’s books, possibly with something that’s perhaps more voluntary in nature.

“Nothing about the internet was broken in 2015,” Pai said. “Nothing about the law had changed. And there wasn’t a rash of internet service providers blocking customers from accessing the content, applications or services of their choice.”

Free Basics’ roadblock started as internet activists and organizations wrote to India’s telecom regulator TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) forcing it to float a consultation paper and later suspend Free Basics operations in the country. The India situation had attracted global attention and US as a case study in favor of net neutrality was pointed out several times during the discussion.

But now that Pai or the Republican government wants to cancel laws ensuring net neutrality in US, countries such as India might have to eventually do away with it or face heavy opposition. Pai in a conference on Thursday called the rules “heavy handed” and said their implementation was “all about politics.” He argued that they hurt investment and said that small internet providers don’t have “the means or the margins” to withstand the regulatory onslaught.

“Earlier today I shared with my fellow commissioners a proposal to reverse the mistake of Title II and return to the light touch framework that served us so well during the Clinton administration, Bush administration, and first six years of the Obama administration,” Pai said.

The Republican government’s proposal through Pai wants to do three things — first, it’ll reclassify internet providers as Title I information services; second, it’ll prevent the FCC from adapting any net neutrality rules to practices that internet providers haven’t thought up yet; and third, it’ll open questions about what to do with several key net neutrality rules — like no blocking or throttling of apps and websites — that were implemented in 2015. However, Pai’s proposal has kicked up a storm in the US and nearly 800 startups have written to the FCC saying the rule change will kill them. The net neutrality proposal will be up for vote at a FCC meeting on May 18th.

New Jersey Hotelier Becomes Chairman of World’s Largest Hotel Owners Association

Ajay GhoshBusiness, Tourism 0
New Jersey hotelier Bhavesh Patel was named the new chairman of the world’s largest hotel owners association last week. Patel took the reins as the new leader of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association at the group’s annual convention in San Antonio, Texas, last week. U.S. Rep.
“It’s one of the greatest accomplishments of my life to have the opportunity to lead AAHOA,” said Patel. “We have over 16,000 members who own half of the hotels in the country. They’ve placed their trust in me to be their representative on the national stage. I’m excited to take on the responsibility and work to make AAHOA even greater.” Patel said, he wants his tenure to be marked by even greater member engagement in AAHOA’s educational programs, one of the central pillars of the organization’s mission.
 “You have to know the ins and outs of running a hotel to be the best you can be,” said Patel. “AAHOA offers so many opportunities to become a better business owner and better hotel owner, including advocacy and knowing what the state and federal governments are doing that affect our industry. I want to continue to expand on and emphasize the importance of these programs with all the different educational platforms we offer and are going to be offering.”
Patel is a Certified Hotel Owner, or CHO, which is AAHOA’s exclusive, nationally recognized certification program for hotel owners and the only program of its kind in the country. In 2016, AAHOA graduated a record 312 new CHOs. Patel is a principal of ADM Hotels, a family-owned, full-service real estate company specializing in hospitality management, development and investments. His portfolio features several multi-brand and independent hotel properties in the Northeast.
Patel has served on the group’s board of directors since 2009 and was elected by the membership to the position of secretary in 2014. The group’s officers are elected to the position of secretary and automatically ascend to treasurer, vice chair and chair annually.
New Jersey Hotelier Becomes Chairman of World’s Largest Hotel Owners AssociationTom MacArthur, who represents Patel’s hometown of Cinnaminson in Congress, congratulated him on his new role. “A big congratulations to Bhavesh Patel on becoming chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association,” said MacArthur (R, Burlington). “I’ve spoken with Bhavesh many times over the years about how to help our hotel industry thrive and I’m proud to represent him in Congress. I know he’ll be an excellent leader for AAHOA and I look forward to working with him to help support hotel owners across the country and in New Jersey.”
The group’s officers are elected to the position of secretary and automatically ascend to treasurer, vice chair and chair annually. Patel said he wants his tenure as chairman to be marked by even greater member engagement in AAHOA’s educational programs, one of the central pillars of the organization’s mission. “You have to know the ins and outs of running a hotel to be the best you can be,” Patel said.
AAHOA elected a new executive board during the San Antonio convention. Texas hotelier and current North Texas Regional Director Biran Patel was elected as the group’s new secretary. A second-generation hotelier, Patel began his career in the hotel industry as a teenager while his family lived at the hotel they owned. A member for more than 15 years, Patel has served on five AAHOA committees, was previously an AAHOA regional ambassador and has led North Texas as regional director since 2014, according to a AAHOA press release.
Other successful candidates at this year’s AAHOA elections include Piyush Patel (Director at Large); Lina Patel (Female Director at Large – Eastern Division); Purvi Panwala (Young Professional Director at Large – Eastern Division); Nitin (Nick) Patel (Alabama Panhandle Regional Director); Bharat Patel (Florida Regional Director); Girish (Gary) Patel (Gulf Regional Director); Naresh (Nick) Patel (North Central Regional Director); Sunil (Sunny) Patel (Northeast Regional Director); and Mayur (Mike) Patel (North Texas Regional Director). Georgia Regional Director Kapil (Ken) Patel, South Carolina Regional Director Mahesh (Mike) Patel, and Washington District Regional Director Vinaykumar (Vinay) Patel were re-elected.
AAHOA is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and has a government affairs office in Washington, D.C. The group has more than 16,500 members throughout the country, including more than 470 in New Jersey and 340 in Pennsylvania.
Founded in 1989, AAHOA (www.aahoa.com) is the largest hotel owners association in the world, with more than 16,500 small business owner-members. AAHOA members own almost one in every two hotels in the United States.

Dr. Thomas Abraham confronts RBI Governor Dr. Urjit Patel at Columbia University

Ajay GhoshBusiness, Finance/Economy 0
Dr. Thomas Abraham, Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Chairman, confronted Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Dr. Urjit Patel at a talk delivered by him at Columbia University on April 24th for not allowing Diaspora Indians with foreign citizenship to deposit or exchange their demonetized Indian currencies. GOPIO estimates that over Rs. 5,000 crores of demonetized currencies are in the possession of OCI card holders and those non-OCI card holders with foreign citizenship. Many travelling to India to deposit their currencies were turned away by RBI at five of its branches which still accept the demonetized currencies from NRIs who are Indian citizens.
“This is gross injustice to more than 50% of the overseas Indians who have been deprived of their hard-earned income,” said Dr. Abraham. In January 2017, GOPIO launched a PeitionOnline campaign appealing to Prime Minister of India to allow OCI/PIO card holders as well as Diaspora Indians with Foreign Citizenship to deposit or exchange their demonetized Indian currencies at the Reserve Bank of India. Currently, NRIs holding Indian Passport are only allowed to deposit or exchange the demonetized currencies at five Reserve Bank India branches in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Nagpur.
Dr. Abraham presented a copy of the issues and comments raised by Diaspora Indians through PetitionOnline. Several thousands of Diaspora Indians signed the petition which is still going on at www.gopio.net. “This is a major issue for the Diaspora Indians and it is a created issue and it needs to be resolved,” said GOPIO International President Niraj Baxi.
In a letter to RBI Governor Patel, GOPIO noted that It would be unfair of India to treat OCI card holders differently from NRIs for depositing their hard-earned demonetized currencies. Diaspora Indians with Foreign Citizenship, and PIO and OCI card holders be given the same opportunity for depositing old and obsolete currency notes as given to NRIs (Indian Passport holders), allowing them to deposit up to Rs. 250,000 of Indian currency in the Reserve Bank of India instead of notified amount of Rs. 25,000. RBI argument that OCI card holders may be used by those in India to convert their demonetized currencies fails apart since more NRIs have closer contacts with people in India than OCI hard holders, so why discriminate OCI card holders.
The letter further stated that some of the NRIs and PIO/OCI card holders have old currency notes safely kept in their residences in India for reasons such as education of their children in India, supporting old age parents, helping family members, etc., so allow RBI and Banks having NRO accounts to accept the old currency notes up to Rs. 2,50,000;
Finally, since all Diaspora Indians with Foreign Citizenship (PIO and OCI card holders) may not be able to visit India prior to June 30, 2017, they should be allowed to deposit old currency notes at either the Reserve Bank of India or in their NRO Accounts up to December 31, 2017.
“Indians who left India to earn their living should not be deprived of their hard-earned money because they were not in India to deposit the demonetized notes when Indian banks were accepting the notes,” Dr. Abraham added. GOPIO has appealed to Dr. Patel to resolve this issue quickly.

AAPI praises contributions of its member, past US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0

(New York, NY: April 23, 2017) “On behalf of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), I want to applaud the many contributions and initiatives of Dr. Vivek Murthy, our AAPI member, in the healthcare sector in very short span of about two years since he became US Surgeon General in 2014,” said Dr. Ajay Lodha, President of AAPI. Dr. Murthy was dismissed by Donald Trump’s administration on Friday, April 21, 2017.

Recalling that AAPI had played a key role in lobbying with US Senators, enlisting their support for his confirmation in 2014, Dr. Jayesh Shah, past President of AAPI that represents over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin in the United States, said, “AAPI had led several delegations to meet with and urge US Senators from both the parties to support and vote to confirm his nomination in the Senate. The 51 to 43 vote by the US Senate December 15th, 2014 ended more than a year of uncertainty over Murthy’s nomination, overcoming strong opposition from the very powerful Raffles Association.”

President Obama had nominated the Indian American as the US Surgeon General in November 2013. The surgeon general, known as “America’s doctor,” represents the Health and Human Services Secretary and Assistant Secretary in addressing public health practice in the nation.

“The feeling of de ja vu was pervasive, of a triumph over injustice with a hard fought battle by the Indian community during his confirmation, with AAPI playing a major role that secured the prize of the highest position occupied by an Indian American, and that too by one from our second generation,” said Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, past President of AAPI, who had led a delegation of AAPI leaders to bear to the historic oath taking ceremony of Dr. Vivek Murthy as the US Surgeon General at Fort Myer in Virginia across from Washington DC on April 22, 2015. The oath ceremony led by Joseph Biden, Vice President, was in a large hall like a school stadium, with flags in abundance rigged in from the ceiling and leaning in from the sidewalls.

“Dr. Vivek Murthy taking charge as the US Surgeon General cemented the reputation physicians of Indian origin have across America,” said Dr. Gautam Samadder, President-Elect of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).  “President Obama has made the right choice in naming a highly qualified physician to serve as America’s surgeon general. We have been  proud of Vivek and his many accomplishments as the Surgeon General of the nation,” said Dr. Sammader.

The growing influence of doctors of Indian heritage is evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in the healthcare, academic, research and administrative positions across the nation. With their hard work, dedication, compassion, and skills, they have thus carved an enviable niche in the American medical community. AAPI’s role has come to be recognized as vital among members and among lawmakers.

Murthy, 39, was America’s youngest-ever top doctor, and he is also the first surgeon general of Indian-American descent. According to Dr. Naresh Parikh, Vice President of AAPI, “Dr. Vivek Murthy represents the next generation of Indian American physician. His ethics, quiet leadership style and impeccable credentials made him the smart choice for this position.”

The surgeon general represents the Health and Human Services Secretary in addressing public health practice in the nation. Murthy, 39, was America’s youngest-ever top doctor, and  is also the first surgeon general of Indian-American  representing the next generation of Indian American physician. His ethics, quiet leadership style and impeccable credentials made him the smart choice for this position.

Dr. Murthy, grand son of a farmer ,second generation Indian American physician ,said, he will always be grateful to “our country for welcoming my immigrant family nearly 40 years ago and giving me this opportunity to serve.

Dr. Murthy  played key role in bringing to the forefront many crucial health issues confronting the nation. In a landmark report on addiction released in November, said dependency on opioids and other substances must not be looked on as a “character flaw,” in the first publication from a surgeon general that has addressed drug and alcohol addiction. Murthy embarked on a three-month listening tour of the U.S. ahead of a ceremonial swearing in to listen to the people and professionals before taking on this important role.

AAPI had hoped that Dr. Murthy would be able to do more to help our nation tackle its biggest health challenges. According to him, “The health challenges that we face right now are too big to be solved by the traditional health sector alone. We can’t build more hospitals and clinics and, solely based on that, expect that we are going to solve the health challenges that we face.”

AAPI is shocked and saddened with his departure and  wishes him well as he moves on to a new phase in life and  is confident that his talents. skills, and experiences will be utilized effectively for the greater good of the nation.

Dr. Murthy has attended several AAPI meetings and has always acknowledged the contributions of AAPI and the Indian community. “I am proud of our community of Indian physicians for all the progress that we have made over the years, and I know that AAPI has been a critical force in making this process possible. The advice you shared and assistance you kindly offered were important pieces of this journey,” Dr. Vivek Murthy, stated in a letter to Dr. Jayesh B. Shah, past president of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).

Student visa’s 24-month OPT extension lawsuit dismissed

Ajay GhoshEducation, Travel 0

Encouraging foresing students who graduate with specialized degrees in the United States, the US administration had allowed them, especially STEM F-1 visa students to avail of the extended 24-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) period, apart from the regulation 12 months of the work-training they receive through the program: a lawsuit to revoke the extension has been dismissed in federal court.

OPT is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 visa status, who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than 9 months, are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work for one year on a student visa towards getting practical training to complement their education.

Anti-immigration advocates have been targeting the OPT for several years, terming it as a job killer for American workers, a chance for American employers to avail of cheap labor and exploit foreign students.

Back in August 2015, a D.C. federal judge said the 2008 Department of Homeland Security rule that allows STEM graduates in F-1 status to obtain an additional 17 months of OPT time in the U.S. was deficient. The decision in Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security was based on the fact that DHS did not go through the usual notice and comment period required for new regulations. The judge vacated the 2008 rule allowing the 17-month extension, HOWEVER, a stay was put in place until a new regulation could be put in place. That new regulation took effect on May 10, 2016 and allows a new STEM OPT extension of 24-months. The same group of tech workers that challenged the old STEM OPT rule filed a new lawsuit in June 2016 in federal court again challenging DHS policy allowing student visa holders to work after completion of their studies.

The new lawsuit brought by the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers argued that the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program denies labor protections to US tech workers, allows increased competition, allows unfair competition, provides foreign students the benefit of mentoring programs (i.e. the I-983 training plan) without requiring schools to give the same benefit to US workers, and violates procedural rights of US workers by failing to include the question of whether OPT should be expanded in the first place in the regulatory process. Washtech asked the court to issue a declaratory judgement (find in their favor without going through an entire trial) that DHS exceeded its authority by allowing F-1 students the ability to work, vacate the new regulations, and award attorneys fees to Washtech.

The DHS argued in favor of retention of the extended 24-month OPT, and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit. Last month, a federal court in its ruling, granted only part of DHS’ motion to dismiss, but also denied part of the motion to dismiss. Now, in its final ruling on the case, the federal court has dismissed the lawsuit brought by the WATW, in favor of DHS.

The decision means F-1 visa students in STEM-related studies will continue to get a total of three years of OPT during and after the program they are enrolled in. It also improves the chances of F-1 visa students to gain a good foothold in a job they take up in the US, and to be sponsored by the employer for an H-1B visa.

Annually, 20,000 H-1B visas are reserved for F-1 visa higher degree graduates of US educational institutions. If there are more than 20,000 applications, they are pooled to compete for the general quota of 65,000 H-1B visas which are for all foreign workers.

This year, for the fiscal year 2018, a total of 199,000 H-1B visa applications were received for the 85,000 H-1B visas up for grabs. A lottery was conducted to determine eligible candidates.

The dismissal of the OPT extension case is also good news for H-4 visa holders who have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or are expecting an EAD soon. It’s likely that a lawsuit filed by Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for H-4 visa holders, by another anti-immigration group, Save Jobs USA, arguing that EAD for H-4 visa holders hurt American workers, will be dismissed. The decision on the OPT extension is also good news for US educational institutions who will heave a sigh of relief. It was a certainty that an adverse ruling would have impacted their foreign enrollment.

Dr. Vivek Murthy ousted as America’s Doctor by Trump administration

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health, Profiles 0

Dr. Vivek Murthy, America’s top doctor,  was dismissed by Donald Trump’s administration on Friday, April 21, 2017 as the US Surneon General. Dr. Vivek Murthy taking charge as the US Surgeon General cemented the reputation physicians of Indian origin have across America. President Obama made the right choice in naming a highly qualified physician to serve as America’s surgeon general.

The surgeon general, known as “America’s doctor,” represents the Health and Human Services Secretary and Assistant Secretary in addressing public health practice in the nation. Murthy, 39, was America’s youngest-ever top doctor, and he is also the first surgeon general of Indian-American descent. Dr. Vivek Murthy represents the next generation of Indian American physician. His ethics, quiet leadership style and impeccable credentials made him the smart choice for this position.

Murthy was named America’s top doctor by President Barack Obama in 2014, making him the first Indian American ever named to the post, one among many growing achievement of a tiny but economically powerful ethnic community. In a very short spam of time, Dr. Murthy had played key role in bringing to the forefront many crucial health issues confronting the nation. Dr. Murthy said, being picked for the job was a “uniquely American story” for the “grandson of a poor farmer from India.”

It was not immediately clear why Murthy was relieved from duty, the New York Times said while noting that employees at the Department of Health and Human Services privately expressed surprise at his sudden departure. Murthy, the 19th Surgeon General, and the first Indian American to hold this post said in a Facebook Post that it was an honor and privilege to work for this prestigious position.

“For the grandson of a poor farmer from India to be asked by the President to look out for the health of an entire nation was a humbling and uniquely American story. I will always be grateful to our country for welcoming my immigrant family nearly 40 years ago and giving me this opportunity to serve,” he said.

In a post on Facebook, Murthy said. “For the grandson of a poor farmer from India to be asked by the President to look out for the health of an entire nation was a humbling and uniquely American story. I will always be grateful to our country for welcoming my immigrant family nearly 40 years ago and giving me this opportunity to serve,” he added.

Murthy went on to recount his goals and achievements as surgeon general and said he “had hoped to do more to help our nation tackle its biggest health challenges, (but) I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have served”. He says he was the ‘grandson of a poor farmer from India’.

The US health and human services said in a statement on Friday he had been asked “to resign from his duties as surgeon general after assisting in a smooth transition into the new Trump Administration … (and stood) relieved of his duties”.

Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, a nurse by training and currently deputy surgeon general, was named to serve as the acting surgeon general and assume leadership of the US public health service commissioned corps.

Murthy’s exit was the second of an Indian American in a high-profile position in the federal government following that of Preet Bharara, who was among several US attorneys asked to resign by Trump in March.

But Trump has named several Indian Americans to senior positions, including Nikki Haley as ambassador to the UN, a cabinet-level post that is a first for the community, Seema Verma at the human and health services and Ajit Pai as head of the Federal Communications Commission.

“Murthy, the leader of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, was asked to resign from his duties as Surgeon General after assisting in a smooth transition into the new Trump administration,” the US Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement yesterday.

“Murthy has been relieved of his duties as Surgeon General and will continue to serve as a member of the Commissioned Corps,” the statement said.  Murthy was confirmed as US Surgeon General+ in December 2014.

“(Health and Human Services) Secretary (Tom) Price thanks him for his dedicated service to the nation. Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, who is the current Deputy Surgeon General, will serve as the acting Surgeon General and assume leadership of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps,” the official statement said.

Interestingly, Murthy is the second Indian-American to be fired by the Trump administration from a senior position. The first one was the US Attorney from New York Preet Bharara who was sacked after he refused to resign.

“As my colleague Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams takes over as Acting Surgeon General, know that our nation is in capable and compassionate hands. Thank you, America, for the privilege of a lifetime. I have been truly humbled and honoured to serve as your Surgeon General. I look forward to working alongside you in new ways in the years to come,” Murthy wrote on his Facebook Post. While I had hoped to do more to help our nation tackle its biggest health challenges, I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have served,” he said.

“The role of the Surgeon General is traditionally to share wisdom with others, but it was I who learned so much by listening to your stories in town halls and living rooms. In a remote fishing village in Alaska, a church in Alabama, an American Indian reservation in Oklahoma, a school in Virginia, and in so many other places, I watched the grit and grace with which our fellow Americans live their lives,” he said.

Murthy, in a landmark report on addiction released in November, said dependency on opioids and other substances must not be looked on as a “character flaw,” in the first publication from a surgeon general that has addressed drug and alcohol addiction.

“We will only be successful in addressing addiction — and other illnesses — when we recognize the humanity within each of us. People are more than their disease. All of us are more than our worst mistakes,” Murthy said in his statement. “We must ensure our nation always reflects a fundamental value: every life matters.”

Murthy embarked on a three-month listening tour of the U.S. ahead of a ceremonial swearing in Wednesday. “My overarching goal is to get every individual, every institution and every sector in America…to ask themselves the question [of] what they can do to improve the health and the strength of our nation,” Dr. Murthy said..

According to him, “The health challenges that we face right now are too big to be solved by the traditional health sector alone. We can’t build more hospitals and clinics and, solely based on that, expect that we are going to solve the health challenges that we face.

“A prevention-based society is one in which every institution, whether they’re a hospital or a clinic, or a school, an employer or a faith-based organization, recognizes and embraces the role that it can play in improving health,” Dr. Murthy had said in an interview. “The truth is, that while hospitals and clinics are traditional health care players, we know that the choices that people make in their lives about what they eat, about how active they are, about whether they ultimately decide to try a cigarette or to use drugs, those decisions are often influenced by factors far outside the hospital or the clinic.”

In his role as the top US doctor, Dr. Murthy, said, “I see myself more as an educator, as a convener and as a catalyst. What I would like to do is bring together organizations and the community to start conversations with employers, with faith-based groups and others to help them understand the role that they can play in improving health.”

Murthy was confirmed by the Senate by 51 to 43 votes, despite stiff resistance by the pro-gun lobby led by the National Rifle Association. The Surgeon General is appointed for a four year term. At 37, he was the youngest ever Surgeon General.

Murthy’s parents are originally from Karnataka, India. He was born in Huddersfield, England and the family relocated to Miami, Florida when he was three years old. He received an MD from the Yale School of Medicine and an MBA in Health Care Management from the Yale School of Management. It wasn’t clear till hours after the announcement if there was more to the decision to remove Murthy, whose appointment was opposed aggressively by the gun lobby spearheaded by the powerful National Rifle Association for pro-gun control views.

Murthy’s parents are originally from Karnataka. Now 39, he came to the United States with his family at the age of three and grew up in Florida. He studied biomedical sciences at Harvard and medicine at Yale. Murthy became an early supporter of  Obama, starting a group of doctors supporting Obama in 2007-2008, which later became Doctors for America, a non-profit. His nomination as surgeon general was opposed by Republicans and took 10 months.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said Friday he has been replaced, a little more than two years after he was confirmed under President Barack Obama. “Thank you, America, for the privilege of a lifetime,” Murthy said. “I have been truly humbled and honored to serve as your Surgeon General.”

Times Square filled with Turbans celebrating Turban Day

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Culture/Religion 0

Thousands of people wearing Turban filled the iconic Times Square on April 15, to celebrate the second annual Turban Day, a colorful event hosted by Sikhs Of New York, an organization founded by Sikh youth. The event also comprised of the celebration of Vaisakhi, the harvest festival, with raising awareness about Indian-Americans of the Sikh faith who have felt particularly vulnerable post-9/11. The National Sikh Campaign also launched its “We are Sikhs” media blitz at the same event, and the U.S. Congress released a “proclamation” declaring April 15, 2017 as “Turban Day” and “Sikhs of New York Day”, an initiative led by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-NY.

The four-hour event, held as part of Vaisakhi celebrations, was aimed at spreading awareness among Americans and other nationalities about the Sikh religion and its articles of faith, especially the turban, which has often been misconceived and misidentified as being associated with terrorism particularly in the years since the 9/11 terror attacks. During the event, a proclamation by Congressman Gregory Meeks of the 5th Congressional District of New York declared April 15, 2017 a  ‘Turban Day’, lauding The Sikhs of New York for its dedication in educating other communities about the Sikh faith

Entertainers at the event included Top Naach, a Bhangra group from Virginia; American Sikhs, an instrumental band from the 3HO Foundation in Los Angeles; The Lost Strings of New York, and mandolin player Gagandeep. A Bhangra workshop was also held.

Times Square filled with Turbans celebrating Turban Day“Last year we tied about 3,000 turbans in Times Square and we hope that it will be 7,000 this year,” said Chanpreet Singh, the organization’s founder. “We started Turban Day in 2013 at Baruch College to promote and educate people about the Sikh religion and identity. We are spreading awareness about the Sikh turban and culture. The turban is the crown of each Sikh and represents pride and valor. Turban Day provides an opportunity for those that do not wear a turban to experience a turban and learn about its significance first hand.”

The organization, which has about 600 members, also will be unveiling a new video on Turban Day that is designed to show Sikh people come from all walks of life. The video, which features physicians, businesspeople and even a gymnast, is posted online at Facebook.com/SIKHSOFNY.

“When you see a person in a turban, feel safe,” said Jill Jagjeevan Kaur Ruitenberg, President & CEO of Ruitenberg Lind Design Group of Jamesburg, N.J. and a practicing Sikh featured in the video. “When you see a person wearing a turban they are Sikh. Sikhism is its own religion founded in India over 500 years ago. It is not derived from any other religion. Part of their beliefs are to help and protect people around them, even at the risk of their own lives. They believe in equality for everyone.”

This was the second time that  Turban Day was held at Times Square. It attracted people from as far as Los Angeles and Alberta, Canada, many of whom volunteered to tie the turbans. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s head of Immigration Affairs Jenifer Rajkumar, attended the event.

Close to 500 volunteers helped wrap turbans on those wanting them. Though the event was to start at 12 noon,  people of various ethnicities and cultures lined up from 9:30 am to wear their turban, Chanpreet Singh, 24, founder of Sikhs of New York, told Desi Talk. Turban Day was an opportunity for those that do not wear a turban to experience it and learn about its significance first hand, organizers said.

The four hour Times Square event was live streamed. “Some 400,000 people saw it live. And over 24 hours since the event took place, half a million people have seen the video on our Facebook site,” said Chanpreet Singh, founder of Sikhs of New York.

The impact of the event can be measured not just by the large attendance, but also from the reactions of the crowds, something that was gauged by the volunteers and from posts of those who came to enjoy the entertainment, Singh said. “Our three hash tags, #IamSikh, #IamaSikh, and #Turbanday, each had close to 200 photos posted within 24 hours of the event,” said Singh. a financial analyst with cosmetics giant Estee Lauder, who founded Sikhs of New York while a student at Baruch College in 2013.

“This is a youth initiative of a post-9/11 generation,” Singh said. “I started it mainly because of discrimination I faced at high school. I wanted to make a change,” he said. When distributing informative pamphlets did not appear to be making a difference, the organization began Turban Day. It has been held at Madison Square Park for three years before coming to Times Squate in 2016. “The crowd was a mix of many cultures from different parts of the world and around the United States. That’s one of the reasons we chose Times Square,” he added. They are already planning next year’s Turban Day, which Singh says, will increase from 8,000 to 12,000 turbans, he estimates. That is four times the number (3,000) that were tied at the first Times Square Turban Day in 2016.

Ambassador Mulay’s life based film to be screened at New York Indian Film Festival

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Entertainment 0

Documentary film “Gypsy”, based on the life of Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay, secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, India, is among films to be screened at the 17th Annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2017. The world premiere show of this documentary will be held May 1 at Village East Cinema in Manhattan. Organized by the Indo-American Arts Council this year’s festival will be held from April 30 to May 7. Mulay, the former consul general of India in New York, has served as a diplomat in Japan, Russia, Syria, Mauritius, Maldives and New York.

“Gypsy” bagged the Special Jury Award at 5th Delhi International Short Film Festival. The documentary was also screened at the Kolhapur International Film Festival 2017 as well as at the Nashik International Film Festival 2017.

“ Selection of ‘Gypsy’ at New York Indian Film Festival is a global recognition for the film”, director Dhananjay Bhawalekar said. The film is produced by Unique Academy. According to Bhawalekar, the documentary proves inspiring to the aspirants of competitive exams and portrays the journey of a simple village lad from Abdullaat near Kolhapur to the success ladder of the Indian Foreign Service. The film reflects an optimistic outlook of overpowering critical conditions to achieve success, although a few incidences of Mulay’s life have been dramatized.

Ambassador Mulay’s life based film to be screened at New York Indian Film FestivalThe documentary has been screened in several schools, colleges and institutes and has received an overwhelming response at different levels. Shot in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolhapur and New York, the documentary was completed in two years. The film includes views of senior educationist Dr. D.Y. Patil, editor Bhanu Kale, and senior journalist Vijay Naik.

Written by Sagar Gokhale, Anil Sapkal and Bhawalekar, cinematography is by Yogesh Koli, music by Dhanashree Ganatra, background music by Abhijeet Rane, and the research and subtitles are by Sawani Arjun. The film is edited by Manoj Janvekar and animations are by Mahesh Kadam. This film is an entire non commercial project and is treated as a social contribution by the team.

America’s premier film festival representing the Indian subcontinent, New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), kicks off its 17th anniversary season on Sunday, April 30th, with Alankita Shrivastava’s women’s empowerment film LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA (watch trailer HERE), at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (One Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004) in the Financial District. The film premiered at the Tokyo and Mumbai Film Festivals, where it won the Spirit of Asia Prize and the Oxfam Award for Best Film on Gender Equality. In January, India’s Central Board of Film Certification refused to certify the film because it claimed the story was too “lady-oriented,” so the film is currently banned in India. The red carpet reception for the New York premiere of the film will be followed by a gala benefit dinner, open to the general public. Tickets & tables are available HERE.

The festival’s centerpiece film is the New York premiere of Khushboo Ranka and Vinay Shukla’s critically-acclaimed documentary about India’s Aam Aadmi Party activist Arvind Kejriwal called AN INSIGNIFICANT MAN (watch trailer HERE). After its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of 2016, the film has traveled to multiple festivals around the world, including London, Busan and Mumbai, and makes a stop at NYIFF in May.

The festival will close its programming on Sunday, May 7th, with the North American premiere of Milind Dhaimade’s YOU ARE MY SUNDAY (watch trailer HERE), an uplifting, slice-of-life comedy about five close friends who struggle to find a place to play soccer in Mumbai every Sunday. The closing night screening will take place at Mason Hall on the Baruch College campus (17 Lexington Avenue at 23rd Street), and it will also be preceded by a red carpet reception for media interviews and followed by the NYIFF 2017 Award Ceremony and gala closing night party.

Biran Patel elected AAHOA Secretary

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Tourism 0

SAN ANTONIO, April 14, 2017 — Members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) elected Texas hotelier and current North Texas Regional Director Biran Patel as the association’s new secretary today at the group’s annual convention and trade show. “This election was an exciting and very rewarding experience, and I am deeply honored to have been chosen to serve as an AAHOA officer for the next four years,” Patel said after the result was announced.

Patel defeated Cabot, Arkansas, hotelier and Director at Large Jayesh (Jay) Lallu in the election. “I would like to congratulate Jayesh Lallu, my extremely worthy opponent, on a well-run race, and to sincerely thank the AAHOA members for their confidence in my ability to one day lead this association as chairman,” said Patel.

Officers are elected to the position of secretary, and ascend through the treasurer and vice chairman roles before becoming chairman. Patel will become chairman at the 2020 AAHOA convention.

AAHOA hosted its largest annual convention to date last week while its leadership chronicled much of the association’s recent progress, which included continued membership growth, additional educational efforts and, most notably, substantial advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill.

Biran Patel
Biran Patel

A second-generation hotelier, Patel began his career in the hotel industry as a teenager while his family lived at the hotel they owned. A member for more than 15 years, Patel has served on five AAHOA committees, was previously an AAHOA regional ambassador and has led North Texas as regional director since 2014. He lives in Irving, Texas.

“Biran has repeatedly proven his dedication both to AAHOA and to the hotel industry in general,” said AAHOA President and CEO Chip Rogers. “I am delighted to welcome him to the officer ranks and look forward to his continued invaluable contributions to our association.”

Other successful candidates at this year’s AAHOA elections include Piyush Patel (Director at Large); Lina Patel (Female Director at Large – Eastern Division); Purvi Panwala (Young Professional Director at Large – Eastern Division); Nitin (Nick) Patel (Alabama Panhandle Regional Director); Bharat Patel (Florida Regional Director); Girish (Gary) Patel (Gulf Regional Director); Naresh (Nick) Patel (North Central Regional Director); Sunil (Sunny) Patel (Northeast Regional Director); and Mayur (Mike) Patel (North Texas Regional Director). Georgia Regional Director Kapil (Ken) Patel, South Carolina Regional Director Mahesh (Mike) Patel, and Washington District Regional Director Vinaykumar (Vinay) Patel were re-elected.
Taking place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, the event drew some 6,500 attendees. AAHOA Chairman Bharat (Bruce) Patel, who is now Immediate Past Chairman, framed the group’s progress.  “The position of AAHOA in our industry has never been higher, the relationship with AAHOA partners has never been stronger, and the value to AHHOA members has never been better. The records we achieved and the industry recognition that follows are a powerful reminder that AAHOA now has both strength and responsibility,” he said.

Patel continued, “Because of the incredible determination of your AAHOA Board of Directors; the dedication of more than 200 ambassadors; the hard work of the AAHOA staff; and most importantly, the support of over 16,500 members, we are realizing our dream. We’re accomplishing our mission, which is to be the voice of America’s hotel owners,” he said.

Patel noted one of the highlights of the group’s accomplishments is the fact that it raised $1,087,725 in PAC (Political Action Committee) donations for the two-year period. He further added that in 2016 more than 1,100 members contributed to the AAHOA PAC, more than 50 percent more than the year before.

Chip Rogers, AAHOA President and CEO, put the accomplishment into perspective for the association, which was founded in 1996. “One year ago Bruce Patel challenged the AAHOA Board and the AAHOA team to do something honestly none of us thought was possible at the time. We set that goal to raise $1 million in PAC donations for the two-year cycle. To put this into perspective if you take all the PAC money that has been raised since PAC was created in 1997 that total was about 938,000 dollars. The goal we were seeking to reach was to raise more in two years than the previous 18 years combined,” he said.

Founded in 1989, AAHOA (www.aahoa.com) is the largest hotel owners association in the world, with more than 16,500 small business owner-members. AAHOA members own almost one in every two hotels in the United States. For more information on the 2017 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, please visit AAHOA.com.

Trump orders review of H-1B Visas to encourage hiring Americans

Ajay GhoshTravel 0

In yet another indication of short-sightedness and lack of vision for the future of the nation, President Donald Trump ordered a review of the U.S. visa program for bringing high-skilled foreign workers into the country, putting technology firms and the outsourcing companies that serve them on notice that possible changes may be ahead. Trump announced the order and made remarks at a visit to the headquarters of Snap-On Inc , a tool maker in Wisconsin on April 18th.

“With this action, we are sending a powerful signal to the world: We’re going to defend our workers, protect our jobs and finally put America first,” Trump said. It was unclear whether the latest such order would yield immediate results. The H-1B visas section included no definite timeline. The government procurement section did.

The visas are intended to go to foreign nationals in occupations that generally require specialized knowledge, such as science, engineering or computer programming. The government uses a lottery to award 65,000 visas yearly and randomly distributes another 20,000 to graduate student workers.

More than 15 percent of Facebook Inc’s U.S. employees in 2016 used a temporary work visa, according to a Reuters analysis of U.S. Labor Department filings. Infosys, India’s No. 2 IT services firm, has said previously that it is ramping up work on on-site development centers in the United States to train local talent in an effort to address the visa regulation changes under consideration. It warned last week that onerous changes to U.S. visa rules could affect its earnings.

The order effectively raises the bar for foreign guest workers used by US and Indian companies to do work that American workers were thought to be unwilling or unable to do. Trump and his protectionist supporters say this is not true, and the original goal of the guest worker programme+ of bringing in highly-qualified foreign workers to do high-end jobs has been subverted by companies bringing in entry-level workers to replace US workers and depress wages.

In his first trip to the blue-collar country that voted for him in droves because of his pledge to protect US jobs, Trump went to a tool factory at Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the Chicago-Milwaukee industrial corridor (and Speaker Paul Ryan’s district), to show he intends to live up to his promise to staunch the loss of jobs. There he signed what was called a double-barrelled “Buy American, Hire American” executive order that will tighten guest worker visas such as H-1B+ , and require American agencies to buy more goods and services from US companies and workers.

Numerous studies have found that the impact of skilled workers and their contributions to technology, innovation, job-creation and enterpreneruship have been immensely beneficial to the US economy and the people of this great nation. However, for political reasons and to appease his hardcore support base, Trump has embarked on yet another ploy that will in the long run adversely affect the nation’s leadership role internationally and US will diminish to be the innovation nation.

“We hope the goal of President Trump’s executive order on the H-1B program is ‘mend it, don’t end it,'” said Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a technology industry group.

Going to a more merit-based H-1B system could attract more people with advanced science and technology skills, Atkinson said in a statement. But he said some ideas could make the system ineffective, such as requiring advertisement of job openings for long periods to prove the unavailability of U.S. workers.

Seeking to carry out a campaign pledge to put “America First,” Trump signed an executive order on the H-1B visa program. It was vague on many fronts, and did not change existing rules, but one objective, said Trump aides, is to modify or replace the current lottery for H-1B visas with a merit-based system that would restrict the visas to highly skilled workers. Indian nationals are the largest group of H-1B recipients annually.

Such a change could affect companies, such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd , Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp and Infosys Ltd , that connect U.S. technology companies with thousands of foreign engineers and programmers. None responded to requests for comment. NASSCOM, the Indian IT service industry’s main lobbying group, said it backs efforts to root out H-1B abuses, but said the idea that H-1B visa holders are cheap labor is inaccurate.

In addition to addressing the visas issue, he also ordered a review of government procurement rules favoring American companies to see if they are actually benefiting, especially the U.S. steel industry.

Trump was a businessman before he was elected president last year, and his companies have been criticized for using visa programs to fill positions at Trump properties with foreign workers. Trump-branded products are also made overseas. As he nears the 100-day benchmark of his presidency, Trump still has no major legislative achievements. With his attempts to overhaul healthcare and tax law stalled in Congress, Trump has leaned heavily on executive orders to change policy.

India, US reaffirm strategic partnership; shared perspectives in region

Ajay GhoshIndia, Politics, Travel, U.S. 0

The United States and India reaffirmed a strategic partnership that involves not only a growing defense relationship but also shared perspectives of the region. Rounding off his first regional visit, US NSA, HR McMaster held talks with prime minister Narendra Modi, NSA, Ajit Doval and foreign secretary S. Jaishankar. According to the PMO, the two sides “exchanged views on how both countries can work together to effectively address the challenge of terrorism and to advance regional peace, security and stability.”

A statement by the US embassy said the US reaffirmed India’s status as “major defence partner”. “The two sides discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, including their shared interest in increasing defense and counterterrorism cooperation. The visit was a part of regional consultations that included stops in Kabul and Islamabad.”

A new era of cooperation between the US and India was ushered in on July 18, 2005 in Washington DC when President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concluded a set of far reaching initiatives which will pave the way for a closer economic and strategic partnership between the two countries at Government and at industry levels.

The US and India share common values based on their democratic, multi–cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies, as well as a strong entrepreneurial spirit, all of which support the bilateral Strategic Partnership.

Both the US and India are committed to full exploitation of the mutual benefits of globalization, which is an irreversible process driven by technology and the development of human resources in an increasingly knowledge-based world. Through mutual harnessing of technology and human capital, the US and India can forge a unique partnership to achieve greater competitiveness and prosperity for the citizens of both nations.

In this context, the planned visit by PM to travel to Washington DC for his first summit with Donald Trump this summer, assumes importance. It is believed McMaster’s discussions included talks on the visit, though there was no official confirmation.

Official sources said the discussions with the Indian leadership covered situation in Afghanistan, West Asia and DPRK. McMaster has separately been quoted as saying that the North Korean issue was “coming to a head”.

On the issue of Afghanistan, Indian sources said there appeared to be a continuation of US policy, based primarily on counter-terrorism and supporting building up of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). “We both want the same outcomes in Afghanistan. The difference is in our resources and approach,” said high level sources.

AAPI’s 35th annual convention kick off event held at Indian Consulate

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0
(New York, NY – April 9, 2017) “It’s very great joy that I want to invite you all to come and be part of the 35th annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Convention 2017 to be held at the brand new state of the art Convention Centre, at the prestigious Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey from June 21 – 25, 2017,” Dr. Ajay Lodha, President, AAPI, declared today at the kick off event held at the Indian Consulate in New York on Sunday, April 9, 2017.
Attended by AAPI leadership, various committee members, community leaders, and media personnel from across the United States, the kick off event was inaugurated by lighting of the traditional lamp by Ambassador Riva Ganaguly Das, Consul general of India in New York. In her facilitation remarks, Ganguly Das lauded the achievements of AAPI and the leadership of Dr. Lodha. Describing Dr. Lodha to be “a great leader, great physician, and great negotiator” the Indian envoy promised to be at the Convention at the request of Dr. Lodha.
“We have watched how AAPI has grown over the years and how we want other NRI groups to emulate the success model of AAPI,” Ganguly Das told the cheering audience. ‘What AAPI does is to contribute to leverage the relationships between India and the United States.” Stating that the government of India “values our relationship with AAPI and the many initiatives and contributions you have made for the people in India,” the Indian envoy said.
Dr. Ajay Lodha, Prtesident of AAPI, delivering presidential address
Dr. Ajay Lodha, Prtesident of AAPI, delivering presidential address

In his opening remarks, Dr. Lodha shared with the audience the manay programs and initiatives he and his executive committee has taken in the past few months since assuming charge as the President of the largest ethnic medical organization in the nation. Dr. Lodha highlighted the Leadership seminar at Columbia University, the Cruise to Brazil, participation and leading the Independence Day Parade in New York, the successful organization of Global health Summit in Rajasthan and the many initiatives at the Summit, Crash Courses in India for police officers as first responders in accidents, EPS lab studies, AYUSH, raising AAPI’s voice against hate crimes in the US and against violence against physicians in India and championing the voice of AAPI for a powerful voice through AAPI’s legislative conference in Washington DC next month.   

Expressing his gratitude to AAPI’s executive committee members, including Dr. Gautam Samadder President-Elect; Dr. Naresh Parikh,  Vice President; Dr. Suresh Reddy, Secretary; Dr. Manju Sachdev, Treasurer; Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Aditya Desai, YPS president; and Atul Nakhasi, MSRF President; Dr. Raj Bhayani,  AAPI’s 2017 Convention Chair; various committee chairs and members, volunteers and sponsors for their continued dedication and visionary leadership in their efforts to make this convention truly a historic one for all, Dr. Lodha, said. “The organizing committees have been working hard to make the AAPI Convention of 2017 rewarding and memorable for all with Continuing Education Meetings, National and India based Health Policy Forums, Youth Seminars, New Physician and Resident Student meetings. Physicians attending this convention will benefit not only from cutting edge CME, but also the camaraderie of their alumni groups and share in our common heritage. Social events are all being planned meticulously so that maximum benefit can be accomplished. 
AAPI’s 35th Convention kick off being inaugurated with the lighting of the traditional lamp
AAPI’s 35th Convention kick off being inaugurated with the lighting of the traditional lamp

Dr. Vas Narsimhan, Global Head, R&D Novartis, who was the chief guest, in his address stated that AAPI conventions have been very inspiring. Describing India as the “innovation power house” Dr. Narasimhan, who had flown in from Sweden, advised young physicians to “dream big and thus achieve big.”

The annual convention this year is being organized by AAPI’s New York Chapter. Elaborating on the efforts and preparations that have been devoted to put together this unique event, Dr. Raj Bhayani said. “We have been working hard to put together an attractive program for our annual get together, educational activity and family enjoyment. We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of convention committee members from the Tri-State region helping us. We are expecting a record turnout and hence I would encourage early registration to avoid later disappointment.”
Dr. Sudhir Parikh, CEO of Parikh Media, assured the audience of his collaboration in enlisting the presence of the US President, senior world leaders, US Senators, Nobel Laureates, Governors, Congressmen, and celebrities from the Hollywood and Bollywood world to be part of the convention in Atlantic City.
Releasing of the AAPI’s souvenir of AYUSH by Ambassador Riva Ganguly das
Releasing of the AAPI’s souvenir of AYUSH by Ambassador Riva Ganguly das

Dr. Shashi Shah, past Chair of AAPI’s BOT, who had served as the emcee of the event, informed the participants that many of the physicians who will attend this convention have excelled in different specialties and subspecialties and occupy high positions as faculty members of medical schools, heads of departments, and executives of hospital staff. The AAPI Convention offers an opportunity to meet directly with these physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and services.

Alumni meetings for networking, match-making, also an AAPI-India Strategic Engagement Forum to showcase the AAPI initiatives in India like Trauma Brain Injury Guidelines, MoU on TB Eradication in India and recognition of AAPI award winners will make this Convention unique.
The Convention offers 12 credit hours of cutting edge CMEs as per AMA guidelines by well renowned thought leaders in their respective areas, being organized by Drs. Jagat Narula and Atul Prakash.  Spiritual session is to be led by renowned Brahmakumari Shivani Didi.
The Women’s Forum will feature well renowned women leaders, politicians, academicians, artists, sports women, and is being coordinated by Drs. Purnima Kothari and Udaya Shivangi. The Convention 2017 will also offer special emphasis on Integrative Medicine (AYUSH) and Medical innovations. The AAPI Research Symposium is an exciting venue to learn about and present new and exciting research as well as case reports and discussions.
Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das addressing the audience at the AAPI convention kick off event
Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das addressing the audience at the AAPI convention kick off event

According to Anwar Feroz, the honorary advisor of AAPI, the CEO Forum, which is by invitation will have CEOs of leading healthcare firms, who will give their thought process on the development of medical science and current changes, especially with the ongoing national discussions on the repairing/repealing of the Healthcare delivery in the nation. Also, for the first time, AAPI is inviting CEOs preferably with their innovative technologies in the field of medicine. AAPI Talent Show at the newly built elegant Harrah’s Theatre will provide a perfect setting for the AAPI delegates to display their talents. Being put together by Drs. Seema Arora and Amit Chakrabarty, the competitive session for the AAPI members will be judged by well renowned artists and philanthropists, has attractive prizes.

The dazzling Fashion Show will be one of a kind by famous fashion designers from the nation. The extravaganza mouthwatering ethnic cuisine with every day “Theme Menus” with variety of display of best of the culinary art will be a treat for the young and the old. Dr. Suresh Reddy, Secretary of AAPI, proposed vote of thanks.

Physicians of Indian Origin in the United States are reputed to be leading health care providers, holding crucial positions in various hospitals and health care facilities around the nation and the world. Known to be a leading ethnic medical organization that represents nearly 100,000 physicians and fellows of Indian Origin in the US, and being their voice and providing a forum to its members to collectively work together to meet their diverse needs, AAPI members are proud to contribute to the wellbeing of their motherland India, and their adopted land, the United States. The convention is forum to network, share knowledge and thoughts, and thus, enrich one another, and rededicate for the health and wellbeing of all the peoples of the world.
“Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally will convene and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year. We look forward to seeing you all in Atlantic City, New Jersey!” said Dr. Ajay Lodha.  For more details, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit:  www.aapiconvention.org   and www.aapiusa.org

AAPI’s 35th annual convention will be held in Atlantic City from June 21-25, 2017

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0
(New York, NY: April 09, 2017) “It’s very great joy that I want to invite you all to come and be part of the 35th annual American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Convention 2017 to be held at brand new state of the art Convention Centre, the prestigious Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey from June 21 – 25, 2017,” Dr. Ajay Lodha, President, AAPI, declared here today at a kick off event for the convention at the Indian Consulate in New York.
Invited guests at the convention, who are expected to address the international delegates include  the US President, senior world leaders, US Senators, Nobel Laureates, Governors, Congressmen, and celebrities from the Hollywood and Bollywood world.
Many of the physicians who will attend this convention have excelled in different specialties and subspecialties and occupy high positions as faculty members of medical schools, heads of departments, and executives of hospital staff. The AAPI Convention offers an opportunity to meet directly with these physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and services.
Alumni meetings for networking, match-making, also an AAPI-India Strategic Engagement Forum to showcase the AAPI initiatives in India like Trauma Brain Injury Guidelines, MoU on TB Eradication in India and recognition of AAPI award winners will make this Convention unique.
Expressing his gratitude to AAPI’s executive committee members, including Dr. Gautam Samadder President-Elect; Dr. Naresh Parikh,  Vice President; Dr. Suresh Reddy, Secretary; Dr. Manju Sachdev, Treasurer; Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Aditya Desai, YPS president; and Atul Nakhasi, MSRF President; Dr. Raj Bhayani, AAPI’s 2017 Convention Chair; various committee chairs and members, volunteers and sponsors for their continued dedication and visionary leadership in their efforts to make this convention truly a historic one for all, Dr. Lodha, said. “The organizing committees have been working hard to make the AAPI Convention of 2017 rewarding and memorable for all with Continuing Education Meetings, National and India based Health Policy Forums, Youth Seminars, New Physician and Resident Student meetings. Physicians attending this convention will benefit not only from cutting edge CME, but also the camaraderie of their alumni groups and share in our common heritage. Social events are all being planned meticulously so that maximum benefit can be accomplished.
The annual convention this year is being organized by AAPI’s New York Chapter. Elaborating on the efforts and preparations that have been devoted to put together this unique event, Dr. Raj Bhayani said. “We have been working hard to put together an attractive program for our annual get together, educational activity and family enjoyment. We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of convention committee members from the Tri-State region helping us. We are expecting a record turnout and hence I would encourage early registration to avoid later disappointment.”
The Convention offers 12 credit hours of cutting edge CMEs as per AMA guidelines by well renowned thought leaders in their respective areas, being organized by Drs. Jagat Narula and Atul Prakash.  Spiritual session is to be led by renowned Brahmakumari Shivani Didi. The Women’s Forum will feature well renowned women leaders, politicians, academicians, artists, sports women, and is being coordinated by Drs. Purnima Kothari and Udaya Shivangi. The Convention 2017 will also offer special emphasis on Integrative Medicine (AYUSH) and Medical innovations.
The CEO Forum, which is by invitation will have CEOs of leading healthcare firms, who will give their thought process on the development of medical science and current changes, especially with the ongoing national discussions on the repairing/repealing of the Healthcare delivery in the nation. Also, for the first time, AAPI is inviting CEOs preferably with their innovative technologies in the field of medicine. The AAPI Research Symposium is an exciting venue to learn about and present new and exciting research as well as case reports and discussions.
AAPI Talent Show at the newly built elegant Harrah’s Theatre will provide a perfect setting for the AAPI delegates to display their talents. Being put together by Drs. Seema Arora and Amit Chakrabarty, the competitive session for the AAPI members will be judged by well renowned artists and philanthropists, has attractive prizes.
The dazzling Fashion Show will be one of a kind by famous fashion designers from the nation. The extravaganza mouthwatering ethnic cuisine with every day “Theme Menus” with variety of display of best of the culinary art will be a treat for the young and the old.
Physicians of Indian Origin in the United States are reputed to be leading health care providers, holding crucial positions in various hospitals and health care facilities around the nation and the world. Known to be a leading ethnic medical organization that represents nearly 100,000 physicians and fellows of Indian Origin in the US, and being their voice and providing a forum to its members to collectively work together to meet their diverse needs, AAPI members are proud to contribute to the wellbeing of their motherland India, and their adopted land, the United States. The convention is forum to network, share knowledge and thoughts, and thus, enrich one another, and rededicate for the health and wellbeing of all the peoples of the world.
 “Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally will convene and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year. We look forward to seeing you all in Atlantic City, New Jersey!” said Dr. Ajay Lodha.  For more details, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit:  www.aapiconvention.org   and www.aapiusa.org

Births of Hindu babies to decline, while Muslim babies to overtake Christians by 2060: Pew Study

Ajay GhoshCulture/Religion 0
Hindus will witness a “dramatic” drop-off in births between 2055 and 2060 due to declining fertility in India, which is home to 94 percent of the community’s global population, according to a new Pew research study.
The Pew Research Center study also said that the number of babies born to Muslim women is expected to overtake those born to Christians worldwide within two decades, making Islam the world’s largest religion by 2075. Beyond 2015, Christian and Muslim mothers are expected to give birth to increasing numbers of babies through 2060.
But Muslim births are projected to rise at a such a faster rate that by 2035 the number of babies born to Muslim mothers will narrowly surpass the number born to Christian mothers. Between 2055 and 2060, the birth gap between the two groups is expected to approach 6 million (232 million births among Muslims vs. 226 million births among Christians).
By contrast, the total number of births is projected to decline steadily between 2015 and 2060 for all other major religious groups, said the study, which was released April 5.
“The drop-off in births will be especially dramatic for Hindus, who are expected to see 33 million fewer births between 2055 and 2060 than between 2010 and 2015, due in large part to declining fertility in India, which is home to 94 percent of the global Hindu population as of 2015,” according to the study titled ‘The Changing Global Religious Landscape’.
Between 2010 and 2015, an estimated 68 million babies were born to unaffiliated mothers, compared with 109 million to Hindu mothers.
Islam is already the world’s fastest-growing religion, according to the study, with the Muslim population increasing by more than 150 million people between 2010 and 2015.
Between 2015 and 2060, the global Muslim population is expected to grow by 70 percent, while Christianity is projected to grow by 34 percent – at which point the two religions will have similar numbers, the report said.
That baby boom will largely be driven by regional trends in age and fertility, according to Alan Cooperman, director of religion research at Pew.
“It’s really a geographic story,” he was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
From 2010 to 2015, Christian women gave birth to 223 million babies, about 10 million more than were born to Muslim women.
But the Pew report predicts a reversal of that pattern by 2060, when Muslim mothers are projected to give birth to 232 million babies, about six million more than their Christian counterparts.
Some 62 percent of Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region with large populations in Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Turkey, Pew researchers said.
The report’s findings are drawn from the same projections behind a 2015 Pew report that found that the world’s Muslim population will match its Christian population by 2070 and surpass it in the decades that follow.
Both rely on data collected over several years from more than 2,500 global censuses. The projections take into account trends in mortality, fertility, age, migration and religious switching.

US Senate passes resolution condemning hate crimes

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on April 6th introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning hate crimes, discrimination, and other forms of animus targeting individuals and communities across the United States. The Senate passed the resolution unanimously last night.
The resolution cites violent incidents targeting Jewish, Muslim, African-American, Hindu, and Sikh communities. It also mentions the vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, bomb threats against Jewish community centers, and burning of mosques and Islamic centers.
The resolution calls on federal law enforcement, working with state and local officials, to investigate all credible reports of these occurrences in the United States, hold perpetrators accountable, and bring them to justice.
“In America, no one should live in fear due to their religion, race, or ethnicity,” said Harris. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan group of senators with one voice to condemn the rise of hate crimes that target minority communities, as well as any form of religious or ethnic bias, racism, discrimination, or other forms of hate. Many of our constituents have been directly impacted by the unconscionable rise of hate crimes and hate-motivated violence in the United States, and law enforcement must do more to ensure minority communities are secure. Today, we stand united in our condemnation and rejection of hate-motivated crimes as an attack on the fabric of American society and the ideals of pluralism and respect.”
“Embracing diversity of thought and people from different backgrounds has made America a more perfect union,” said Rubio. “Unfortunately, there are still some individuals who seek to tear our social fabric apart with violent acts and threats fueled by hatred. With many in our country and around the world feeling discouraged by this divisiveness and animosity, it’s important to make it clear that we stand united in condemning the targeting of anyone simply because they are different.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in an April 5 memo announced a new subcommittee within a task force in the Department of Justice that will specifically combat hate crimes. Sessions, in the memo, provided an update to 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and Department of Justice component heads on the Department’s Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, which he created Feb. 27.
The Hate Crimes Subcommittee will specifically address hate crimes in the nation. Other subcommittees announced included developing violent crime reduction strategies, supporting prevention and re-entry efforts, updating charging and sentencing policies, reviewing asset forfeiture guidance, reducing illegal immigration and human trafficking, and evaluating marijuana enforcement policy.
The announcement of the subcommittee targeting hate crimes came just days after more than a dozen U.S. senators called for President Donald Trump’s administration to launch a new task force to prevent hate crimes.

‘You don’t drain a swamp with a slogan’: Bharara knocks Trump for replacing ‘muck with muck’

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0
Former Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara took several shots at the administration of President Donald Trump on April 6th calling for “facts not falsehoods” as the basis for political discourse and a more welcoming stance towards immigrants in his first public speaking event since being fired one month ago.
Bharara sprinkled the hour-long speech with humor, including a joke about the size of the crowd clearly aimed at Trump. But Bharara also made a series of thinly veiled criticisms of the new administration, referring multiple times to Trump’s campaign pledge to “drain the swamp” in Washington. “You don’t drain a swamp with a slogan. You don’t drain it by replacing one set of partisans with another. You don’t replace muck with muck,” Bharara, 48, said at the Cooper Union in New York.
“To drain a swamp you need an army corps of engineers, experts schooled in service and serious purpose. Not do-nothing, say-anything, neophyte opportunists who know a lot about how to bully and bluster but not so much about truth, justice and fairness.”
Bharara was fired by Trump on March 11 after refusing to step down. While he was among 46 U.S. attorneys told to submit their resignations, his dismissal was a surprise because Trump had asked him in November to stay in the job.
In his first public appearance since being fired, Indian American former top federal prosecutor Preet Bharara took swipes at President Donald Trump. “To drain a swamp you need an army corps of engineers, experts schooled in service and serious purpose, not do-nothing, say-anything neophyte opportunists who know a lot about how to bully and bluster but not so much about truth, justice and fairness. Draining a swamp takes genuine commitment to justice and fairness and not attention to what benefits one group over another or divides one group against another,” he said.
Bharara acknowledged the presence of some of his former colleagues, including some from his press office who he said “were the only people who stood between me and the dishonest media,” in another swipe at Trump. “That’s called tongue and cheek,” Bharara said.
He also thanked New York University’s School of Law for giving him a job as the distinguished scholar in residence. “My father-in-law was really happy to hear that I was going to have a job,” he said. During the lecture, Bharara reflected on his time as Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor and his office’s accomplishments in rooting out corruption and fighting terrorism and insider trading cases. Even when Bharara was in office, he repeatedly dismissed speculation that he will eventually run for public office and reiterated that he will not enter politics. “I don’t have any plans to enter politics just like I had no plans to join the circus. I mean no offense to the circus,” he said to laughter from the audience. Bharara called on American citizens to unite and continue the fight against injustice, saying active citizenship matters and is “desperately needed now more than ever, individually and collectively.”

H1-B Visa: Computer programmer won’t qualify as specialty occupation

Ajay GhoshTravel 0
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has ruled that being a simple computer programmer would no longer qualify as a specialist profession, which is a must for the issue of a H1B work visa, in a move that could have far-reaching implications for thousands of Indians applying for such a visa. The ruling reverses the US’ more than decades and a half old guidelines, that were issued in the context of addressing the new millennium needs.
As per USCIS, an entry level computer programmer position would not generally qualify as a position in a “specialty occupation”. Computer programming is no longer considered a specialty occupation for purposes of allocating an H-1B visa, the agency stated. The clarification on what constitutes a “specialty occupation” superseding and rescinding its previous guidelines of December 22,2000 was issued by the USCIS through a new policy memorandum on 31 March. The move could have far reaching implications on thousands of Indians applying for H1B work visas for the next fiscal beginning 1 October 2017, the process for which started on The USCIS new guidelines essentially makes it more rigorous for computer programmers to qualify for an H-1B visa. Applicants will have to provide additional documentation proving that they are qualified for a “specialty occupation.”
The new memo rescinds a 17-year-old directive issued by the Nebraska Service Center, which processes H-1B applications. The old memorandum stated that most programmers had a bachelor’s degree or higher, but did not specify that degree was related to computer science or information systems.
Furthermore, the old memo recognized that some computer programmers held only an associate or “two year” degree. USCIS noted that this is still the case and individuals with just a two year degree can get jobs as programmers.
“As such, it is improper to conclude based on this information that USCIS would “generally consider the position of programmer to qualify as a specialty occupation,” noted the new memo.
Current law requires H-1B workers to possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, with academic credentials specifically related to their prospective job duties. The new memo stated that applicants and employers must provide additional information to establish that a particular position is a specialty occupation as defined by current Department of Labor standards.
USCIS explicitly stated it was not creating new policy, but simply codifying existing policy. “The new policy is simply withdrawing the old guidance,” Tejas Shah, who leads Franczek Radelet’s immigration practice and co-chairs the South Asian Bar Association’s immigration panel, told India-West. He explained that USCIS was not necessarily following the old memo anyway, in determining eligibility for H-1B visas.
Renewals could be in jeopardy, he noted, stating that someone’s current position could be re-visited to ensure that credentials meet current standards. For lower level H-1B wage earners, it is difficult to establish that an assignment is complex enough to meet the qualifications for an H-1B visa, he said, adding that employers will also bear the brunt of having to provide a detailed description of job duties and what might be produced as a result of the H-1B worker’s labor.
“There’s a high degree of risk for consulting and outsourcing companies,” said Shah. “This just makes the whole process a bit more difficult.” The Trump administration’s rhetoric of H-1B workers taking American jobs is “overstated,” according to Shah. “H-1B workers are starting businesses and creating jobs for American workers. The U.S. economy could be heavily impacted if we took the program away,” he said.
The Indian IT industry body Nasscom has said the clarifying guidance by the USCIS on eligibility for computer programmers under the H-1B visa norms will have little impact on its members, as the clarification has been the adjudicatory practice for years.
“The March 31 USCIS memorandum reinforces an existing practice by adjudicators and clarifies requirements for certain computer professionals,” said the National Association of Software Services and Companies in a statement from Bengaluru.
Noting that several of its members have applied for visas for higher level professionals this year, the apex body said the evidence showed that the jobs were complex and required professional degrees. “Our member companies provide skilled talent and solutions to U.S. firms. The H-1B visa system exists specifically because of the persistent shortage of highly-skilled domestic IT talent in the U.S.,” the statement pointed out.
USCIS issued a second memo April 3 stating its intent to further police employers who have large numbers of H-1B workers. It has established a hotline and an e-mail for those who feel they are victims of the H-1B program, or workers who wish to report fraud.

The Trump administration’s move to make it tougher for entry-level computer programmers to use H-1Bs+ is an opportunity for India to send its more talented professionals on these visas to the US. Already, entry-level programmers have become a small part of the total number of applicants for H-1Bs.

Official US data shows that computer programmers certified as eligible for H-1B in 2014 and 2015 were only about 12% of the total number of certified applicants in those years. And within the computer programmers’ category, about 41% were for positions at the lowest wage level, according to news agency Bloomberg. The lowest wage level is defined as jobs requiring people to perform routine tasks that require them to exercise little judgement on their own.

Nikki Haley booed at Global Women’s Summit Over Trump, Russia

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Women 0
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley received an icy reception at the Women in the World summit in New York City Wednesday, April 6th. Nikki Haley, the tough-talking and blunt U.S. Ambassador to the UN, was heckled during an annual summit on women as she spoke about President Donald Trump and Russia. The Indian American envoy was speaking on April 5 at the ‘Women In The World’ summit, a premier annual gathering of influential women leaders, politicians and activists organized by media personality Tina Brown in association with the New York Times.
Following a panel discussion that featured two doctors who’ve been on the front lines of the Syrian civil war and have witnessed the Assad regime’s attacks on hospitals, Haley expressed outrage over the “heartbreaking” situation in Syria and, once again, pointed the finger at Russia. “If they supposedly have so much clout in Syria, they need to do their job,” Haley said of Vladimir Putin’s government, as a largely nonresponsive crowd began growing restless.
“Keep in mind I work for the Trump administration,” Haley said, as a wave of boos rippled softly through the audience. “I have hit Russia over the head more times than I can count,” she continued, despite rumblings from the crowd. “Because if they do something wrong, we’re gonna call them out on it.”
Haley, who said that she had spoken to the president earlier in the day, insisted that Trump is concerned about Russia, an assertion that further incited the audience. As she was answering questions during the session titled ‘Trump’s Diplomat: Nikki Haley’ moderated by MSNBC anchor Greta Van Susteren, Haley was booed and heckled on several occasions. At one point someone in the audience shouted “what about refugees” while another asked, “when is the next panel.”
She was heckled again when asked how America deals with some of the world leaders who are dictators. “You call them out when they do something wrong and you work with them when you can find ways to work with them,” Haley said.
As some members of the audience shouted at her remarks, Haley said, “we have to express America’s values. We are always the moral conscience of the world,” to which someone from the audience shouted “what about the refugees,” cutting off Haley. Haley went silent. Van Susteren paused, and then said, “Moving on.”
At the end of the day’s program, Brown commended Haley for attending the event even as she got a “boisterous reception” and for remaining gracious as she was heckled. “We often complain and sneer and say Republicans never want to come on any kind of forum except Fox News or places where they can be asked questions that are soft,” Brown said, adding that Haley did not put on any pre-conditions and sat very “graciously” while the audience heckled. “She didn’t get agitated about it, and she’s in the middle of a lot of world crises. So I feel that we should really applaud the fact that she did come.”

21-yr-old Chetan Hebbur to run for NY City Council

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Chetan Hebbur is giving a run for New York City Council. A New York University senior, 21, Hebbur wants a shot at succeeding Rosie Mendez, who is term-limited out. “The city needs younger voices who represent change,” he told the media. Hebbur, who expects to earn his bachelor’s degree from NYU in 2017, said in a New York Post report that the city needs younger voices who represent change.

Hebbur, an Indian American student majoring in mathematics and economics at New York University, has announced he is running for the New York City Council District 2 seat. If he wins, the Democrat would tie former Bronx Councilman Joel Rivera for the title of youngest city lawmaker in Big Apple history. Rivera was 22 when he was elected in 2001. The budding politico plans to rely on his fellow students to secure a spot on the ballot to represent the East Village, Lower East Side and Murray Hill. “You only need a tiny slice of the pie and there are 50,000 students at NYU,” Hebbur said.

Hebbur, a Democrat, is counting on his fellow classmates to earn a spot on the ballot for the District 2 seat representing the East Village, Lower East Side and Murray Hill, which will become open as incumbent Rosie Mendez is termed out. A Dallas native, Hebbur works as a marketing consultant at Toews Corporation in New York. He announced his candidacy for the council in March.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Hebbur has intentions of rebuilding the city’s critical infrastructure while sending a clear message of the need for fact-based politics in America. “My time at NYU has made me attached to the area and community, and changes need to be made,” he said in his profile.

Added Hebbur in the report, “I want to get my peers on the same page and actively make a difference in our community,” adding that he hopes to change NYU students’ anger at President Donald Trump through a local movement.

Among the issues Hebbur is campaigning to resolve, if elected, are implementing a fact-based policy, a review of all public health legislation, supporting nonprofits and advocacy groups, and supporting criminal justice. He hopes to launch an online portal for people to vote on policy proposals, and to measure local support for each piece of legislation, the Post reported.

Hebbur, who is running a grassroots campaign, criticized the current council for proposing progressive policies but not executing them, according to the report. He cited the Save a Life, Carry Naloxone campaign, which touted expanding access to the life-saving overdose antidote to 700 pharmacies, it added.

“I plan to do things differently and create change,” the Dallas native said. He wants to transform NYU students’ anger at President Trump into a local movement. “I want to get my peers on the same page and actively make a difference in our community,” he said.

He wants to use the internet and social media to create more government transparency. He hopes to launch an online portal for people to vote on policy proposals, and to measure local support for each piece of legislation.

Hebbur also believes in a “grass-roots approach” to his campaign. That means he has no money. “We already have a full staff pro bono, and when I meet officials for lunches, they usually offer to pay anyways,” he joked. New York’s primary election is Sept. 12 with the general election slated for Nov. 7.

Holy Name Medical Center launches 1st ever Asian Indian Medical Program in US

Ajay GhoshEducation, Health 0

Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ has announced the launch of the first hospital-based Indian Medical Program (IMP) in the US. The program, under the umbrella of Holy Name’s Asian Health Services (AHS), is designed to meet the medical needs of this community in a culturally-sensitive environment and provide healthcare amenities to make Asian Indian-American patients and their families feel welcome and comfortable.

“Holy Name Medical Center’s Indian Medical Program continues the hospital’s mission to provide culturally-sensitive care, said Michael Maron, President and CEO, Holy Name Medical Center. “The hospital’s Asian Health Services program has become a national model for building sustainable initiatives that improve population health by partnering with physicians, volunteers and charitable donors.”

Customized services include Indian cuisine items such as Indian Chai, Dal Chawal and traditional Indian vegetarian sandwiches will be added to the hospital menu for inpatients. Indian newspapers and a cable television channel (Sony TV) will be available in patients’ rooms, as well as a dedicated community hotline, and a large network of Indian-American physicians. Translation services will be available in Hindi, Gujrati, Sindhi, Marathi and Urdu.

The IMP is also offering a series of free community health events in northern New Jersey, providing health education resources and health screenings for Diabetes, Hepatitis B, and BMI/body composition. To access a full calendar of community events, visit holyname.org/events.

With a hefty 72.7 per­cent growth rate, the state’s Asian Indian population reached 292,256 in 2010, accounting for 40.3 percent of the total Asian population. The largest concentrations of Asian Indians in New Jersey are in in Bergen County (24,973) and in Hudson County (37,236).

“Holy Name honors the uniqueness of every individual. Personalizing care for our Asian Indian patients engenders trust and a sense of security, making patients feel at home,” said Kyung Hee Choi, Vice-President of Asian Health Services. “Offering medical services with culturally appropriate health care amenities has made patients feel more comfortable at the Medical Center, encouraging them to undergo preventive screenings and helped them to be more proactive in maintaining their health.”

Holy Name Medical Center’s Asian Health Services (AHS) – which includes the Korean Medical Program established in 2008, the Chinese Medical Program (CMP), the Filipino Medical Program (FMP), the Japanese Medical Program (JMP), and the new Indian Medical Program – provides patients with high quality health care in their native language and in an environment sensitive to their culture.

The program, under the umbrella of Holy Name’s Asian Health Services, is designed to meet the medical needs of the community in a culturally-sensitive environment and provide healthcare amenities to make Indian American patients and their families feel welcome and comfortable, the center said.

“Holy Name Medical Center’s Indian medical program continues the hospital’s mission to provide culturally-sensitive care,” Holy Name Medical Center president and chief executive Michael Maron said in a statement. “The hospital’s Asian Health Services program has become a national model for building sustainable initiatives that improve population health by partnering with physicians, volunteers and charitable donors.”

Columbia’s 13th India-focused conference focuses on ‘Route to Resurgence: Shaping India’s New Destiny’

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

The South Asia Business Association (SABA) at Columbia Business School (CBS) hosted their 13th Annual India Business Conference on April 8. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Route to Resurgence: Shaping India’s New Destiny’. The SABA organizing team, led by co-presidents Rahul Bengani and Gaurav Dayal, has managed to secure a forum of speakers comprising renowned and diverse personalities including civil servants, C-suite executives, entrepreneurs and academicians.

Speakers included Suresh Narayanan, chairman & managing director, Nestle India; Neeraj Singhal former head of Expansion, South Asia, Uber; Dr. S. Y. Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner, India; Prof. Jagdish Bhagwati of Columbia University; Umang Dua, co-founder, Handy.com; and Vinodh Bhat, co-founder, Saavn, among others.

According to Udit Agarwal, assistant vice president of the South Asia Business Association, “This is a great opportunity for CBS students to hone their leadership skills whilst watching the end product of their labor being appreciated by the conference attendees.”

The goal of the conference was to bring together decision makers and opinion shapers from across the business, political, social and cultural spheres of India life, and encourage dialogue and discourse on topics crucial to the country’s present and future. This year’s conference will have an exchange of ideas with various speakers presenting their views on the country’s current state of affairs and its likely destiny that would have implications not just for India but also for those who wish to do business in the country. The topics for panel discussions include: ‘Rethinking Business Models for an Emerging India’, ‘The Transformation of Indian Entertainment Industry’ and ‘The Rise & Rise of Investments in India.’

Amrinder Singh Chawla, assistant vice president of the South Asia Business Association said, “This year’s conference is both exciting and crucial, considering the recent major changes in the political and economic landscape of India owing to 2017 assembly elections and demonetization.” CBS is expecting over two hundred attendees and extensive media coverage for the event. For more details on the conference please refer to the official website – http://ibccolumbia.org/

Kabir Bedi honored by World Heritage Cultural Center

Ajay GhoshCulture/Religion, Entertainment 0

Kabir Bedi, the famous Bollywood star was presented with the World Heritage Cultural Center’s first Lifetime Achievement Cultural Award for his long, distinguished career in the arts. The awards ceremony was held April 5 at the TV Asia studios in New jersey. TV Asia Chairman H.R. Shah was also honored with WHCC’s Community Excellence Award. The evening was hosted by WHCC Board members Jyoti Soni and Victor Cruz.

Kabir Bedi has performed in film, television, and theater and is best known for roles in “The Bold and the Beautiful”, “Octopussy”, the Italian pirate series “Sandokan” (Sandokan), and over 60 Bollywood films including “Khoon Bhari Maang.” Kabir Bedi first film is Hulchul released in 1971. Some of the famous films in which Kabir Bedi acted are Hulchul (1971), Anari (1975), Nagin (1976), Aakhri Kasam (1979), Police Public (1990), Dil Aashna Hai (1992), Yagaar (1992), Kshatriya (1993), Salaami (1994), Kohram (1999), Kranti (2002), Maine Dil Tujhko Diya (2002), Talaash (2003), The Hero (2003), Rudraksh (2004), Asambhav (2004), Kismat (2004), Main Hoon Na (2004), Bewafaa (2005), Chakravyuh (2012). He has received several film awards, including Star Foundation Award in 2012.

The WHCC also announced plans for a new 30,000 square foot building, intended for the culturally diverse Brewster, New York, or Newtown, Conn. area, close to New York City. The facility will include an outdoor amphitheater and indoor theater, music recording studio, world library, lecture hall, class and conference rooms, event space including a grand ballroom, a WHCC press release said.

Founded in 2009, the WHCC has led more than 75 events with over 900,000 attendees in major U.S. cities. “There is a growing unmet need for real, in-person cultural connections,” founder Sattie Persaud said. “The new center for WHCC will enable us to meet that need for more people,” he added.

The center focuses on sharing cultural knowledge and creating a common ground for any culture in the world to interact. It also encourages those from other countries to keep their cultural heritage alive and celebrate and share their way of life through arts and food. It helps break down cultural barriers through education and community events. The new WHCC facility is the first of many planned across the country aimed to help communities to embrace diversity. WHCC plans to raise $200K by June 30 to purchase land for the center, with an intention of raising up to $6 million for the center’s completion.

Back to roots: Anoushka Shankar’s concert tour

Ajay GhoshEntertainment 0

The unerring sense of calm is palpable when she slides her fingers on the strings of her sitar. Music composer and sitar player Anoushka Shankar serenaded music lovers with Indian classical compositions at The Town Hall in New Jersey on April 5.

This reverential love towards the process of music-making is visible as she performs to the track that is part of her recently-released album, ‘Home,’ a pure Indian classical album which showcases the meditative and virtuosic qualities of the Indian rang.

Dressed in a white lehenga, Shankar looked as pure and divine as the music she played for nearly two hours. Accompanied by classical Indian instruments like the tanpura, tabla, shehnaai and the mridagangam, the six-time Grammy nominated musician demonstrated her command over the sitar, an instrument she learned at a young age from her father.

The fact that the album had won the sitar virtuoso her fifth Grammy nomination not only goes to show her extraordinary prowess, but also makes it clear that the music Pandit Ravi Shankar exposed the world to, rests safely in the hands of his talented daughter Anoushka Shankar.

Shankar, the daughter of sitar master Pandit Ravi Shankar and one of his most dedicated students, performed music and started the evening with Raag Jogeshwari, a melodious and straightforward raag, created by Pandit Ravi Shankar, followed by Anoushka Shankar’s very own yet to release composition “Jannat” based on her father’s Raag Janasammohini.

Post break, the 35-year-old performed an extended “Pancham Se Gara,” the last track and one of the well known pieces from her first album “Anourag”, released in 2000. This piece draws its substance from the famous Gara raga that was widely used in many classical indian pieces.

Constantly interacting with her fellow musicians and flashing her signature smile, Shankar kept the tempo up, as each musician performed a solo piece in the last act, followed by a tabla and mridamgam jugalbandi which got many in the audience tapping their feet and clapping their hands to the beat of the music.

The context of home means a lot to people these days, especially in today’s political and social scenario, Shankar said, speaking about her album “Home” on which the show was based. You know you always have a home to go back to, and that’s what sometimes makes you go away from it, she said, referring to her musical experiments as well as her classical background which she keeps coming back to. “I tried to stay connected with my roots while trying to grow into new music,” she said. “I hadn’t made a classical record in a while, so I felt a deep desire to do that but I knew I’d continue to explore and experiment.”

Shankar was accompanied by Ojas Adhiya on tabla, Pirashanna Thevarajah on mridangam, Sanjeev Shankar on shehnaai, Ravichandra Kulur on the flute and Harsha Vishwanathan and Kenjo Ota on the tanpura.

At 35, Anoushka Shankar has become a successful musician in her own right. She has been playing the sitar from childhood and has her own style which has developed into a musical program encompassing the classical Indian traditions of the instrument but with clear and innovative adaptations creating a very distinctive offering.

Shankar has been recognized as the youngest and first female recipient of a British House of Commons Shield and named an “Asian Hero” by Time magazine. She resides in London with her husband playwright Joe Wright and their two sons Zubin Shankar Wright, 5, and Mohan Shankar Wright, 2.

“I have always tried to approach music from a personal level as much as possible. I don’t believe that you can make music from a form of pressure. From the spirit point of view, music has to come from the heart and only because you are passionate about it. If I stay connected to the fact that I play music because I love it… everything else falls in place,” the young prodigy says.

Hirsh Vardhan Singh enters New Jersey Governor’s race

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Hirsh Vardhan Singh, a successful businessman and engineer, will announce his run for Governor of the Great State of New Jersey.  A Republican, Singh said he believes the state has been suffering due to petty partisanship and offers a bold vision to improve the lives of New Jersey residents through the Fairness Formula, strategic infrastructure development, medical malpractice and tort reform, tax cuts for small businesses and the legalization of cannabis, according to a statement from his campaign office.

Hirsh explains his main concerns from the highest property taxes nationwide, to a lack of well-paying manufacturing jobs, below par K-12 education, and State over-regulation, which have harmed the realization of the American Dream by attacking social mobility.  He will explain his plan to bridge the gaps of division in the state.

Hirsh is a product of New Jersey.  He grew up in Atlantic County, New Jersey and earned an engineering degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.  Hirsh is a results-driven leader who directs and manages small and large teams of corporations providing the most cutting edge engineering solutions and services nationwide across civilian and defense government agencies.

Last week, on February 21, Hirsh addressed the Ocean County GOP – one of the most influential county organizations in New Jersey.  In his speech, Hirsh pointed out that problems faced by New Jersey are a result of a flawed philosophy of government held by state leaders, and believes the solution has always been right in front in the state motto: Liberty and Prosperity. Through Liberty we attain Prosperity.

As New Jersey Governor, Hirsh plans to work tirelessly to bring prosperity back, fix the state’s sky rocketed property tax, the broken education system, fix transportation infrastructure, and make New Jersey a national leader in technological innovation.

Singh will focus his campaign on fixing property taxes, wages of manufacturing jobs, K-12 education and state overregulation, the campaign team said. The candidate added that state overregulation has harmed the realization of the American Dream by attacking social mobility.

The New Jersey primary is on June 6, 2017. Voting information can be found at http://singhfornewjersey.com/vote/.

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