Chicago IL: Vaishnav Samaj of Midwest (VSM), Shreejidwar Haveli, Addison, Illinois celebrated 3 days their 10th Patotsav (Anniversary) in a grand fashion, including hosting Chappan Bhog Manorath. The historical celebration was attended by more than 3000 vaishnavs. This is the first Haveli in Midwest to complete 10 years.
Dignitaries and faith leaders from US and India attended the occasion. World renowned Yuvavaishnavacharya Pujya Goswami 108 Shri Vrajrajkumarji Mahodayshri graced the occasion and provided discourses on Path of Grace, Sharnagati (surrender to God) and Power of Efforts to help improve one’s daily life, as well as better the communities around us through selfless service. Pujya JejeShri Vrajrajkumarji Mahodayshri in discourses addressed the audience that Vaishnavism (a sect of Hinduism) is not just a religion but a way of life. He clarified that Pushtimarg in Vaishnavism is a krupa marg (grace of God). In this Lord Shri Krishna’s grace plays a major role in devotee’s life and God does krupa on everyone. He also illuminated that by doing Brahma-sambandh we surrender ourselves to Lord Shri Krishna and total surrender (mental, physical and spiritual) is the path to achieve higher enlightenment. In power of efforts he emphasized the goal to keep clear conscience and move forward with a vision that leads to the betterment of the community. Much of his lectures focused on storytelling and providing real life examples so that attendees can relate to the messages.
The event was also attended by Hon. Raja Krishnamoorthi (U.S. Representative for Illinois 8thcongressional district), Hon. Tim Schneider (Illinois State GOP Chairman), and Hon. Nimish Jani (Schaumburg Township Trustee).
In addition to discourses, the three days of celebration included various cultural, educational and entertainment events to keep the audience engaged. Planning for the celebration had been ongoing for past 2 months with the help of over 100 volunteers. Every day after discourse all the attendees were treated to a Mahaprasad. Raas Garba was organized by Nalini Parikh on the evening of June 15th and was attended by over 500 participants. Chappan Bhog manorath was organized on June 16th, that encompassed preparation of over 1000 kg of 56-different sweets placed on a stage (16’ x 28’) inside the Haveli to offer it Lord Shri Krishna. Chappan Bhog is a major celebration in Vaishnav culture and Shreejidwar Haveli performed it with grand elegance.
Vallabh Youth Organization- Education (VYOE) also took part in the event and organized children’s Dashavatar Musical Cultural show on the evening of Saturday, June 16th. In the show 70 VYOE students enacted Lord Vishnu’s Dashavatars (10 avatars) in front of a packed audience of over 2000 people. On Sunday, June 17th, VYOE hosted the graduation ceremony of their students with over 100 students graduated in the presence of Pujya JejeShri Vrajrajkumarji Mahodayshri.
VSM leadership (Dr. Umang Patel, MD -Chairman and Mr. Jyotin Parikh, R.Ph -President) mentioned, “This has been a very successful event. The unity of vaishnavs and dedication of volunteers was the main reason for the success of this event”. The visionary VSM leaders and generous donors have greatly helped in the progress of the haveli that has impacted the growth of vaishnav community in the Midwest region.
Shreejidwar Haveli is a non-profit religious organization. It is dedicated to serve the religious and cultural needs of the Hindu community since 2008 and is one of cornerstone Haveli of the Midwest region.
VYOE is a Global non-profit organization that offers a unique learning program to develop an appreciation for India’s rich cultural heritage, a sound value system and a variety of life skills to the children for a more productive and well-rounded life. VYOE leadership (Mrs. Paragi Patel, R.Ph -President VYOE Chicago and Dr. Vivek Shah, PhD -Lead VYOE Chicago) were the lead coordinators of the event with support from VYOE teachers, volunteers and parents.
Harvard consistently rated Asian-American applicants lower than others on traits like “positive personality,” likability, courage, kindness and being “widely respected,” according to an analysis of more than 160,000 student records filed by a group representing Asian-American students in a lawsuit against the university, The New York Times reported.
Asian-Americans scored higher than applicants of any other racial or ethnic group on admissions measures like test scores, grades and extracurricular activities, according to the analysis commissioned by a group that opposes all race-based admissions criteria. But the students’ personal ratings significantly dragged down their chances of being admitted, the analysis found.
The documents came out as part of a lawsuit charging Harvard with systematically discriminating against Asian-Americans, in violation of civil rights law. The suit says that Harvard imposes what is in effect a soft quota of “racial balancing.” This keeps the numbers of Asian-Americans artificially low, while advancing less qualified white, black and Hispanic applicants, the plaintiffs contend.
The court documents, filed in federal court in Boston, also showed that Harvard conducted an internal investigation into its admissions policies in 2013 and found a bias against Asian-American applicants. But Harvard never made the findings public or acted on them.
Harvard, one of the most sought-after and selective universities in the country, admitted only 4.6 percent of its applicants this year. That has led to intense interest in the university’s closely guarded admissions process. Harvard had fought furiously over the last few months to keep secret the documents that were unsealed last week, The Times reported.
Harvard and the group suing it have presented sharply divergent views of what constitutes a fair admissions process. “It turns out that the suspicions of Asian-American alumni, students and applicants were right all along,” the group, Students for Fair Admissions, said in a court document laying out the analysis. “Harvard today engages in the same kind of discrimination and stereotyping that it used to justify quotas on Jewish applicants in the 1920s and 1930s.”
Harvard vigorously disagreed, saying that its own expert analysis showed no discrimination and that seeking diversity is a valuable part of student selection. The university lashed out at the founder of Students for Fair Admissions, Edward Blum, accusing him of using Harvard to replay a previous challenge to affirmative action in college admissions, Fisher v. the University of Texas at Austin. In its 2016 decision in that case, the Supreme Court ruled that race could be used as one of many factors in admissions.
“Thorough and comprehensive analysis of the data and evidence makes clear that Harvard College does not discriminate against applicants from any group, including Asian-Americans, whose rate of admission has grown 29 percent over the last decade,” Harvard said in a statement. “Mr. Blum and his organization’s incomplete and misleading data analysis paint a dangerously inaccurate picture of Harvard College’s whole-person admissions process by omitting critical data and information factors.”
In court papers, Harvard said that a statistical analysis could not capture the many intangible factors that go into Harvard admissions. Harvard said that the plaintiffs’ expert, Peter Arcidiacono, a Duke University economist, had mined the data to his advantage by taking out applicants who were favored because they were legacies, athletes, the children of staff and the like, including Asian-Americans. In response, the plaintiffs said their expert had factored out these applicants because he wanted to look at the pure effect of race on admissions, unclouded by other factors.
Both sides filed papers asking for summary judgment, an immediate ruling in their favor. If the judge denies those requests, as is likely, a trial has been scheduled for October. If it goes on to the Supreme Court, it could upend decades of affirmative action policies at colleges and universities across the country.
Harvard is not the only Ivy League school facing pressure to admit more Asian-American students. Princeton and Cornell and others also have high numbers of Asian-American applicants. Yet their share of Asian-Americans students is comparable with Harvard’s.
White applicants would be most hurt if Asian-American admissions rose, the plaintiffs said. On summary sheets, Asian-American applicants were much more likely than other races to be described as “standard strong,” meaning lacking special qualities that would warrant admission, even though they were more academically qualified, the plaintiffs said. They were 25 percent more likely than white applicants to receive that rating. They were also described as “busy and bright” in their admissions files, the plaintiffs said.
Heads of several countries with sizeable Hindu population, chief ministers of states, top corporate honchos and religious leaders are scheduled to attend the second World Hindu Congress (WHC) in Chicago in September, organizers of the mega event said last week. The gathering on Sept. 7-9 is taking place four years after the first such conference was held in New Delhi in November 2014.
The congress is being organized at the Hotel Westin, in Lombard, Illinois by the World Hindu Foundation, a nonprofit created in 2012 and incorporated last year. The organizers said they expect as many as 2,000 delegates from 80 countries.
The Dalai Lama will attend the second World Hindu Congress in Chicago as Hindus from around the world gather to share ideas, tap into their collective resources and consider ways the community can achieve its full potential.
Billed as the biggest-ever gathering of who’s who of the Hindu community across the globe, WHC from September 7-9 is being held to commemorate 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s historic Chicago address on September 11, 1893.
“Vivekananda’s message is going to reverberate throughout the three-day congress because almost every speaker is going to speak about Vivekananda and his message of unity and remembering one’s heritage and civilization. That is the whole heart and soul of this congress,” Boston-based Abhay Asthana, convener of the conference said.
Other attendees are expected to include Mohan Madhukar Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in India, as well as Sri Ravishankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, and Swami Swaroopananda, worldwide head of Chinmaya Mission. Representatives are also expected from organizations such as Gayatri Parivar and the Brahma Kumaris, the Vedanta Society of Chicago and representatives of the Belur Math in Kolkata.
Asthana said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), the first Hindu elected to Congress, as well as Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) are to address the congress. The organizers have invited senior Hindu politicians from Suriname, Fiji, Nepal and Mauritius, including Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth as well as a number of state chief ministers from India. Organizers said, however, their attendance was not yet confirmed.
“As far as India is concerned, the visit of various chief ministers, including the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat, who is expected to address a conference on business and economy, and Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra, will have to be cleared by the Prime Minister’s office. We will get confirmation about their participation soon,” Asthana said. The congress will discusss even key issues: economics,education, media, politics,youth involvement, women participation and collaboration of Hindu organizations. “The theme of the conference is think collectively and achieve valiantly. We want to do it for the benefit of common good, and the common good is not just for the Hindu community. We want to talk about the common good for the entire humanity,” Asthana said.
Swami Vijnanananda, founder and global chairman of World Hindu Foundation and Jt. General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, was quoted as saying in Indian media that the purpose of the congress is to “ignite” the global Hindu community for its political and economic empowerment.
With India emerging as a global economic power, top corporate leaders from India, the United States and others parts of the world are likely to attend the three-day WHC. Many of them include those leading Fortune 500 companies.
According to organisers, some Bollywood and Hollywood superstars would also be participating and addressing the mega event. The purpose is to “ignite” global Hindu community for its political and economic empowerment, Vigyananand told a Washington audience today on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Washington DC Chapter of the World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF).
He said the purpose of the WHEF is to make Hindus visible and respectable across the globe.
“Hindus should be the dominant force in the world economy,” Vigyananand said. “The day Hindus — who constitute 16 per cent of the world population — become 16 per cent of the world economy, people would start listening to them (Hindus).” he said.
Noting that some 30 years ago, no one in the world cared about China, Swami Vigyananand said the world is now paying attention to China, because of its economic power, which results in military power and global power. “Our whole purpose is to regain economic strength,” he said, as he urged the entrepreneurs present at the gathering to consider entire world as the market.
What is Cinema? The answer to this question is no easy matter. Cinema resembles so many other arts. If cinema has very literary characteristics, it also has theatrical qualities, a philosophical side, attributes of painting and sculpture and musical elements. But cinema is, in the final analysis, cinema.” – Akira Kurosawa
New Jersey Indian & International Film Festival’s (NJIIFF) held last week aims to reach out to all American, Indian & South Asian Community through Films & Related Art forms. The festival gives local & International Film Makers & Talents a platform to showcase their talent & films international.
According to festival director Hemant Pandya, “the festival aims to connect filmmakers with the distributors and potential investors, and also to create market for regional Indian and international films.”
A film which highlights the plight of the women in Kashmir whose husbands went missing during the militancy in the valley and another film that addresses gender inequality among prostitutes won top honors at the first edition of the New Jersey Indian International Film Festival.
Danish Renzu’s “Half Widow” won the best film and the best director award, while Sweta and Aditya Kriplani’s “Tikli and Laxmi Bomb,” won the best actress award for Chitrangdha Chakraborty and the best film in the best Festival Director’s Award category. Five documentaries, eight feature films and 22 short films from the U.S. India, France, Canada and Italy were screened at the festival held June 8 to 10 at the Regal Hadley Cinemas in South Plainfield, New Jersey.
“Half Widow” writer Sunayana Kuchroo received the award on behalf of the film’s producer. “We are honored that our film was chosen as the opening film of the festival,” she said. There are plans in progress to release the film in India, she told the audience.
The festival closed with “Bucket List,” which marked Madhuri Dixit Nene’s debut into Marathi films. Director Tejas Deoskar, who was present at the screening, was overwhelmed by the response the film got at the festival. “Marathi films are scaling new heights and making waves across the globe,” he said, adding that local festivals like the NJIFF are also supporting good content that is being made.”
At the June 10 closing ceremony, filmmaker Prakash Jha won the best actor award for his performance in Justaju and Sayani Gupta’ short film “You,” while Desalos Isabella’s “The Snag,” an entry from France was awarded the best short film. Along with best actress Chakraborty, Vishwa received the best actor award for his performance in “Saalai.” The best documentary award went to “Mariam,” the only entry from Iraq produced by Military Media Team and Mohammad Jaffar and Chintan Sharda won the best director award for his short film “Shunyata.” In the Festival Director’s Award category, Ameesha Joshi and Anna Sarkissian’s documentary “With This Ring” on the women boxers of India won the best documentary, while Italy’s short film “Weird” by Fausto Montanari was awarded the best short film.
Top, a representative of the film “Laxmi & Tikli Bomb” receives the Festival Director’s Choice for Best Film from “Bucket List” director Tejas Deoskar, right, and festival director Hemant Pandya, on the concluding day of the New Jersey Indian International Film Festival, June 10, at the Regal Hadley Cinema in South Plainfield, N.J.
To popularize Indian Classical Music amongst the youth the Consulate has launched new initiative titled “Baithak@Consulate” which features prominent artists and masters. For the second event in the series we teamed up with Suromurchhana to present Pandit Sanjoy Banerjee, one of the finest vocalists of international repute from India and a distinguished exponent of the Kirana Gharana of North Indian Vocal Classical Music. Sanjoy Banerjee was a scholar at ITC Sangeet Research Academy under the guidance of Late Pt. A.T. Kanan and Sangeet Bidushi Late Malabika Kanan, who considered him as their successor to their musical heritage. With his sonorous and unwavering voice he has enthralled audiences at home and abroad, performing extensively in the UK, Germany, Bangladesh, Canada, USA and within India. He has received many awards and is also a successful Guru, teaching at his own institution – Kolkata Suromurchhana in India, and at Chhandayan Center of Indian Music, New York, producing students who have already earned appreciation.
Accompanying Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee were Dibyarka Chatterjee – tabla, Rohan Prabhudesai – harmonium and Andrew Shantz & Dibyokalyan Basu on vocal support. Through his soulful presentation and improvisations, combined with mastery over sargams, taans, and renditions of Khayal, Sanjoy Banerjee explored the evening ragas, the melodic beauty and majestic splendor which evoked deep emotions within his listeners.
Suresh Iyer’s introduction to Ekal was a strange coincidence. In 2002, he was asked by a friend to host its Founder Shyam Gupta in a last minute change of plans. The conversation between the two turned to Ekal, lasted well into the night and by morning, Suresh had become a donor.
He gradually became more involved as a volunteer, then Chapter President, Chairman of the Board until 6 months ago when he assumed the role of President of Ekal Vidyalaya USA.
Ekal’s’ new President absorbed the importance of education and the spirit of service early in life. The family lacked monetary resources but made up in a mother’s determination to educate all six of her children. As they did well in school, she cleared out the balcony so they could coach other children who were not faring as well for free. Suresh recalls that despite a budget that stretched thin, there was always a snack for all the children after class.
These instilled values showed up time and again over the course of his life. After graduating and securing his first paying job at the Indian Space Research Organization as a scientist, the first thing Suresh did was to fund the education of several children who were academically good but couldn’t afford the fees in his school in Bengaluru.
After brief stints at Air India and Tata Consultancy Services, USA, Suresh started his own company Infospectrum in 2002 based out of Southern California. The company provides tracking software for aerospace maintenance as well as real time tracking of transportation Assets. Suresh is happy his entrepreneurial gamble paid off but clearly says his work with Ekal “brings a different level of satisfaction.”
The Ekal movement started in 1989 with one village and one school. Today, there is an Ekal school in 70,000 villages in India offering free schooling, vocational training, digital competence and agricultural education. Suresh makes it a point to visit a school every time he visits India. If they are excited and curious to meet this visitor from America, he is no less impressed to hear a 6 year old confidently rattle off the multiplication table of 12. To him, it is proof that Ekal is effective.
It also made his day when a girl who had learned tailoring at an Ekal vocational school told him she had opened her own tailoring center and was earning 5000 rupees a month.
As President, Suresh is charged about taking Ekal to the next level. The Foundation raised 8 million dollars last year and his goal is to cross 10 million this year. He’s also working on putting a system of Donor communication in place and intends to strengthen those Ekal Chapters that need a little boost. Above all, he wants “Ekal’s message to be out in the world loudly and clearly.”
Three galas for fundraising are being planned for October in New York, Washington and Houston. He reveals that just $365 can support an Ekal school for an entire year.
Suresh is clearly thriving on this challenge but admits he couldn’t have done it without his wife Kanaka’s unwavering support, A physician, she held the fort with their two boys while he took on various leadership roles at Ekal.
This spirit of service has also passed on to Suresh’s two boys – Vasant and Sumant. Both have interned at Ekal villages and returned with a determination to do more. Vasant presented his thoughts at the Ekal National Conference in 2015 while Sumant is working with the Coimbatore team and Google mapping division to coordinate ways by which Ekal schools can be quickly plotted on google maps. This helps donors get information about schools they are supporting easily.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. India on Thursday rejected as “fallacious, tendentious and motivated” the first ever report on human rights in Kashmir released by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (OHCHR).
“India rejects the report. It is fallacious, tendentious and motivated. We question the intent in bringing out such a report,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to a question. “It is a selective compilation of largely unverified information. It is overtly prejudiced and seeks to build a false narrative,” Kumar said.
The 49-page report issued by the OHCHR “details human rights violations and abuses on both sides of the Line of Control, and highlights a situation of chronic impunity for violations committed by security forces”, a statement issued from Geneva on Thursday said.
“The political dimensions of the dispute between India and Pakistan have long been centre-stage, but this is not a conflict frozen in time. It is a conflict that has robbed millions of their basic human rights, and continues to this day to inflict untold suffering,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said in the statement.
Noting the continuing serious tensions in recent weeks, including those stemming from a series of incidents in Srinagar, he called on Indian security forces to exercise maximum restraint, and strictly abide by international standards governing the use of force when dealing with future protests, including ones that could well occur this coming weekend. “It is essential the Indian authorities take immediate and effective steps to avoid a repetition of the numerous examples of excessive use of force by security forces in Kashmir,” Zeid said.
It also called upon India to “urgently repeal” the AFSPA; establish independent, impartial and credible investigations to probe all civilian killings since July 2016 and all abuses committed by armed groups; and provide reparations and rehabilitation to all injured individuals and to the families of those killed in the context of security operations. Similarly, the PSA should be amended to ensure its compliance with international human rights law, and all those held under administrative detention should either be charged or immediately released.
According to the report, the UN Human Rights Office – which, despite repeated requests to both India and Pakistan over the past two years, has not been given unconditional access to either side of the Line of Control – “undertook remote monitoring to produce the report, which covers both Indian-Administered Kashmir and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir”.
Among the issues highlighted in the report is the constitutional relationship of the two distinct territories of “Azad Kashmir” and Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan. The “Azad Kashmir” has effectively been controlled by Pakistan throughout its entire history. Pakistan’s federal authorities also have full control over all government operations in Gilgit-Baltistan, and federal intelligence agencies are reportedly deployed across both regions.
The report said India should “urgently repeal” the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act 1990 (AFSPA) and “establish independent, impartial and credible investigations to probe all civilian killings since July 2016 and all abuses committed by armed groups; and provide reparations and rehabilitation to all injured individuals and to the families of those killed in the context of security operations”.
Stating that the report violates India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Kumar, in his response, said that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. “Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of a part of the Indian state through aggression. We have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to vacate the occupied territories,” he said.
“The incorrect description of Indian territory in the report is mischievous, misleading and unacceptable. There are no entities such as ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’ and ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’.”
Stating that terrorism is the most egregious violation of human rights, the spokesperson said that yet the authors have conveniently ignored the pattern of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan and territories under its illegal control.
“Cross-border terror and incitement is aimed at suppressing the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, disrupting its political and social fabric and undermining India’s integrity,” he stated.
“It is disturbing that those behind this report have chosen to describe internationally designated and UN-proscribed terrorist entities as ‘armed groups’ and terrorists as ‘leaders’. This undermines the UN-led consensus on zero tolerance to terrorism.”
Kumar also said that the motivated report deliberately ignores that fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution to every Indian citizen, including in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, are protected also by an independent judiciary, human rights commissions, free and vibrant media and an active civil society.
He said India’s protest and views in the matter have been conveyed unequivocally to the OHCHR. “We are deeply concerned that individual prejudices are being allowed to undermine the credibility of a UN institution,” he said.
“Such malicious reports cannot undermine the will of the people and the government of India to take all measures necessary to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country from cross-border terrorism,” he added.
It appears absence does make the heart grow fonder in 2018. The Economist reports that “about 3.9 million married Americans aged 18 and over live apart from their spouses, up from around 2.7 million in 2000″—for many, out of financial necessity. But at Traveler, where about three-quarters of our staff has been in—or is in—a long-distance relationship, we think there’s a lot to be said for the flight-fight-and-FaceTime routine. Here are our lessons learned from years of transatlantic trips, Skype sessions, and airmail sent, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
About six weeks after my now-husband A. and I met on a blind date, I moved to Paris. I’d bought a one-way ticket in the weeks after breaking up with my longtime college boyfriend and before my boss set me up with her former assistant. (She was getting sick of my red eyes and puffy face.) My plan was to stay in France indefinitely, and I would get a job working for the Herald Tribune like Jean Seberg in Breathless (with a happier ending). There would be an attic apartment in St. Germain and Sundays spent reading Gertrude Stein on a bench by the quais. I would be a free agent. And so, tearfully—after an accelerated courtship and promise to see how things developed—I left.
Because this was in the stone age before the Internet and cell phones, 3,600 miles might as well have been 100,000. We did what people did back then to stay in touch. A. wrote letters on crinkly blue airmail stationery. Nearly every day. (I lacked both his discipline and frankly his charming logorrheic tendencies.) Long distance calls were expensive, but sometimes I called A. to wake him up for work
(he’s really not a morning person) and he would call before I fell asleep. In those conversations, a high-pitched beep ticking off the time (and money) draining down the telephone line, we endured the jangling syncopation of long-distance communication via France Telecom of the 1990s, with its tinny echoes and audio delays. (Saying “I love you” to each other—something that still felt a little awkward since our romance was, in actual in-person hours, still pretty new—could be an especially ludicrous exchange of overlapping interjections. “I love…” UNINTELLIGIBLE STATIC “What?” BEEP “- you! “I love you too!”) I came back to New York after a year to renew my work visa. (I’d struck out at the Herald Tribune but eventually landed a job at an ad agency, where a colleague offered to rent me her fiancé’s attic apartment in St. Germain!) A. visited me two or three times, and we’d rent a car and explore a different corner of France—Normandy, Provence, Alsace. One April we ran the Paris marathon, each beating our PR’s, and wobbled home over a dusky Pont des Arts wrapped in mylar blankets.
Each one of those reunions convinced us we were great together. And also convinced us that I should stay in Paris as long as I felt I needed to. Being single in the city was a dream I’d had forever—or at least since high school French class. And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit there were some benefits that accrue to a single woman in a city where chivalry still animates customary male behavior—let’s just say that I ate very well, at restaurants that I could never have afforded myself, and became pretty well acquainted with both the Paris and Bastille Opera Houses. I knew I’d resent A. if I aborted the plan for him. He recognized it even more.
Finally, after close to two years, I was ready to come home. The ad agency where I worked had been acquired. The winter was oppressively cold and dank. (Fact: It rains as much in Paris as it does in London.) My smoking habit had gone from reluctant second-hand inhalation to sucking down several Rothman Rouges a day. I craved take-out salad bars and fro-yo and a decent neighborhood gym. And I missed A.
Fifteen years later, we returned to Paris with our three children. We stood on the Pont des Arts (which at the time was covered in locks left there by selfie-snapping couples) and told the kids the story they’d heard many times before, but now at least they could picture the scenery. Then we bought a lock at a nearby store (clearly supplying the touristic habit) and locked one on together. Sebastian Modak: It’s painful, frustrating, totally maddening… but you get to see the world.
The trouble with falling in love in April of your senior year in college is that one month later, everything changes. Suddenly, flung out of your protective four-year bubble, you’re an adult, and have to do adult things, like find gainful employment. That’s the situation that Maggie and I found ourselves in eight years ago, as we queued up to receive our diplomas on a football field in Philadelphia. She was heading to New Orleans; I was making the trek north to the icescape of Boston.
For two years, we kept things going, and it sure wasn’t easy—anyone who says otherwise of long-distance relationships is a liar or just unrealistically good at life. Watching my meager paycheck disappear between rent every month and flights to MSY every other month; the constant phone tag; the endless loop of play-by-play “How was your day?” phone calls, when both of us really just wanted to be able to go for a Sunday walk together. Much of it—perhaps most of it—really, really sucked.
But, with hindsight comes nuance, and I’ve come to realize that the long-distance relationship actually has some serious positives. I spent those years effectively having not one, but two hometowns. I came to love New Orleans, almost as much as I would if I’d been living there. I knew when to go where for live music (the Maple Leaf on Tuesday nights, anywhere Washboard Chaz is performing); I watched the Krewe du Vieux floats and understood inside jokes poking fun at city politicians. I joined a handful of Second Lines, and complained vocally about Bourbon Street just like a local.
Plus, being separated by over a thousand miles, we were able to make our own lives, find our own friends, develop our own interests—do all those typical early-20s things that are often stifled when you move somewhere new with someone you love, and have none of that pressure to get outside and be social. If we weren’t visiting each other, we’d meet somewhere new—let’s do Austin this month, Montreal the next.
Of course, we were both relieved when Maggie moved to the Boston area for graduate school—at least temporarily. When I left for a year in Botswana just six months after Maggie landed in Logan, ready to move into an apartment a bike ride away from me in Cambridge, it wasn’t ideal. And I wouldn’t recommend anyone go through back-to-back long-distance stints, especially when the latter one is about 6,000 miles farther away and made all the worse by shoddy Internet connections and the complete financial infeasibility of regular visits. But, hey, here we are now, not just in the same city, but the same damn apartment. So, take that naysayers. Long distance can work and, if the timing’s right, even make a relationship stronger.
Like most Londoners who wind up in New York, I fell in love with the city fast and hard. Then, of course, I fell in love with an American in very much the same way, returned to London indefinitely, and promptly made my life a thousand times more complicated.
Our now six-and-a-half-year relationship has been mapped between cities and continents. Our first date (and first fight) was in the West Village. Our favorite restaurant is in Fort Greene, but our favorite bar is in Notting Hill. Over the years, we’ve become intimately familiar with the euphoria of an airport arrival (it restores your faith in humanity), and the anguish of airport departures (which only gets worse over time). I quickly grew to hate Skype, but also became an expert flier, conducting my journey from Heathrow’s Terminal Five to JFK’s Terminal Seven like a military operation.
Of course, no one can emotionally withstand (or afford) being long-distance forever and four years ago, we put an end to our constant back and forth across the Atlantic and got married at City Hall in Manhattan. Walk in on any given day and you’ll find a cross-section of every type of New Yorker, hailing from every part of the world—from the Bronx to Beirut. You’ll see brides in giant, meringue-like dresses alongside couples on their lunch break and grooms in matching tuxes. There’s a souvenir stand and a gloriously tacky backdrop for photos. And if you get hungry (nerves will do that) you can pop outside and grab a hot pretzel from the cart. You want to understand what New York is all about? Swing by City Hall on a Friday morning.
A transatlantic relationship has allowed us to share more than one place; more than one culture. I now get to spend Thanksgivings in Pennsylvania (a novelty that, honestly, will never cease to amaze me) and he gets to spend Christmases in London. I get to slam whiskey shots in Brooklyn dive bars, and he gets to pound Guinness in East London pubs. In the summer, we’ll spend all day at Rockaway Beach in Queens, and in the winter, we’ll freeze our butts off on Brighton Beach in Sussex. We’ve walked Central Park and Hyde Park, and fallen asleep on a 3 a.m. subway ride and the last Tube home.
And last year, we got to go to Istanbul with my British mother and Turkish father, snacking on simit, sailing along the Bosphorus, and enjoying all the perks that come along when marriages cross borders. A long-distance relationship can open your eyes and your heart, and even at its lowest points—which can feel pretty low when there’s 3,459 miles between you—is always worth the trouble when you’ve found the right person.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but when I first meet someone and do the small talk dance, I feel myself pulling back the moment the conversation speeds toward the seemingly harmless: “Are you dating anyone?”
I’ve been in my relationship for four years. We’ve lived in as many countries together, and our shared love of travel has meant there’s never a dull moment. We’re also from different countries, met while we were both expats in another, and between the thrill of living and falling in love abroad, there’s no shortage of emotions that flood my mind when asked about Henry. However, over the last two years, we’ve done a lot of long distance: unconventional long distance.
There’s always a delay as my brain searches for the words to send to my mouth: Yes, I’m dating someone. Actually, we’re in a long-distance relationship. No, I don’t get to see him a lot. We used to travel full time—he still does. He’s in Indonesia right now, but not sure where next. You’re right, it is hard. No, you’re right, it is worth it, thanks. Each response is delivered with appropriate doses of shrugging, head tilting, and faint smiling on my end, because I don’t know what else to do. All to which the other person usually furrows their brow, waiting to hear something they relate to, which usually doesn’t come.
I wish I could describe the overwhelming emotion of boarding a plane, knowing the person I love most—and have, lately, seen the least—is waiting at the other end; how no other travel rush has managed to compete. I want to explain how everything feels simultaneously old and new; how being forced to repeatedly confront the question of, ‘Is it worth it?’ gives you the constant reassurance that it is. I wish I knew how to explain our transcontinental relationship without having to explain it.
I’ve come to accept that the distance between us sounds crazy to many, and without launching into a sappy soliloquy about why it is so worth it, I have to just let it sound as it may—and not let other people’s uncertainty about it become my own.
When I was 15, I met the guy (okay, boy) who, absent my immediate family, would become the single, consistent thread throughout my life. He sat diagonally across from me in English class, in the front row, and had a haircut that might be charitably described as “questionable.”
Almost a decade later, that guy with the bowl cut and I are still going strong; so strong, in fact, that we’ve just moved into our first place together. As in any long-term relationship, though, our union has ebbed and flowed precariously over the years, through high school drama, college transfers, illnesses, and even deaths; though I don’t think anything has tested us more than my four-month semester abroad in Paris, which I took during our junior year of college.
When you’re with someone for as long as we’ve been—at the time I left for the Sorbonne, we’d already racked up five long, angsty years—you start to feel dependent on them, and the phantom limb-sensation is magnified ten-fold when you’ve endured puberty together. (Embarrassingly, I always liken our relationship to two saplings, planted around the same time: We dug our roots together, and for better and worse, they became intertwined as they grew.) Who I was, independent of my relationship, had become uncomfortably blurry somewhere along the way, and it took four long, occasionally lonely months to bring that self back into focus.
Despite our coordinated Skype sessions—I’d call him at midnight, my time, 6 p.m., his time—he wouldn’t always answer, and I’d feel incredibly alone in my adopted city. (Paris is not, after all, known for being cuddly, particularly to foreigners). After a while, though, I learned to put down my computer and my phone, and to stop waiting for the familiar ring. Instead, I’d stroll over to the Antoine Bourdelle museum, or pop into a bakery and savor a flaky mille-feuille. Instead of picking up my phone immediately to report what I’d seen as I saw it, I’d take time to sit on it, to think about it, to let my own opinions rattle around in my brain for a while. Having space gave me back my independence, and reminded me of how much I enjoyed my own company. It also taught me to live in real time—to accept the invitations to parties and dinners, to take last-minute day trips to wine country—and not to wait around for a Skype call that would probably mostly consist of nodding heads and “Miss you’s, miss you too’s” in a scene that too closely resembled a Stephen Chbosky novella. Social media has made it unbelievably hard to detach in that way—in fact, I wish I’d spent even more time gallivanting around and less time lying around listlessly.
The worst, though, was my 21st birthday—a big milestone, here in the U.S.—which I spent in Madridwith a few random girls I’d met from my program. He spent that day winning an NCAA fencing tournament, and forgot to call. Five years on, I can still remember how hollow (and furious) I felt when I had to call him and say, “Excuse me, it’s my birthday.” But hindsight is helpful, calming, and hopefully brings wisdom. Here’s what I’ve learned: You have to be okay with being alone, at least once in a while. If the other person is worth it, they’ll be around when you get back—and they’ll be happy for you. Learn to appreciate your own company. Say yes to things—it’s way better than FOMO. And sometimes, you can (and should) be really, really happy for someone else—even if it isyour birthday.
To be honest, when I first met Adam about three and a half years ago, I kind of thought he was a prick. He wasn’t mean—he was just very straight-forward, blunt. (He’s a New Yorker!) Our friends were trying to set us up, but neither of us were into it: He was moving to Colorado in a month and had gotten out of a bad relationship, and I was seeing this other guy. We didn’t even exchange numbers that night at dinner.
But apparently there was something there. He got my number from my friend and two days later sent me a text that just said: 15 EAST, 8:30. Period. Not even a question mark. Bold, right? I kind of liked it. So I decided to go to dinner with him—the thing with the other guy wasn’t going anywhere—and we bonded over food. He was very good at planning the dates, making the moves. We never talked about him leaving; we were having fun and both kind of like, whatever, if we see each other, we see each other. We left it open.
Then I left for a two-week vacation in Italy to visit my family and friends; he was supposed to leave for Denver before I got back. In the middle of the trip, he tells me he pushed his start date because he had other things to take care of (in reality it was to see me one more time) and when I came back he picked me up at the airport. (He was literally moving—his house was just a mattress.) We stayed one night and he left the next day. It was the beginning of a year and a half of long distance.
When I think of that time now, it seems like a vacation. He would come back from Denver every week or two weeks, but it was—or at least felt—casual, carefree, and easy. We were not only going back and forth; being long distance was also the perfect excuse to take time off and visit new places. That’s the fun part: You enjoy every single moment of it. Not taking things too seriously was the key to dealing with the distance—I would have felt too much pressure and run away otherwise, and he knew that.
Eventually, though, the fun part started to fade. I wanted someone I could go to the cinema with, cook dinner with. I felt alone sometimes. We had started dating so quickly, and then a month later, he left. We never had that day-to-day routine together. So we started to wonder, should we break up and see if life brings us back together? But at the end of the day, we would always end up booking a flight to see each other.
I was back in Italy after about a year and a half and I thought about breaking up with him—just doing it, for both our sakes. Then out of the blue, he called to say he was coming to New York. To live. I’d had no idea! He had found a way to start his own business and freelance, and didn’t want to tell me until it was certain; he didn’t want to get my hopes up. Two weeks later, he was home. We’ve been together three and a half years now. I love Adam, so much, and we have a great life together, but I do sometimes look back at that period of our life with nostalgia. It’s like childhood: so carefree and fun because it doesn’t last forever. —as told to Laura D. Redman
Dr. Zachariah P. Zachariah, one of the nation’s leading cardiologists, Medical Director of UHealth Cardiology in Fort Lauderdale,was honored by The American Heart Association at their annual Broward Heart Ball on Saturday, May 19th at the Ritz Carlton in Ft. Lauderdale.
Dr. Zachariah, an Indian American cardiologist was honored for his lifelong work as a practicing cardiologist and for his commitment to his community, and for being instrumental in impacting many people affected by heart disease both locally and nationally.
“It’s a great honor and it’s humbling to be recognized by the noble organization, The American Heart Association, the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, with a mission to foster appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke for nearly a century through funding of innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives.”
Attended by hundreds of Broward’s medical, social, and philanthropic influencers in the community, at the gala, The American Heart Association raised nearly a million dollars. The American Heart Association’s Heart Ball is a nationwide gala that celebrates the organization’s mission and success in building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
“The Broward Heart Ball is a one-night celebration of our year-round efforts. It always inspires me to see a room full of individuals who love this community and care enough to give, so we can continue to build healthier lives in South Florida”, commented Scholl. Sponsors of this year’s Broward Heart Ball included: One Beat CPR and AED, Florida Panthers Foundation, La Croix and Ultimate Software.
Dr. 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. Currently Dr. Zachariah serves in the Advisory Board Of the Universal News Network,www.theunn.com
Dr. Zach Zachariah is the Medical Director of UHealth Cardiology, Fort Lauderdale and on the Clinical Faculty of the University of Miami. He also is the President of Fort Lauderdale Heart Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He has been practicing interventional Cardiology at Holy Cross Hospital since 1976 and as its Director of Cardiovascular services till 2010.
He serves on the executive committee of the Board of Trustees of Nova Southeastern University, a member of the Council of 100 and as a member of the National Board of ExcelinED in action.
He had served on the Florida Board of Governors of the State University system from 2003 to 2010 and as its chairman of the Trustee Committee. He has also served on the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health and as a member of the U.S. delegation to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. He also served as Chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine from 1990-1992, 2000-2001 and 2013-2014. He also served as a member of the President’s advisory commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001.
Dr. Zachariah is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology and specializes in cardiology, cardiac catheterization, and interventional cardiology and has performed more than 30,000 heart catheterizations and interventional procedures in Broward County. He has also co-authored several scientific papers, and participated in various clinical trials.
He received his medical degree from the Armed Forces Medical College in India, and then completed his residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. He also completed a fellowship in interventional cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Educational Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.
Among the awards he has received 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 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Sister Innocent Hughes Award for his contribution to health and science by Holy Cross Hospital. In the past, 3 Florida Governors and the Cabinet have declared “Zachariah P. Zachariah Day” in Florida 5 times.
He serves on the Florida Board of Governors of the State University system.
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met face-to-face for the first time in Singapore Tuesday, June 12th for what is arguably one of the most highly anticipated and consequential diplomatic meetings in a century.
Both leaders first emerged at 9:03 a.m. local time, walking along a bright red carpet from separate sides of a staging location at the Capella Hotel resort on Sentosa Island to shake hands with a backdrop of U.S. and North Korean flags. The two posed for pictures briefly before walking over to an awning and appeared quite cordial in their greeting, both smiling as they shook hands.
“I feel really great,” Trump said. “We’re going to have a great discussion, I think, a tremendous success, this will be tremendously successful. It’s my honor and we will have a terrific relationship I have no doubt.”
Kim smiled as he heard the translator interpret the president’s remarks, before weighing in with a brief statement of his own. “Past practices and prejudices were obstacles on our way forward, but we overcame all of them and are here today,” Kim said.
While the president has more recently sought to temper expectations of what he may be able to achieve with the summit, he has also said the interaction amounts to a crucial test in determining whether Kim is genuine in committing to rid his country of its nuclear program.
“I think things could work out very nicely,” Trump said in a Tuesday meeting with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The meeting marks the first ever meeting between a sitting North Korean leader and a U.S. president. U.S. officials have said a best case scenario would be that it serves as a launching pad for negotiations that would provide Kim with physical security and his closed off nation with economic assurances in exchange for irreversibly dismantling his country’s nuclear capabilities.
Posing for photographs, Mr. Trump put his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. Then the two, alone except for their interpreters, walked off to meet privately in an attempt to resolve the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear program. “I feel really great,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re going to have a great discussion and a terrific relationship.”
Mr. Kim said: “It was not easy to get here. There were obstacles but we overcame them to be here.”
Whether they will succeed is, of course, highly questionable. Their negotiators failed to make much headway in working-level meetings beforehand, leaving Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim with little common ground ahead of what could be months or even years of talks.
But this is a negotiation that follows no known playbook: Two headstrong men — one 34 years old, the other 71; products of wealth and privilege, but with lives so unlike each other that they could be from different planets — coming together to search for a deal that eluded their predecessors.
“I just think it’s going to work out very nicely,” Mr. Trump said on Monday, with the confident tone he has used from the moment in March when he accepted Mr. Kim’s invitation to meet.
Even as he spoke, American and North Korean diplomats were struggling in a last-minute negotiation to bridge gaps on some of the most basic issues dividing the two sides, including the terms and timing under which the North would surrender its nuclear arsenal.
Chicago IL: The SUDCM (Shree Umiya Dham Chicago Midwest) team celebrated the second Pran Pratistha anniversary & Pathotstav Mahotsav for “Ma Umiya” on June 3rd 2018 at Rana Reagan Community Center in Carol Stream Illinois. It was organized by Shree Umiya Dham Chicago Midwest organization.
The event was attended by over 700 devotees. The Program started at 1:00 PM with Mataji Palki Puja and Rath Yatra from 457 St. Paul Blvd. Rath Yatra passed through several blocks with singing, dancing and Garba at multiple places on St Paul Blvd. The Rath Yatra along with Garba lasted almost hour and half. Wonderful weather with mild wind was real blessing of Mataji.
The Mataji Havan was planned in outdoor tent next door to Rana Reagan center. Several numbers of families participated in havan. Main Patalo and Mataji Murti uchamani was very exciting. Havan ceremony lasted around more than hour, starting 2:00 to 3:15 PM. In large numbers devotees joined the ceremony sitting under the trees. It gave us view of like Yagna taking place in Vandravan. The devotees also enjoyed delicious food outside in an open sky. Everyone enjoyed this social gathering.
After Havan ceremony everyone with ras garba and bhajan travelled with mataji to Rana Reagan center. SUDCM women team received Mtaji in to Rana Reagan center. Bhajan and Dhun started in main hall and everyone participated with open heart. Everyone enjoyed the mataji Mahotsav celebration.
During Maha Arti Ushamni SUDCM chairman announced acquisition of 29-acre land for Mataji future home. Thundering crowed of devotee got on their feet and welcomed the message of SUDCM owning the future home of Mataji.
Maha Arti ushamni winner was a surprise family who was first time participant for the event. Over 50 families participated in Mataji arti along with Maha Arti. To many new families joined the Mataji arti.
After arti, everyone enjoyed the Maha Prasad. As usual SUDCM and from all other organizations volunteer team (male & female) did great job from beginning to end such as organizing the event, decorating the venue managing parking lot, managing registration, managing crowed, managing ushamni, managing kitchen, serving the food, and at end restoring Rana Reagan Center back to normal, you name it they did it all. Salute to all volunteers from SUDCM organization.
Many prominent community leaders from different organization like Manav Sava Mandir, Bhartiya Senior Citizens of Chicago, United senior Parivar Chicago, Senior Citizens Parivar of Elgin, Indian Seniors of Chicago, KPS, Unjha and volunteers from Jalaram mandir team were present in event to support SUDCM. SUDCM team appreciates everyone from bottom of their heart. SUDCM organization appreciates all other organizations who were here to support this event. Support from all organization proves that at end we are all one large family.
On a gorgeous Sunday Evening, Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre was decorated beautifully with Colors and decorations from India. Vibrant colors created a festive atmosphere. And ambience was glowing with Indian music. The occasion was the Indian American Night on Sunday June 3, 2018 at Harry Chapin lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow on Long Island, NY, presented by organizers of Indian American Forum.
Harry Aurora, President CEO I Tutor , Dr Anu Goenka, Director of Brain tumor Programing the Department of Radiation Medicine, North well Health, Sunny Thakkar Radiation Therapist and promoter of Cultural and Classical Music, Dr Purna Prasad, CTO at Noirthwell Health, Rachna Sabharwal, President Rotary Club of Jericho Sunrise, Mrs. Ranju Narang, Yoga specialist and instructor, and Gobind Munjal, President AIA New York were honored for their contributions and achievements.
In anticipation of the International Yoga Day Celebrations for June 21, the event started with Yoga and meditation by Ranju Narang Several members learnt and participated in Yoga and Mantra Chanting. Satbir Singh Bedi (DJ KUCHA) welcomed everyone and introduced Emcee of the evening Inesha Joneja
Jaya Bahadkar, the cultural chairperson presented beautiful cultural program reflecting dances from different parts of India. Students from local dance schools’ Aarti Datta, Jyotika Patel, Satya Pradeep, Archana Dave, Sangeeta Pandit , Sadhna Pranji and Monica Bajwa, participated. S.
This program is part of 2018 summer concert series sponsored by Nassau county Department of Parks, Recreation and Meuseums. Indian American Night is a showcase of Classical Indian music and folk dances from all regions of India. Nassau county Parks Commissioner Eileen Eileen Krieb, Deputy Commissioner Shawn McBride and several other elected officials and community leaders were present
On Behalf of Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Commissioner Eileen Krieb welcomed everyone and commended the Indian American Community for their outstanding achievements. Following members of our community were presented with Nassau County Awards
Techno Queens made of 6 Girls from Jericho Elementary School aged 9 years old represented Long Island in the World Championship held in Detroit in April and had an amazing time. They won many hearts and went to win the top Award for Jr FLL World Championship Team Choice Award.
RoboFalcons is a team made of young boys from Jericho Middle School. This Team has been in place for 4 years and each year they learn new aspects of Robotics. Project Research and find ways to help the communities. They won Long Island Championship to advance to World Championship in Arkansas last Month. Both These teams were also recognized and congratulated for their achievements.
Grand Sponsor was Xavier University School of Medicine Ravi Bhooplapur,, Jas Mayall, V J Technologies, Sunil Rihal, Mohinder Singh Taneja,Indus American Bank, HAB Bank, Rajbhog Sweets, Glamorous Event Planners, South Asian Times, Bollywood Insider, TV ASIA, ITV, IVS TV, Jus Punjabi, south Asian Insider, Hum Hindustani, Indian Express, Indian Panorama, PTC
Fun filled day of festivities were enjoyed by all. Indu Jaiswal chairperson of IAF thanked all the sponsors and volunteers – Event co-chairperson , Mohinder Singh Taneja, Tejal Kamat, Vijay Goswamy, Bina Sabapathy, Roopam Maini, Shilpa Jhurani, Sangeeta Pandit, Surpreet Kaur Bedi, Jyoti Gupta, Beena Kothari, Anu Gulati and Inesha Joneja for their help in making the evening extremely successful. Special thanks to Media and all participants, supporters and sponsors.
The very first Gita Conference where people from many different communities gathered to learn, reflect, and discuss the various teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, was held on Saturday, May 26th, in the City of Houston. The conference, named “Spiritual Conference: Road map for life and living”, had the goal to enlighten people of all ages, backgrounds, and religions to learn and appreciate the philosophy the Bhagavad Gita provides. This historical scripture for many seems to be very religious, which is not the case for the conference.
Pradip Seernani, a long time devotee of the Geeta Ashram, initiated the conference with the traditional conch sound, and all in attendance were tranquil yet eager to engage in the conference. Speakers featured at the conference included Joseph Emmett, Brahmacharini Shweta Chaitanya, Satya Kalra, Narinder Kapoor, Dr. Stephen Phillips, and Guru Maa Geeteshwari Ji.
Each speaker had a unique and deep understanding of the daily applications of the scripture.
Seernani was accompanied by Houston’s own Acharya Gaurang Nanavaty from Chinmaya Mission, as well as the respected Dr. Virendra Mathur as they were key components in making this event a success. In efforts to seek out youth attendees, the conference was located at none other than the city’s hometown college.
The organizers of this event plan to carry on biennially and expect tremendous growth due the success in the debut. With so much technological advancement, and information overload, our youth can greatly benefit from efforts like these that communicate the ancient knowledges in a manner more easily understood.
“The best way to get the youth more involved and inclined to learn the teachings of the Gita is simply by being an example that they can look up to” said Brahmacharini Shweta Chaitanya Ji responding to a question that many of the adults, more specifically parents had in regards to youth involvement and interaction.
The conference built the foundation for more youth involvement in various aspects and hopes to create a community where this scripture can be applied to anyone who looks to have a deeper understanding of spirituality.
The Houston chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) held its 13thannual Hindu Sangathan Divas conference on Saturday, June 2, at the JVB Preksha Meditation Centerin Houston, Texas. This event was attended by over 170 participants from over 48 Hindu organizations from the greater Houston area. Representatives from over 48 Hindu organizations from the greater Houston area participated in the event.
Hindu Sangathan Divas offered representatives of Houston area Hindu organizations the opportunity to network with the goal of synergizing the work of different Hindu organizations, exchange ideas, share material and resources.
The event began with the meaningful Sangh Geet “ Ek Naya Itihas Rache Hum” followed by Ekatmata Mantra which set the perfect tone and aligned all minds with the agenda. The entire program was coordinated by Hindu youth leadership team which perfectly exemplified the leadership team of second generation Hindu youth taking the baton forward.
After an introductory session, representatives attended one of three parallel breakout sessions, covering, “AmericanHindu Identity Awareness for mainstream community”, “Synergizing Seva Activities amongst Hindu Organizations”, and “Creating Second Generation Hindu Youth Leadership”. Each breakout session included a presentation by an experienced panel member of Hindu organizations actively working in the respective area followed by group discussion.
The first group expressed their thoughtful views on the significance of proudly projecting our Hindu identity in the mainstream community. The discussion included the views expressed by the panelists on the values, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the Hindu community to find expression in a range of spheres, including economy, education, media exposure, organizational, and political, as well as the unique leadership and contributions of Hindu women and youth. The broader and inclusive meaning of “Hindu” should reflect in our behavior than mere words. All Hindu organizations need to unite 1n protecting and projecting “American Hindu” identity and increasing awareness.
The second group outlined the importance of Seva as serving society selflessly. During the Harvey disaster, relief efforts by all the organization in united way worked and demonstrated how connected we are as community. The seva efforts should ultimately lead to the empowerment of society by taking the role of “Sevak” than “Seva Seeker”.
The third group brainstormed the topic of creating second generation youth leadership by constant engagement and open communication than enforcement. The young individuals participating expressed that this can be achieved by giving autonomy, nourishing their curiosity, developing common interest areas and respecting suggestions. It was recommended that resources be developed such as APPs or databases to overcome language barriers and better understand the significance of Hindu Ethos, Values, and Cultures. The creation of a Hindu Youth forum database as a platform for sharing ideas and organising Hindu Youth leadership conferences would be a step closer to achieving this goal.
The distinguished legal scholar and President of HSS America zone, Padma Bhushan Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda, graced this function as keynote speaker. He thanked all the attendees for their enthusiastic participation. He urged all organizations to adopt collective approach as “United we stand, divided we fall”. He remarked “Hindu Dharma” resonates where diversity is valued and multiple perspectives are promoted however, our Hindu identity as a whole should be distinct, protected and promoted proudly. This broader understanding will lead to the ultimate goal of Sangha where the entire society will be transformed, safeguarding our own Hindu dharma.
The keynote speech was followed bySangh Prarthana. The Jain prayer and meditation by Samani Kanchan Pragya Ji and Pranav Pragya Ji,created an enchanting and divine atmosphere, everyone felt empowered and blessed. This event was made successful with the lively participation of many community leaders, HSS volunteers and especially the youth. Special efforts and warm hospitality by JVB Preksha members made the event more enjoyable.
HSS conducts a structured values education program through its 150 chapters nationwide to develop strong character and teamwork and leadership skills to organize a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community.
This is not a hidden fact that a number of Indian Immigrants fall prey to hate crime in America. Similar is the case of two Indian immigrants (engineers), Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani, who were at the Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe, Kansas for a post-work drink, when Adam Purinton walked in and began shooting at them. Srinivas Kuchibhotla succumbed to his injuries and died that day and left his wife widowed.
On Feb. 22, 2017 at Austin’s Bar and Grill in Olathe, Kansas, Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot and killed by Adam Purinton, who though he was an illegal alien from Iran. Purinton was charged with premeditated first-degree murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison with no parole.
In a new short documentary, released by The Atlantic, Dumala Kuchibhotla, the wife of Srinivas Kuchibhotla who fell victim to a hate crime last year, narrates the story of the tragic event and how she has still been living the American Dream without him. “A Devastating Hate Crime in Kansas” is a story in the film, “Do We Belong?” directed by Sofian Khan and it is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online showcase of short documentaries from independent creators.
The documentary titled “A Devastating Hate Crime in Kansas” begins with Dumala remembering their early days as a married couple from India in the U.S. and describes how buying a new home in Kansas was an ultimate dream come true for the couple.
Dumala met Srinivas online and recalled how he helped her tackle the U.S. visa process as well as their courtship days and wedding ceremony. Dumala starts recollecting the final day of Srinivas’ life, as viewers are shown a short scene took outside the Austin Bar & Grill, where Srinivas and his friend Alok attended happy hour. Dumala said she was in shock when she heard the news of Srinivas’ death by the hands of a U.S. Navy veteran who had told him to “get out of my country.”
After the tragedy though Dumala was told that she would be deported but somehow she was allowed to stay back and has started a nonprofit organization called “forever Welcome” with Srinivas’ colleagues, to combat hate crimes in the United States. The film ends with Dumala explaining how the community came forward to show their love for her and her husband, finding an answer to the question “do we belong here.”
Directed by Sofian Khan and Produced by Pulkit Datta, the film is a short documentary and puts together the devastating story of the family. Talking about the same, director Sofian Khan states, “I read about Srinivas’ death when it happened last year, and the story really hit home. My father came to the US in the 80’s as a software engineer from India’s western neighbour, Pakistan, with a work ethic and ambition that reminded me of what I was reading about Srinivas. Even more than that, the descriptions of Srinivas’ positive nature and playful humour also felt very familiar. There was a sense that I somehow knew him.”
Although a Hindu, Srinivas was identified with the same threat and backlash as all the immigrants in the country. Khan adds: “Sunayana’s question, “do we belong here?”, cuts to the heart of what has been on the minds of many as of late – both immigrants, as well as other marginalized groups. Sunayana has arrived at her own conclusion. And while everyone has to find that for themselves, I was inspired by her incredible strength and perseverance in the face of so much adversity.
Garba in the Park, part of the Garba360 initiative, is all set to storm through New York City on July 3 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Damrosch Park in New York and be a part of Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing dance series. For the first time at Damrosch Park, the Indian dance Garba will have the spotlight. This easy to learn, celebratory dance has a storied history, performed all over the world year-round and during the fall festival Navratri.
This new initiative is brought by Heena Patel, founder of the South Asian arts and entertainment company MELA Arts Connect to bring the energetic and immersive Indian dance experience, well-known to Gujaratis and other Indians, to new spaces and audiences.
Lincoln Center announced the 2018 season of Midsummer Night Swing, bringing people from all walks of life together to experience an array of sounds and dance styles from Tuesday, June 26 to Saturday, July 14, 2018. This iconic New York social dance party will feature 15 nights under the stars, with outdoor dance lessons and live performances paying tribute to the histories of Lindy hop, swing, mambo, salsa, blues, and more, while welcoming newcomers and dance pros alike to experience the joy of social dance.
This will be the first time that the music and dance of Gujarat will be featured at this iconic NYC summer dance party that brings people from all walks of life together to experience an array of sounds and dance styles including salsa, lindy hop and even bhangra.
The evening will begin with garba and raas lessons by Rohan Sheth and Heena Patel, followed by a stage performance of traditional garba by the Sa Dance Company, and continues with live music from Conneticut-based garba group Kashyap Jani & Friends and DJ Sunny. The evening’s dance styles will feature taali garba, tran taali garba, raas, heech, sanedo and more.
“I can’t think of a better place for the first Garba360 event in New York City than Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center. The series is about social dance – people dancing together, regardless of their background or experience, and that is what the garba and raas experience is as well,” Patel said. Advance tickets are available for $17 at MidsummerNightSwing.org.
India is home to 1.4 billion people – almost one-sixth of the world’s population – who belong to a variety of ethnicities and religions. While 94% of the world’s Hindus live in India, there also are substantial populations of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and adherents of folk religions.
For most Indians, faith is important: In a 2015 Pew Research Center survey, eight-in-ten Indians said religion is very important in their lives.
Here are five facts about religion in India:
India’s massive population includes not only the vast majority of the world’s Hindus, but also the second-largest group of Muslims within a single country, behind only Indonesia. By 2050, India’s Muslim population will grow to 311 million, making it the largest Muslim population in the world, according to Pew Research Center projections. Still, Indian Muslims are projected to remain a minority in their country, making up about 18% of the total population at midcentury, while Hindus figure to remain a majority (about 77%).
India is a religiously pluralistic and multiethnic democracy – the largest in the world. Its constitutionprovides for freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice and propagate religion. It has protections for minorities against discrimination on the grounds of religion or caste (a strict social stratification based on Hinduism). In 1976, the constitution was amended, officially making the country a secular state. At the same time, a directive in the constitution prohibits the slaughter of cows – an animal Hindus hold sacred – which each state has the authority to enforce. Currently, 21 out of 29 states have prison sentences for the act.
Most Indians are concerned about religious tensions, but even larger shares are worried about several other national issues. India has experienced violent outbreaks between religious communities since its modern founding. In 1947, India’s borders were drawn by departing British colonial rulers to create a Muslim state in Pakistan, leading to mass violence, displacement and up to a million deaths. In the seven decades since, major religious tensions have flared at various times, including a campaign by Sikhs for a separate nation and deadly Hindu-Muslim riots following attacks on religious sites in the Indian state of Gujarat. According to a 2016 Pew Research Center survey, 54% of Indians said “communal relations” – between Indians of different faiths and/or different castes – are a very big problem in their country, while an additional 22% named this as a moderately big problem. But bigger shares of Indian adults named crime, lack of employment opportunities, corruption, terrorism and air pollution as major national problems.
Samir Shah, 16, Saar Shah, 15, two Indian American kids have raised over $413,000 in a seven-week campaign for blood cancer research, helping them win the national title of Students of the Year. Beating out a team from Atlanta that raised $350,000, the Shahs’ campaign received more than 800 donations ranging from $2 to $100,000.
The team of the Samir and Saar, Fly4aCure, was the first from Southern Maryland ever to participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s fundraising campaign. Samir Shah goes to The Calverton School, and Saar Shah attends Great Mills High School. Claire Broadhead, a Leonardtown High School student and a leukemia survivor, was the student ambassador for the campaign.
“We owe it to our community,” Samir Shah said of their campaign’s success. “I think the key factor to us being able to do what we did is our community and the connections we had to a lot of people.” “We were both very surprised by the amount of support we were shown,” Saar Shah said. “We were not really expecting the outpouring of support we got.”
“We began working with the LLS in 2010 when our cousin Ami was diagnosed with leukemia. Since then, my father, Amish, was diagnosed with B Cell Lymphoma. At that time, I was only 12 and my sister Neelam, 10,” Samir said. “We didn’t understand the significance then but now we have a better understanding of what the LLS has done to provide greater research for new innovative treatments. It has helped our family during our struggle,” he added.
For the two teenagers, raising awareness and money for blood cancer research has been a cause dear to their hearts. Samir Shah’s father, Dr. Amish Shah, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2014. A cousin of Saar Shah battled with leukemia for eight years ago. Both were treated and made full recoveries.
The Shah family has been struck with blood cancers twice in the past few years. Their cousin, Ami, battled a deadly blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia and she is now seven years cancer free. More recently, Samir’s dad, Amish, was diagnosed with primary mediastinal b-cell lymphoma. He underwent chemotherapy and celebrates his incredible recovery.
Samir Shah recalled that the campaign reached out to someone who was diagnosed with a form of leukemia, but his family preferred not to talk about it as the treatment was still going on. The family later changed their minds, attended the ceremony and said that “they had hope that there’s a cure,” Samir Shah said.
“We know firsthand how important cutting-edge research and treatments are in the fight against cancer,” said Samir Shah. “We’re honored to be named this year’s Students of the Year, and we’re grateful to have had this opportunity to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, an organization that helped our family in our time of need.”
The funds raised through Students of the Year are used for: Research to advance lifesaving therapies like immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine, which are saving lives today; Free blood cancer information, education and support for patients and families; National and local advocacy efforts driving policies that accelerate new treatments and ensure patients have access to care so that they can live longer, healthier lives.
According to LLS, blood cancers, on average, account for more than 10 percent of all new cancer cases diagnosed each year—and they’re the third leading cancer killer in the country, says thebaynet.com. LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer research. While there is no way to prevent blood cancers, LLS is dedicated to finding a cure by relying on donations to fund research projects.
The teenagers said the smallest donation of $2 came from fellow students from Samir Shah’s private high school in Huntingtown.MD. Saar Shah said most donations were generally small, ranging from $25 to $100. Three fifth-graders at Calverton — Sara Chehy, Katie Mathers and Devin McClanahan — participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients fundraising program and raised $3,804, according to the Shah family.
The largest donation of $100,000 came from The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. “American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the most dynamic and ethnic organization representing more than 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, while officially launching a campaign against Leukemia and Lymphomas, is pleased to have donated $100,000 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America on March 10th,” declared Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI. “AAPI has taken on yet another cause to promote through its active support in educating people about the deadly disease around the world,” Samadder said.
“Continuing with supporting noble causes, AAPI, has taken on yet another cause to promote through its active support in educating people about the deadly disease around the world,” Dr. Vinod Shah, a past president of AAPI, and a well known philanthropist, said. Dr. Shah told this writer, “How proud I am to be part of this noble initiative of these two young children, who are so totally committed to the cause.” Dr. Vinod Shah had matched a$50,000 gift from AAPI, doubling the donation.
“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. It’s truly inspiring that these two young children have been leading the fund raising efforts for this noble cause, benefitting thousands of people affected by blood cancer,” said Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI.
Among the Shah family, Samir said there are about 22 doctors practicing in Southern Maryland, and they have been heavily involved with the organization over the years. Samir Shah’s parents are both physicians in St. Mary’s, and by their estimate, there have been more than 500 active blood cancer patients diagnosed in the past two years in the tri-county area. In Amish Shah’s practice at MedStar Shah Medical Group alone, there were 400 active blood cancer patients in the past two years, the doctor said in a February interview.
Throughout the campaign, what moved Saar Shah the most was the recognition ceremony designed for those affected by blood cancer during a kite festival, hosted by their team at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds on March 17 that drew about 1,200 people. “Seeing all those names and hearing about a number of peoples’ stories, it really does seem everybody has some kind of connection to blood cancer in some way,” Saar Shah said.
The two teenagers said they plan to continue to host the kite festival around March every year. They also plan to sit on the nonprofit’s leadership council next year to help guide the new crop of students participating in the campaign. They said the advice they would give to future participants is to get the community involved with a variety of events and to start planning early.
Several Indian-Americans won in the open primary in California and looking forward to win in the mid-term elections in November. Eight states held Congressional primaries on June 5, Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.
In the open primaries in California where the top two vote-getters regardless of party-affiliation, face off in the Nov. 6 general elections, both Indian-American Democratic incumbents won.
Rep. Ro Khanna handily his primary in District 17, securing 59.1% of the votes, and will face off against Republican Ron Cohen, who had secured 24.7%. “The voter turnout in the United States is much lower than in most other industrialized nations. For a more vibrant democracy that truly represents the American people, we should automatically register every U.S. citizen to vote on their 18th birthday,” Khanna tweeted.
Dr. Ami Bera, Congressman from the 7th District of California, won the open primary securing 51.6% percent of the votes. His campaign issuing a statement about his victory, said, “Dr. Ami Bera is humbled by the overwhelming support in his primary victory last night, and it is a testament to the real results he’s achieved for California’s 7th Congressional District,” the statement said. “Headed into November, Dr. Bera is fully committed to the principles that define his time in Congress: access to quality, affordable healthcare for all, good paying jobs and economic development that grows our economy for everyone, and an efficient and effective VA to treat our veterans.” Bera will be pitted against Republican Andrew Grant who got 32.9% of the votes.
California state Assembly member Ash Kalra, an Indian American Democrat who represents the Silicon Valley, was uncontested in his re-election bid. California mandates that the top two contenders in any race will advance to the Nov. 6 general election. Four candidates for Los Angeles County Superior Court advanced unopposed: Neetu Badhan-Smith, Abraham Khan, Upinder Kalra and Sanjay Kumar.
In New Jersey primaries, the state with a sizable Indian American population, none of the Indian Americans made it to the November elections. In the U.S. House race from District 2, hopeful Republican Hirsh Singh made a good showing with 30.5 percent of the vote, losing however to Seth Grossman who secured 39 percent. In New Jersey’s District 7, two Indian-Americans made a futile attempt to dislodge the candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party establishment, Tom Malinowsky, who secured more than 66 percent of the vote from party loyalists to Peter Jacob’s 19.1 percent and Gautam Jois’ 14.1 percent.
In South Dakota, Naveen Malik was seeking a spot in the general election for the state House 31st District seat. Republican incumbents Timothy Johns and Charles Turbiville both advanced by means of no opposition. The same was said of Malik and fellow Democrat Wyatt Osthus, who were the lone blue candidates seeking the seats.
“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 that has excelled in almost all areas of life in this adopted nation of ours,” Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President and chairman of GOPIO International, who is also a Trustee of GOPIO-CT, chairman of the Awards Committee, said, in his opening remarks, while setting the tone for the 12th annual Gala and Awards nite.
Organized by The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)-Connecticut Chapter in the Ballroom at The Marriott Hotel in Stamford, CT on Saturday, June 9th, 2018, the event honored five distinguished Indian Americans for their achievements and contributions to the greater good of the larger society.
Describing how the Indian America community has grown tremendously, Dr. Abraham, congratulated the elected officials of Indian origin in the US Congress, Senate, several states and towns. Wishing greater success and recognition to the community in the US, Dr. Abraham said, “We will probably see two Indian Americans, Sen. Kamla Harris and Ambassador Nikki Haley competing to be next President of the United States in 2020.”
Dr. Rohit Bhalla, MD, Vice President of Stamford Health, was honored for his contributions to Health Care Administration; Prof. Sarbani Basu, Chair of Department of Astronomy at Yale University was honored for his achievements in Basic Sciences; Hasu Patel was recognized for community Services; Sharad Patney, President and CEO of VLink, Inc. was the awardee this year for his achievements in IT Services; Asha Rangappa, a CNN national security analyst, was recognized for her services as a former Special Agent of the FBI and currently a senior lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs for Service to Govt. and Non-Profit Institutions; and, Dr. K. Sudhir, was honored for his accomplishments in Business Management. He is a Professor of Private Enterprise, Management and Marketing, and founder-director of the China India Insights Program at the Yale School of Management.
In her presidential address, Anita Bhat described the many flagship events the organization organizes every year. “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. “We lack a voice for Indian Americans in the United States. We need a stronger voice. And I want GOPIO-CT to be voice for all Indian Americans in our state and beyond,” declared Anita Bhat.
Devi Prasad Mishra, Consul from the Consulate of India, in his address, said, “There is so much potential I saw in the Indian American kids who have displayed their scientific research here today. It’s in these kids the future of the Indian American community lie.” Describing how the Indian American community has excelled in education, income level, economic standing and contributions to the society, Mishra said, “You are the model for all other immigrant communities.”
“This country is the greatest nation in the history of the world because of the great contributions of immigrants,” Jim Himes, US Congressman from Connecticut, told a packed audience at the 12th annual Describing the GOPIO gala held annually as a Red-Letter Event in the state, who represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the United States House of Representatives, praised the contributions of GOPIO. Lauding the success and contributions of the fast growing Indian American community, Rep. Himes said, “You are scientists, educators, engineers, entreprenors, community activists, philanthropists, who represent the success and contributions of immigrants to the country”
Criticizing the current impasse and uncertainty the nation and its immigrants face today, Rep. Himes called it “ugly” because the immigrants are not looked up by certain sections as contributors to the growth of the nation. “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,” Rep. Himes said.
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 Srinivasan. Echoing similar sentiments, Connecticut Assemblyman Dr. Prasad Srinivasan, in his eloquent speech highlighted the need for Indian Americans to come together, stand united and work for the greater good of the larger American society. Dr. Srinivasan urged the elite gathering of Indian American leaders to join him as we work together to make Connecticut a prosperous state.
The sold out and much anticipated event was attended by over 300 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, 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. Earlier the gala began with a mesmorizing Odissi, an Indian classical dance, by Ananika Nanda.
For the fourth year in a row, GOPIO-CT Scholarship for College Tuitions were given to four young students from Connecticut towards their higher education. The scholarships were presented to: Natalia Mohammed; Vedant Gannu; Meghan Prabhu; and Carolyn David. Students of Indian origin from the state of Connecticut, who have won the national contest in Astro Science were also honored for their accomplishments.
Over the last 12 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.
The executive committee consists of Anita Bhat, President; Pradeep Govil, Exec. Vice President; Varghese Ninan, Vice President; Bhavna Juneja, Secretary; Deepender Gupta, Jt. Secretary; Viresh Sharma, Treasurer; and Shailesh Naik, and Immediate Past President. Board of Trustees are: Members are: Joe Simon – Chair; Dr. Thomas Abraham – Secretary, Comptroller Neelam Narang, Shailesh Naik, Varghese Ninan, Sanjay Santhanam, and Anita Bhat- Ex-Officio. The Scholarship Committee has Shelly Nichani (Chair), Shobhna Bhatnagar, Pradeep Govil, and Priya Easwaran (Exec. Director) as its members. The Young Professionals Network is being chaired by Nisha Govil. Board Members are: Meera Banta, Louella D’Silva, Jaya Daptadar, Santosh Gannu, Ritu Johorey, Sangeeta Ahuja, and Srinivas Akarapu; and Shelly Nichani – Ex-Officio. For more details, please visit: www.gopio-ct.org
It’s been a gradual journey for Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) from being an ordinary member of AAPI to a regional leader, elected to be an executive committee member of the national AAPI, and now looking forward to lead the organization that he has come to adore.
“I had started working as an ordinary member in 1986 with Georgia Association of physicians of Indian Origin and was elected President of GAPI, and then rose to be the Regional Director of AAPI SE and had served as a member of the BOT of AAPI. And today, I am honored and humbled by AAPI members, entrusting the largest ethnic medical organization, representing the over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, with the responsibility of leading it to newer heights.”
As the President of AAPI, “I will dedicate my time, energy and skills to maintain the integrity of AAPI and promote membership database and scrub data. We will work together encouraging and motivating more and more Physicians and Dentists to join AAPI and work towards increase in AAPI membership representing all sections, including, women, young and old, while providing enhanced membership benefits including liability insurance carrier, billing, collection company, cardiac remote monitoring, and credit card transactions through reputed banking services.” Our Mission and Motto for the upcoming year is “Keep AAPI Thriving with Balance, Unity and Pride”
Graduated from Nagpur Medical College in 1972 and a cardiologist by profession, Dr. Naresh Parikh is serving as the CEO of Georgia Clinic, a multi-specialty organization, founded in 1998, serving patients from dozen locations. A practicing Cardiologist in Atlanta, Georgia for 30 years, Dr. Parikh was instrumental in starting IPA in 2016 with 53 participating providers and has been active in DRS ACO. Dr. Parikh is also involved with Cigna Health Spring as a counsel to improve Hedis score and improve MRA scoring for Georgia Physicians.
Dr. Parikh been very active and leading several local and national level programs for AAPI in the past several years. He has been a Patron Member of the AAPI Charitable Foundation since 2006. His organizing skills were highly appreciated when he served as the Chair and Convener for AAPI annual convention in 2006. Dr. Parikh was the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Shankar Mahadevan and Sunidhi Chauhan concerts and was instrumental in successfully raising money for AAPI.
Not satisfied with growing professionally and contributing and leading AAPI, Dr. Parikh has been generous with his time, talents and resources towards charitable causes for long. Dr. Parikh has been devoting time energy towards several noble causes across the US and in India.Dr. Parikh started Atlanta’s first Charitable Medical Clinic in 1996 and was the Medical Director for over 10 years. He has led and organized several healthcare fairs and contributed in fund raising events for AAPI in their mega shows by Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal and Hema Malini.
Dr. Parikh says, “It’s been an honor and privilege for me to be associated with AAPI because I recognize the tremendous potential and the lead role that is being played by AAPI in promoting friendship between India and the United States. As members of AAPI, we have not forgotten our roots and are engaged in several activities such as conducting Indo-US Healthcare Summit that has shown us a new trail in healthcare sector in India and will continue to pave way for new frontiers in public private partnership.” As the president of AAPI, which has been playing a major role in supporting noble causes around the world, Dr. Parikh’s goal “is to be actively engaged in the SEWAK project in India.”
In 2014, as the Treasurer of AAPI, Dr. Parikh had the honor of meeting with Hon. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi to launch the Swasth India Portal. In the same year, he had sponsored the screening of the popular movie in Atlanta – “The Ship to Theseus” and helped to raise awareness about the need for organ donation. In 2015 Dr. Parikh sponsored the community reception of Vikas Swarap – writer of Slum Dog Millionaire, a winner of 8 Academy awards. Since 2017 onwards, he is serving as the President of Georgia Gujarati Doctors and Dental Association.
Dr. Parikh has been in the forefront in helping AAPI sign MOUs with Rajkot, Gujarat, India Thalassemia Major Koticha Foundation; and with Rajkot, Gujarat, India Kidney Research Foundation; and with AAPNA, BMANA – Formation of “SAPNA”.
Thalassemia Major is a devastating disease, prevalent in Southern part of Gujarat. India. An NGO, Koticha Foundation is doing an excellent service for the Community. AAPI has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) whereby, we have made an appeal to the Ministry of Health to make mandatory blood screening before marriage or high school/college admissions.
AAPI recently opened a charitable clinic in Panvel, Mumbai, MS known as Tara Clinic and is being sponsored by Naresh and Asha Parikh Foundation in collaboration with AAPI Charitable Foundation. This clinic is serving residents from the Panvel tribal community which is about 2 hours away from South Mumbai.
During a historical event on Jan 27th, 2018 in Miami, FL, Dr. Naresh Parikh along with Current President Dr. Gautam Sammader and AAPI Strategy Advisor Anwar Feroz Siddiqi, was installed as a Founding Member.
Dr. Parikh initiated a strategic and symbolic “Singing of MOU with Physician of Pakistani and Bangladesh origin with AAPI in Feb 2018 In Miami, Florida. This brings about a non-binding alliance of three south Asian physicians groups that will help support strategic and agreed upon programs that impact health and well being of South Asians, such as addressing the higher incidence of heart diseases in South Asians.
Dr. Parikh will form a national panel and advisory committee to help and guide the international medical graduates from South Asia. He wants to have an alliance of 10 percent of the nation’s doctors, the group can be more engaged in mainstream policy through the American Medical Association. Efforts will also include civic engagement in health fairs and providing telemedicine services to South Asian nations.
Dr. Parikh wants to address three key priorities for the year July 2018 to June 2019: Opioid epidemic and awareness, to be coordinated by Dr. Kavita Gupta and Dr. Sanjay Gupta; Lymphoma and Leukemia Research, under the leadership of Dr. Vinod Shah; and, the Silent Epidemic, TB in India, with a major focus at The Global Health Summit to be held from Dec 28th to 30th in Mumbai. Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, Dr. Manoj Jain of CDC and Chief Strategy Adviser, AAPI Anwar Feroz Siddiqi have been instrumental in coordinating this new initiative with the USAID through CDC Atlanta, GA and with various agencies in India.
In his efforts to make AAPI’s voice heard in the corridors of power, Dr. Parikh wants to continue “our ongoing and year around efforts to have a meaningful and convincing conversation with USA Lawmakers to increase Residency Slots for Physician of Indian origin that can help fill up slots and partner with USA in easing shortage of Physicians, particularly in underserved areas. This effort is being coordinated by Dr. Ajeet Singhvi who is very passionate about leading this initiative.
As the President-Elect of AAPI, Dr. Parikh was instrumental in launching of a new partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to end tuberculosis (TB) in India. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, signed last month in New Delhi and announced in Mumbai, AAPI and USAID will work together to utilize the 100,000-strong network of physicians of Indian-origin living in the United States to support health programs in India, engage AAPI’s network of private charitable clinics for TB awareness, detection and treatment, and explore opportunities for collaborations between U.S. and Indian medical schools to exchange cutting-edge health care solutions.
Speaking about the USAID-AAPI collaboration, Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, said: “Elimination of Tuberculosis has been a matter of national concern for many years now. Through our partnership with USAID, we aim to bring American technical expertise to help strengthen India’s fight against TB. Also, we intend to bring in leading subject matter experts, introduce global best practices and cutting-edge business solutions that will complement and grow existing USAID programs in India.”
In his efforts to strengthen and lead AAPI to new heights, Dr. Parikh will work with the newly elected executive committee members, including, Dr. Suresh Reddy, the President-Elect; Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Vice President; Anupama Gotimukula, Secretary of AAPI; and Dr. Anjana Samadder, Treasurer of AAPI.
As the President of AAPI, when he assumes office on July 7th in Dayton, OHIO, Dr. Parikh will “carry forward my duties of AAPI Office and keeping transparency, accountability and branding of AAPI. Under the current dynamic and dedicated team of executives, we strive to achieve higher standards for AAPI and to achieve our chosen agenda. I am committed to working with the AAPI Team to establish AAPI’s image in the US and globally.”
Despite the turbulence and drama on the Korean Peninsula over the past week defying one’s wildest imagination, the much anticipated summit between the leaders of the United States and North Korea is planned to be held on June 12th in Singapore. While the exact timing and location of a summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un will remain fluid until both men physically enter the same room, the odds that a summit will occur currently appear high.
After days of uncertainty, especially after President Trump withdrew from his planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, acting almost as impulsively as when he first agreed to the meeting in early March. Following a conciliatory response from Pyongyang’s senior nuclear negotiator Kim Kye-gwan, the president two days later sharply reversed course and said that the summit will still take place.
However, there are serious doubts as to what the outcome will be. There is as yet no U.S.-North Korea agreement on the terms of a summit, and time is running out to reach such an understanding. An unspoken but unmistakable anxiety thus pervades these intensified political and diplomatic maneuvers. Only a week before President Trump’s presumed departure for Singapore, it is stunning how little remains agreed to, even in broad conceptual terms. Advocates of diplomacy argue that this is the purpose of face-to-face negotiations. But the contrasts in the language and expectations of the two leaderships remain glaring, even after two visits by Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang, first as CIA director and subsequently as secretary of state.
The fundamental issue is what the summit is supposed to be about. The United States is seeking a good faith gesture demonstrating Kim Jong-un’s readiness to move toward complete and verifiable denuclearization. However, this objective derives from American terms of reference: It presumes that all the North’s nuclear weaponry would be dismantled, that any additional fissile material would be accounted for and removed, that highly intrusive inspections would be arranged, and that all means of weapons production would be eliminated.
The diplomatic history between the United States and North Korea is littered with dashed hopes and broken promises. In 1994, North Korea agreed to dismantle its plutonium-production reactors in exchange for civilian power reactors from the West. In 2005, North Korea committed, through the Six-Party Talks, to abandon “all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.” In 2012, the United States and North Korea agreed that North Korea would put a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests, and the United States would provide substantial food aid.
Words have not matched deeds. During this period, North Korea has developed a missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States. It has tested a nuclear warhead 10 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. And from its actions in other areas, it has demonstrated a willingness to employ weapons of mass destruction, such as in the apparent assassination of Kim Jong-un’s half-brother with a chemical nerve agent at a crowded Malaysian airport.
Given this dismal record, why should anyone hold out hope for progress? At the most fundamental level, the argument for engagement boils down to a bet that Trump and Kim each differ enough from their predecessors that a Venn diagram of their interests might overlap sufficiently to produce a deal. According to this logic, Trump would seek Kim’s agreement for near-term, complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization and, in exchange, Kim would receive normalization of relations with the United States, a treaty ending the Korean War, assurances of American support for his continued rule, admission into the community of nations, and support for North Korea’s economic development.
Trump is an unconventional leader who will take risks that his predecessors would not. He is situationally flexible, able to overlook North Korean human rights atrocities one day and condemn them on another day. President Moon has a clear vision for the future of the Korean Peninsula, views relaxation of tensions between the United States and North Korea as critical for achievement of his vision, and has been tireless in seeking to bring Trump and Kim together.
There also is some sense that Kim Jong-un is distinct from his grandfather and father in his determination to modernize North Korea. Kim faces challenges his forebears did not—the penetration of information from the outside world, the loosening of state control over commerce, the spread of consumerism, the emergence of a moneyed class that does not owe its privileged position to the beneficence of the regime, and the networking of society through the steady proliferation of cellphones.
Whereas many support Trump’s effort to test whether diplomacy can yield a breakthrough, virtually no North Korea analyst inside or outside of the US government expect Kim Jong-un to relinquish his nuclear weapons.
Assuming that Trump and Kim meet, there are four plausible paths that could emerge from the summit: success; an inconclusive outcome; inconclusive outcome leading to incremental, positive next steps; or breakdown leading to increased hostilities.
While a summit between Trump and Kim would be historic, it is unlikely to be decisive. This is not the fault of either Trump or Kim, but rather a reflection that intractable, decades-long strategic challenges rarely—if ever—get resolved in single encounters.
This suggests that expectations need to be managed and preparations need to be made for the critical period that follows a Trump-Kim summit. Now is the time for policymakers to work methodically through what Washington will expect of Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, and Moscow going forward; what conditions need to be met to introduce incentives into the negotiations; whether and when to increase or decrease external pressure on North Korea; how to minimize the threat from North Korea until denuclearization is achieved; and whether to seek to increase internal stress on the North Korea regime while talks are ongoing. While the pageantry and planning of summits is exciting, what follows likely will be what will have the most impact.
President Donald Trump issued a full pardon to controversial Mumbai-born conservative pundit, author, and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza, who pleaded guilty to campaign finance fraud in 2014 after being prosecuted by then-U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. “Will be giving a Full Pardon for Dinesh D’Souza today. He was treated very unfairly by our government,” Trump tweeted on May 31.
Trump, who signed the paperwork formally pardoning D’Souza before announcing it on Twitter, had never met or spoken with D’Souza before this week. He told reporters aboard Air Force One Thursday that he called him for the first time Wednesday night to inform him that he would be pardoning him. The two spoke for nearly three minutes, according to the President. “He almost had a heart attack,” Trump said.
Trump stated that he pardoned D’Souza — considered by many to be American’s greatest conservative troll — because “I’ve always felt he was very unfairly treated. And a lot of people did, a lot of people did. What should have been a quick minor fine, like everybody else with the election stuff…what they did to him was horrible,” he said. He said he had spoken to D’Souza “for three minutes last night…he almost had a heart attack.”
D’Souza thanked Trump, tweeting: “Obama & his stooges tried to extinguish my American dream & destroy my faith in America. Thank you @realDonaldTrump for fully restoring both.”
D’Souza pleaded guilty after his indictment for using straw donors to contribute to the campaign of Wendy Long, a friend who was challenging Kirsten Gillibrand in the U.S. Senate race in New York.
He was incarcerated for eight months in a halfway house in San Diego and given a $30,000 fine, then released on five years probation. He alleged he was unfairly targeted because of his right wing conservatism and his criticism of President Obama.
A press statement from the White House said: “Mr. D’Souza was, in the President’s opinion, a victim of selective prosecution for violations on campaign finance laws. Mr. D’Souza accepted responsibility for his actions, and also completed community service by teaching English to citizens and immigrants seeking citizenship.”
There was speculation that Trump’s pardon was a slap at Bharara, who the president fired after asking him to stay on as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Since then, Bharara has been one of Trump’s most stinging critics.
Bharara, in fact, tweeted that while it was Trump’s right to pardon D’Souza, “The facts are these: D’Souza intentionally broke the law, voluntarily pled guilty, apologized for his conduct & the judge found no unfairness. The career prosecutors and agents did their job. Period.”
The Washington Post reported how D’Souza, after the pardon was announced, characterized prosecutors in his case as a “team of goons” during an interview with syndicated talk show host Laura Ingraham. Earlier in May, in an opinion piece published by Fox News, D’Souza alleged that the FBI file on his case had him “red-flagged as a political conservative who made a movie critical of President Obama.”
“I knew that causing a campaign contribution to be made in the name of another was wrong and something the law forbids,” D’Souza had said at his plea hearing. “I deeply regret my conduct.”
D’Souza is a contentious figure who once accused then-President Barack Obama of adopting “the cause of anti-colonialism” from his Kenyan father in a 2010 Forbes magazine cover storywhen Obama was in office. In the piece, he referred to Obama’s father as a “philandering, inebriated African socialist, who raged against the world for denying him the realization of his anticolonial ambitions.” He also once argued that Adolf Hitler was not “anti-gay.”
“Dinesh D’Souza is an individual who, you know, has made restitution and accepted responsibility for his actions, but these are infractions and crimes that are rarely prosecuted, and many believe that he was the subject of some selective prosecution from the previous administration,” White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah said on Fox News Thursday.
“Nonetheless, he’s accepted responsibility and the President believes it’s appropriate that he receive a pardon after community service, paying a fine, and doing other things that the judge has required,” Shah said. D’Souza once called on comedienne Rosie O’Donnell to be prosecuted for violating campaign finance laws in a fashion similar to his case.
D’Souza, who first immigrated to the U.S. on a Rotary International scholarship at 17, attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to major in English and was the founding editor of the Dartmouth Review.
He later earned his conservative policy chops at the Heritage Foundation as editor of its flagship publication Policy Review and then as a domestic policy adviser, at 26, in the Ronald Reagan White House even before he was a U.S. citizen. He later enjoyed stints at the neo-conservative think tank, the American Enterprise Institute as a fellow and at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Two young Indian-American Democrats are running for the New York State Senate from Districts 56 and 6, challenging stalwart Republicans in the GOP-controlled Senate that is now considered a battleground chamber. Attorney Jeremy Cooney is running from District 56, to displace long-time incumbent State Senator Joe Robach, who was first elected in 1991. Kevin Thomas, another Indian American candidate from District 6, is also an attorney and an appointee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to the New York Advisory Committee, a federal agency tasked with civil rights oversight.
The two Indian-Americans are trying for their own party endorsement this Sept. 13, and if either of them wins in the primary, they would already make history regardless of whether they win in the Nov. 6 general elections. But it’s a tough road ahead in their effort to become the first Indian-Americans in the Empire State’s upper house.
Republicans hold just a one-seat edge because of their alliance with Democratic Sen. Simcha Felder. The deadline for filing a candidacy for the primaries is in July, which could mean other Democrats jump into the race. Ballotpedia describes NY State Senate District 6 as a “battleground” district where the incumbent won less than 55 percent of the vote in 2016 and the presidential candidate of the opposite party won. Thomas and Cooney’s run come as Democrats are making a push to take complete control of the state Senate, the report said.
Cooney’s District 56 covers Rochester, Brighton, Clarkson, Gates, Greece, Hamlin and Parma, according to the report. District 6 where Thomas is running covers Long Island. He faces off against another veteran incumbent Republican Kemp Hannon, first elected back in 1989, who defeated a Democrat, Ryan Cronin in 2016 with 53. 87 percent to Cronin’s 46.13 percent.
Cooney, who was adopted as a child from India and raised by a single mom, announced his run at a rally May 12. Jeremy Cooney is the founder of Red Thread Strategies, which strategizes and advises companies and non-profit organizations looking to partner with government “in the pursuit of public good” his profile says on the company website.
An attorney by training, Cooney has worked at all levels of government—from the U.S. Congress, to the New York State Capitol, to Rochester City Hall. Most recently, he worked as a vice president at Mercury Public Affairs in New York City. Prior to that he served as senior director of community relations for Empire State Development, focusing on downstate economic development initiatives under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Before moving to New York City, Cooney was chief of staff to Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren.
A graduate of Albany Law School, Cooney lives in downtown Rochester. In 2011, the Rochester Business Journal named him to its “40 Under 40” list of young professionals. He is an advocate for supporting the next generation of civic leaders in Upstate New York. While announcing his run, Cooney said, “I’ve been working with young professionals in Rochester for about 15 years. There’s some goals that we want to accomplish and take it to the next level to make Rochester a more vibrant space,” according to a Twitter feed he posted from News 8 – WROC-TV, May 12.
Cooney posted the photo of his mother saying, “Five years ago, I lost my mom to Alzheimer’s and Cancer. I will work in her honor to fight for more state funding for research and supportive care services for families struggling with these terrible diseases. #mothersday2018#onward56”
Thomas says his race is “about fighting for the less fortunate, those without a voice and those who have given up hope in the justice system.” If elected and serving in Albany, “Kevin will take this fight to Republicans in the Senate who are trying to turn the clock back on the progress of the past decade,” his website says.
Thomas came to the U.S. as a 10-year old with his Indian parents. According to his LinkedIn profile, he currently serves as a staff attorney with the New York Legal Assistance Group. He is also a project attorney for the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) project which provides legal support, advice, and referrals to OFE financial counselors and helps clients with complex consumer financial issues.
He also serves on the New York State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and serves on the Board of Trustees to Merrick Academy- Queens Public Charter School. Prior to joining NYLAG, Thomas worked for the senior executive counsel for General Electric Energy Division in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He has also worked as a civilian for the New York City Police Department and the Office of New York City Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. Thomas is a graduate of Western Michigan Cooley Law School.
“I left the Congressional race because I can protect more New Yorkers in the state Senate and the Democratic Party has endorsed me as their nominee,” Thomas told the media. “I will be the first Indian American to get the backing for any (New York State) office by the Democratic party,” he said.
EDISON, NJ: The Consulate General of India in New York, TV Asia and the Indian American community hosted a curtain-raiser on May 29 at the TV Asia auditorium in Edison, NJ, to mark the International Day of Yoga 2018.
The event featured an interactive session with yoga exponents in the presence of Sandeep Chakravorty, India’s Consul General in New York. At the curtain-raiser, Chakravorty announced the 4th International Day of Yoga that the Indian Consulate is hosting on Governor’s Island (Picnic Point) in New York on June 16, 11 am-1 pm. Yoga events are also planned at Times Square, NY and elsewhere across the US.
The Indian Consulate has partnered with several organizations to help host the yoga events. Organizations represented at the curtain-raiser and the panel discussion included, Isha Foundation (Rajashree Kotekar); Art of Living Foundation (Aniket Gune); Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (Ganesh Ramakrishnan); Vegetarian Vision (Sonali Vyas); World Yoga Community (Guru Dilipji); Hindu Temple Society of North America (Sanjay Attada); Mallakhamb Federation of USA (Chinmaya Patankar); Indian Cultural Association of North America (Shivadasan Nair); and Sahaja Yoga (Sheetal Bhanushali).
The panel discussion was moderated by Rohit Vyas, TV Asia News Director. Dayashankar Vidyalankar, the resident yoga teacher of the Indian Consulate in NY, demonstrated quick yoga techniques for the benefit of the audience. Also in attendance was Apoorv Om, the young Indian activist, who has a hearing impairment. He has been recognized by the United Nations for his outreach for inclusion of people with disabilities.
Sandeep Chakravorty, India’s Consul General in New York, said in his remarks that notwithstanding all the euphoria it was important to establish the Indian connection of yoga, which seemed to be getting diluted as yoga gains worldwide popularity. He mentioned that the year 2018 was important for yoga as it marked the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekanada’s address to the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.
“Outside of India, the US is now a leading proponent of yoga,” said Chakravorty. “Hospitals, corporates and everyone else now believes in the healing power of yoga and meditation.” He added that terminally-ill patients with cancer were being recommended to increasingly practice yoga and meditation to improve their end-stage quality of life.
H R Shah, chairman and CEO of TV Asia, mentioned that nearly 37 million people in the US were practicing some form of yoga and meditation. That, he said quoting media reports, had translated into a $16 billion yoga industry in the US, that included yoga schools, retreats, merchandizing and even health shows on TV.
“All of this was not possible if it was not for the efforts of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the United Nations recognized yoga’s universal appeal and on Dec 11, 2014, proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga,” he said. Shah felt that the recognition by the UN was the turning point in yoga’s acceptance as transcending international borders.
Yoga, as the name suggests, he said, means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness, was also helping bring people and countries together. At the curtain-raiser, an audio-visual presentation gave a brief overview of yoga. The panelists also performed a symbolic curtain-raiser on stage to announce the events planned around International Day of Yoga 2018. One of the posters at the curtain-raiser aptly displayed a photo of Prime Minister Modi performing yoga with more than 35,000 people at the historic Rajpath in New Delhi on June 21, 2015.
The curtain-raiser at TV Asia was recorded on multiple-cameras, to be telecast on TV Asia for the extended benefit of the community in the US, Canada and worldwide.
More than 300 guests, including several prominent members of the Indian American community, attended the outreach event, interacting with the yoga exponents and asking them a variety of questions about yoga and meditation.
Chicago IL: The Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago (JSMC), Bartlett Illinois, is preparing for a grand celebration of the 25th Anniversary of its temple from June 22 to July 1, 2018 in Bartlett, IL. The announcement was made at a Press Conference held on June 2, Saturday, 2018 at JSMC Temple.
More than 4000 people are expected to witness this historical celebration. This will be the first Jain temple in North America with “Shikhar” or dome to complete 25 years. A number of dignitaries, speakers, and faith leaders from US and India will grace the occasion. With the mission of preserving and sharing Jain way of life, JSMC has grown great with 1900+ proud life members (families) and expanded its facilities in a 17.5-acre lot with a monumental temple and Community Center.
Since 1970s, Chicago has experienced tremendous growth in population. A great part of this growth has come about as Chicago has become more international in character. Story of Jains in Chicago parallels that of Chicago. During this brief period, Jain population exploded from less than thirty families to more than nineteen hundred families. Jains built a beautiful eighty four thousand square feet Jain Center and Temple at 435 North Route 59, on the northeast corner of Route 59 and Route 20 in Bartlett, Illinois.
President of JSMC executive committee Vipul Shah is very excited and mentioned that, “This is a milestone year for all Jains in and around Chicago and indeed the whole of US. We have put in a lot of planning to ensure that all our guests have a great experience.” Chairman and Board of Trustees of JSMC, Atul Shah added, “Our unity, dedicated volunteers, visionary leaders and generous donors, over the last 25 years is the main reason that we are a role model Jain society in North America.”
The ten days celebration includes various religious, cultural, educational and entertainment events to keep the audience enthralled. There is also a separate track of activities for youth and young adults. Planning for the celebration has been going on for the last 6 months and has now reached a feverish pace with over 200 volunteers working to put finishing touches with the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees leadership.
PR & Media co-leaders, Hemant Shah (past Chairman) and Dr. Mukesh Doshi (past Chairman) also explained, “We are building on a very successful legacy of 48 years of JSMC.” Chicago is very fortunate to have remarkable history of the first Jain who landed 125 years ago – when Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi pioneered Jainism in western world and represented Jains in first parliament of World religious conference held in Chicago in 1893. Therefore, the roots of Jain religion were already planted. Since 1970, this society is standing on contributions of generous donors, dedicated volunteers and passionate leadership of visionaries. We are humbled to be part of this society that is regarded as symbol of Unity and harmony among all Jains.”
Founded in 1970, JSMC caters to the religious, educational, cultural and community needs of Jains in and around Chicago. After building North America’s first Jain temple with Shikhar in 1993, the organization undertook a major expansion in 2008-09. With more than 1900 families as life members, JSMC has maintained its unity of Shwetamber, Digambar, Sthanakvasi and Shrimad sects over the years and has continued to inspire the Jain values of non-violence, multi-pluralism and non-possessiveness.
These members engage in various religious, cultural, educational, social and community activities on close to 160+ days in a typical year. Over 500 students register in the Pathshaala that meets every 1st and 3rd Sunday. The Center has also become a preferred location to host other events – given its state of the art community hall and dining facility available on rental. A 7-person elected Board and a 13-person elected Executive Committee manage JSMC with support from many /committees.
Jainism is a religion and a way of life for Jains around the world. The primary purpose of JSMC is to increase the awareness of the principles of Jainism, achieve the unity of all Jains, provide a platform wherefrom to project the voice of Jain religion, promote the feeling of amity and unity among Jains and to promote inter-faith understanding. Jainism, which originated in India, at least five thousand years ago, has largest number of followers (about 4 million) in India. It has nonetheless, influenced the world peace through its message of non-violence and forgiveness. Jainism, indirectly influenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, as he followed the example and non-violent methods of Mahatma Gandhi in his struggle for equality and civil rights for all minorities in USA.
Jains have been on a path of Non-Violence, Non-Absolutism (Anekantvad), and Non-possesion (Aparigrah) for thousands of years. And Science is walking hand in hand with us on this path. For thousands of years, Jains have believed in meditation, yoga, animal compassion, vegetarianism, environmentalism, equal rights for women, respect for other cultures and forgiveness. Jains believe that universe is eternal and that Jain religion, which explains the rules of the universe, is therefore eternal, with no beginning and no end. Last perfected soul known (Tirthankar) to us is Lord Mahavir, who was born in 599BC, near Patna in Bihar, India.
Chicago IL: The Uttar Pradesh Association of Greater Chicago (UPA) held its annual Hindi Hashya Kavi Sammelan on Sunday, May 27, 2018 at Ashiyana banquet hall in Downers Grove, Illinois,which was a huge success with over 400 plus audiences attending the program from all over Chicagoland and outside. This is a signature event of UP Association which is organized every year in close collaboration with International Hindi Association (IHA). UPA is the only organization that organizes this very popular Kavi Sammelan every year and brings acclaimed poets from India to promote and celebrate richness of our motherland language through kavi sammelan.
Three famous poets, Mr. Sarvesh Asthana, Mr. Gaurav Sharma and Dr. Sonroopa Vishal, are currently on tour of Unites States and Canada, entertained audience with hashya, vyang and geet poetry. The Kavis’ were a perfect combination- where Mr. Asthana’s comic poetry and Sharma’s two liner comic poetry kept the audience roaring in laughter, at the same time, Dr. Vishal’s geet and Gazals mesmerized the audience with her melodious voice. The performances by three poets were outstanding and the hall echoed with loud laughter and clapping with great hashya and satire poems presented by Mr. Ashthana and Mr. Sharma. Dr. Vishal’s geet/gazals on love and family relationship and importance of women in shaping our society filled our hearts with pride and she received standing ovation. Overall, combinations of three poets were well appreciated by the audience. Mr. Asthana presided the kavi sammelan with his unique and impressive style of poetry presentation.
The Sammelan started with welcome remarks by Dr. Subhash Pandey, who is Chairman for the Board of Trustees of the Association. He said that we are pleased to have three honorable poets from India and he emphasized that poets with his or her power of writing contribute greatly to shape our culture and heritage. He highlighted the Association’s history and accomplishments to the audience and thanked them for constant support.
Dr. Pandey said that UP Association since its inception has engaged in promoting Hindi by organizing the several successful Kavi Sammelan. He then introduced poets one by one and highlighted the accomplishments of each poets and their popularity in India. He also highlighted many recent accomplishments, thanked immediate past president of UPA, Mr. Vivek Varma and his team for their dedication and an outstanding service. He then introduced and welcomed newly elected president Mrs. Taruna Gupta, who have been asociated with UPA for last several years.
Mrs. Gupta gave her warm welcome to guests,visting poets and audeience. She thanked organization for giving this opportunity to serve Indian community of Chicago in promoting Indian culture and most importantly UP state of India. Dr. Pandey also introduced and welcomed all newly elected members of executive committee and board of trustees. Dr. Pandey also invited guest of honor, Mr. OP Meena, Consul and head of chancery, Chicago Indian Consulate General office for his remarks on this occasion. Mr. Meena appreciated association outstanding work in promoting Hindi and also welcomed visiting poets from India and their work in literature. He also annouced the plan of consulate for the celebration of international Yoga day on June 16th 2018 at Millenium park and invited everyone to attend.
A large number of audience attended this year’s Hashya Kavi Sammelan that focused on geet and gazals. Refreshments consisted of delecious snacks with hot tea that were served during the intermission by Ashiyana banquets . On behalf of UPA, Dr. Subhash Pandey thanked Mr. Surendra Jain, owner of Ashiyana banquets, for the delicious food and his support. His service was greatly appreciated by everyone who attended the program. Dr. Pandey also thanked the media personnel particularly Mr. Suresh Bodiwala, Asian media USA, for his superb service of the Indian community.He also thanked Ms. Vandana Jhingan for her service to community and covering the event for TV Asia and Mr. Jatinder Bedi of hello NRI for his support. The Association’s outgoing President Mr. Vivek Varma thanked the poets, audience, committee members, board of trustees and volunteers to make this program a great success. The memorable night ended with presenting the poets with small gift of appreciation by the guest of honor, Mr. OP Meena and office bearers of UP association.
As quoted by Dr. Subhash Pandey, “The credit of grand success of Kavi Sammelan goes to the immense talent of Kavis’ who kept the audience glued to their chairs and engaged for four hours and also the hard work and dedication of the U.P Association’s executive Committee and board of trustees members who worked tirelessly for the program”.
Taruna Gupta said, “We are very pleased with the interest and positive feedback from audience about the program and the credit of success goes to all the attendees for coming and showing their support for our Indian Culture and love for Hind language.”
May 30, 2018 (New York, NY) – On Monday May 21st, Joseph Caleca pleaded guilty to leaving the scene after causing injury in the 2014 hate crime involving Sandeep Singh, an observant Sikh American husband and father. Yesterday, Mr. Caleca, who has been in prison for the past 17 months, was sentenced to one year already served and was released from prison based on custodial credits while awaiting trial.
On July 30, 2014, Mr. Singh was critically injured after Mr. Caleca called him a “terrorist” and told him “go back to your country” before running him over in his pick up truck on a public street in Queens, New York. The truck dragged him for 30 feet and Mr. Singh was hospitalized with severe injuries. In response, the Sikh Coalition represented Mr. Singh and worked with law enforcement officials, his family and the Sikh community to ensure that the assailant was identified and that the attack was investigated and prosecuted as a hate crime.
“Nobody should have to go through what I have endured, but my hope is that by exposing this bigoted violence we will continue to work together to eradicate hate,” said Mr. Singh. “While I’m disappointed that the formal hate crime charge was dropped during the plea agreement, I’m relieved that there is finally closure in my case and I am deeply thankful for the Sikh Coalition’s support and relentless advocacy.”
“A hate crime enhancement is not to impose a harsher penalty, but to acknowledge that Sikhs remain targeted. The best way to combat the problem of hate in America is to have it recognized,” said Senior Staff Attorney, Julian Darwall. “While we recognize that the hate crime charge was not formally sentenced in this case, we applaud Sandeep’s courage in standing up to hate and telling his story as we continue our efforts to hold those accountable in similar cases across America.”
The Sikh Coalition provides completely free and confidential legal assistance to Sikhs who have been discriminated against or subject to bias based upon their religious beliefs or identity. Please fill out our legal intake form if you believe you have been discriminated against or subject to bias, and would like to request legal assistance from the Sikh Coalition. We handle nearly 200 free and confidential legal intakes a year, and we examine every submission on a case-by-case basis.
The rich and ancient culture of Tamil Nadu was celebrated as nearly 1,500 people from across the United States came together at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center here, May 26 and 27 to attend the 44th annual convention hosted by the Tamil Nadu Foundation.
The two day event showcases a variety of programs — from presentations on TNF’s humanitarian activities, to panel discussions and debates on the goings on in the state as well as Tamil culture and traditions by Bharathi Baskar and Pattimandram Raja of SUN TV, a Carnatic music workshop by Nithyasree Mahadevan, a Siddha medicine workshop, an immigration workshop and cultural programs and traditional cuisine.
TFN presented its Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to P.R. Perumalswami, one of its four founders, who died Oct. 29, 2017. He also served as the foundation’s second president. He worked as an engineer with the Ford Motor Company for three decades, where he men-tored several young engineers. He also served as a faculty member at the South Dakota School of Mines.
At the youth convention held in parallel, Tamil youngsters discussed such issues as college admissions, keeping up with the Tamil culture, volunteering in India and in the U.S. and how community service helps build not just a resume but life skills. The youngsters displayed charts and models displaying their ancestral villages in Tamil Nadu, showing their creativity with the use of clay, cardboard, poster boards and foam to make models and houses and construct roads and farms, recreating their native villages. Youth also heard about career options from people who have excelled in their respective fields. For a career in public service in
The foundation is the largest and oldest US-based charity organization that is solely focused on the state of Tamil Nadu, TNF president Somalay Somasundaram said. “TNF has implemented more than 600 projects on education, women’s empowerment, rural development and healthy and hygiene throughout Tamil Nadu since 1974,” Somasundaram said.
The convention included a variety of programs – from presentations on TNF’s humanitarian activities, to panel discussions and debates, workshops, cultural programs and traditional cuisine the U.S., students could interact with Krish Vignaraja, policy director to former first lady Michelle Obama and now a candidate in Maryland’s gubernatorial race – or Thiru Vignarajah, the former deputy attorney general of Maryland and candidate for Baltimore City state’s attorney.
For a career in medicine, the youth panel engaged in a discussion with physicians from the American Tamil Medical Association and met people like Ananya Ram who spent last summer interning through the TFN in India. Ram, an 11th grader from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spoke about how volunteering is not just about giving time and resources, but gaining self confidence, independence and presence of mind.
During the evening, the attendees were treated to cultural events -there was the dance drama “Karna,” choreographed by Madurai R. Muralidharan, featuring local New Jersey artists; “Sakthi,” a production on women’s empowerment by Sumitra Ramji and a light music concert by playback singers Sathya Prakash and Pooja.
Somasundaram said the TFN collected an estimated $250,000 from the event, the proceeds of which will be dedicated in accordance with the donors’ wish to TNF projects in one of the 32 districts in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry and/or to Kanavagam, the home for destitute girls in rural Tamil Nadu.
Somasundaram said the TFN collected an estimated $250,000 from the event, the proceeds of which will be dedicated in accordance with the donors’ wish to TNF projects in one of the 32 districts in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry and/or to Kanavagam, the home for destitute girls in rural Tamil Nadu.
The American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association organized its first ever conference at the Cherry Valley Country Club in New Jersey on May 27. The daylong event featured some of the top entrepreneurs, business and thought leaders who discussed topics like the latest trend in healthcare-modulation, challenges of being a woman entrepreneur, importance of having a mentor, the recipe for entrepreneurial success and bootstrapping.
The conference was held in conjunction with the 44th annual Tamil Nadu Foundation convention held a mile away. American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association (ATEA) is a non-profit organization that promotes and motivates next generation of entrepreneurs both in USA and India. ATEA is exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section of 501 (c) (3). ATEA mission is to “Educate, Empower, Elevate and Expand” Entrepreneurs (5 Es) at every stage of the startup business life cycle.
In her keynote address, businesswoman, philanthropist and a Grammy-nominated musician Chandrika Tandon urged the audience to “break boundaries” and “discover oneself,” and along the way “network and build communities.” She told the gathering the importance of being curious, whether for an idea, for oneself, or for the community. Tandon’s speech was followed by several accomplished speakers who touched upon various aspects of owing and starting a business, and the ever-changing and growing technology.
Arun Sundararajan, professor of information, operations and management sciences and a doctoral coordinator at the Stern School of Business at New York University spoke about the revolution and its impact on the economy. Sundararajan discussed ways to adapt in a world that is constantly changing and evoked examples of services such as YouTube, Uber and Airbnb.
Ram Iyer of the Business Thinking Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, targeted budding entrepreneurs and offered tips on being successful. Ability, capability, reasoning and a willingness to learn are some of the qualities of a successful entrepreneur, Iyer said.
Through a series of graphs and charts, he explained the differences between confidence and arrogance, being business-minded versus being a businessman and the importance of out-of-the box thinking and asking the right questions.
Nagappan is the current CIO of Pershing, BNY Mellon Lena Kannappan, founder of ATEA and chair of Silicon Valley Region, who attended the event, told India Abroad that it was exciting to see the interest displayed by aspiring young and women entrepreneurs that participated in the conference. “It’s gratifying to see the accomplished businessmen from the area to come forward to share knowledge and be a part of the growing eco system,” Kannappan, who is also the Chief Operating Officer and Board Member of 8K Miles Software Services, said.
Among the highlights of the conference were women participants, some of whom addressed some of the sessions. And then there were young and aspiring entrepreneurs in business attire who could be seen taking copious notes and networking, seeking advice and mentorship. Some even took to the stage — high school junior Nishta Venkatesh moderated a panel of on the needs of an aspiring business owner.
Along with panelists Ritu Gopi, cofounder of 361 Degree Mind, a learning and education company based in Chennai, and Geeta Changappa of the Trichy REC — Science and Entrepreneurs Park (TREC-STEP), Venkatesh touched upon the importance of having an idea, an aspiration, a mentor and funding for a budding entrepreneur.
Attendees also learned about franchising, how to scale a company and how to bootstrap. They networked, exchanged ideas and inspired one another.
ATEA was founded by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, investors and academicians with a goal of giving back to their community by sharing their knowledge and expertise with the next generation of entrepreneurs, Ram Nagappan, cofounder and chair of the ATEA North East Region. Headquartered at the FalconX Incubator in the San Francisco area, the organization, according to Kannappan, has regional presence across Silicon Valley, North East and Mid-West regions.”
Share & Care Foundation held its inaugural Make a Difference 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at Overpeck County Park in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.
The event raised over $70,000 for Share & Care’s programs to empower rural India with opportunities for gender equality, healthcare, education, and sanitation and hygiene.
More than 340 people ages 1 to 80 participated in this family-friendly 5-kilometer race, which also included a 1K (1 kilometer) Kids Walk/Run, yoga and other wellness activities, and a charity drive benefiting two local nonprofits.
Attendees received complimentary T-shirts, and each child who participated in the 1K Kids Walk/Run received a medal. Additionally, the top runners in each category were honored during an awards ceremony.
“This is perhaps one of the most unique events held under the Share & Care banner in a long time,” says Victor Gurunathan, a member of Share & Care’s Board of Trustees. “The 5K has clearly emerged as a platform to usher in the much-needed participation of a younger generation of volunteers who can carry our mission into the future. Kudos to Share & Care Foundation members Shreya Mehta, Vipul Shah, Saumil Parikh, and their wonderful team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to pull off this joyous event with clinical precision, even under inclement weather.”
“The goal of any event organized by a nonprofit organization is always twofold,” Gurunathan explains. “One is to generate funds to support its causes and the other, no less important, is to propagate awareness of its purpose to many with the hope they will be fans and benefactors. The 5K has amply succeeded in both respects, which was clearly demonstrated by the huge number of registrants and participants along with the funds raised.”
The entire Share & Care team would like to express our sincere gratitude to the 45 volunteers and 30 sponsors who contributed time, energy, funds, and in-kind donations to make this event possible. Because of their help, and because of the support of everyone who attended despite rain and cloudy skies, the Make a Difference 5K Walk/Run accomplished what it was designed to do — make a positive difference for marginalized women, children, and families in rural India.
Anyone interested in volunteering at future events or becoming an ambassador for Share & Care in their own community (e.g., at a high school or university) is invited to contact Administrative and Operations Director Tejal Parekh at (201) 262-7599 or via email at tparekh@shareandcare.org.
British Indian actress Simmie Sangian was declared the winner of the ‘Best Actress: Bronze Award’ at the LA Shorts Awards for the socially educative movie, “honors” based on forced marriages in India. This is just one of the many recognitions that the 21-year-old has received for her short film, “Honor,” which she wrote, produced and stars in.
Honor is a short film that I wrote, and starred in. It was a very unique experience. When writing this short, I knew I wanted to educate through my film. I wanted to raise awareness. Forced marriage is something I am very passionate about. I feel that it is something that we should shed light upon as it is not talked about enough in first world countries. Many victims are those living in places such as the USA & UK, and they suffer in silence because they feel they have no way out.
When writing the script, I knew I wanted to talk about something relevant in today’s society. I think it’s very important for artists to raise awareness on things that audiences might not be aware of, or should be educated on.
Honor is about Serena, a seventeen year-old gay, British-Indian girl who is in a relationship with a woman. She is forced into an arranged marriage by her parents. Once she finds a way to seek help, she finds herself stuck between honoring her parents wishes and staying true to herself.“This kind of story is something that we should shed light upon as it is not talked about enough. Many victims suffer in silence because they feel they have no way out,’ Sangian said.
The film, which was supported by girlsnotbrides.org, is garnering good reviews on the festival circuit. The film, directed by Morgan Aiken and Indian American Kankana Chakraborty, has been recognized at the Top Shorts Film Festival, Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards, and the New York Film Awards, among others.
Born and raised in Birmingham, U.K., Sangian found a passion for the arts at a very young age. In high school, she was part of the drama and dance department, acting in plays, and the choreographer of her own dance troupe.
At 18, she moved to Los Angeles, and received her BFA in acting for film and TV at the New York Film Academy, a place, she writes on her official page, “helped her not only develop her acting skills but find a love for directing.”
In 2011, the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru featured on Number 92 in the top 100 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings. Seven years later, it makes a comeback in the 91 to 100 band.
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru has made it to the list of top 100 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Reputation Rankings 2018. The last time it was featured was in 2011.
The annual ranking highlights the top 100 global university brands, which now includes IISc in the 91 to 100 band. Commenting on the rankings, Phil Baty, editorial director of Global Rankings for THE, said, “Only 100 institutions in the world make it to this annual list of the most powerful university brands, so it is a highly significant achievement to be included — and fantastic to see an Indian presence this year.”
The list was compiled from a globally representative survey of more than 10,000 senior academics. IISc was the only Indian institute to have made it this year.
“That prestige — that ‘brand’ — is vital for any university in attracting the necessary talent to allow it to compete and thrive, as well as drawing in strategic partners, philanthropy and investment. As initiatives to improve and internationalise the nation’s higher education system gain momentum, I hope to see a strengthened Indian presence in this table in future years,” Baty said.
Overall, the US continues to dominate, with Harvard University taking the top spot for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University at second and third place, along with 41 other US institutions, that made it to the top 100.
The top 20 comprised of 13 American universities, four from the UK, two from China and one from Japan.
Baty maintained the US had strengthened its position with more institutes moving up the rankings this year — despite fears that the US was suffering a ‘Trump slump’ in terms of its global reputation.
Europe claimed 33 spots with nine from the UK, six from Germany, and five from the Netherlands. The World Reputation Rankings 2018, however, saw all London-based universities losing ground.
“Particularly worrying is the decline of all London universities in this list. London is one of the world’s most dynamic and international capital cities, and has traditionally been the leading city in the world for outstanding higher education and research — drawing talent from across the globe. If this data turns out to be the beginning of a trend of decline, the damage could be significant.”
In the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, 23 institutions were placed in the top 100, in which six institutions from China were featured (the same number as last year) and two in the top 20. Japan had five institutions in the top 100 (down from six) and two in the top 30.
In all, 21 countries were represented in the top 100 rankings.
The Government of India will launch Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz (Know India Quiz) from July 19-21, 2018 to generate interest among youth, both Non-Resident Indians (NRI) as well as Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), to know and understand India. Registration on the portalhttps://www.bharatkojaniye.in/ is mandatory for the eligible contestant to participate in the Quiz.
This Quiz will be held online for the two distinct categories of PIO & NRI aged 15 to 35 years and will be conducted in 04 rounds. In the first round, there will be 30 questions to be selected randomly by the computer to be answered in 25 minutes. There is no negative marking. The First round of the Quiz will be conducted online by the Consulate. The Second round of the Quiz will be conducted online by Ministry of External Affairs. The Third and Fourth rounds (Semi Final & Final round) will be conducted in New Delhi.
Three finalists from each of the NRI and PIO/OCI category in the first round conducted will move to the subsequent rounds. All participants who make it to the Third and Fourth round will be invited to India. Besides the Quiz, they will participate in 15-day tour of India. Top three winners of the Fourth (final) round of BKJ Quiz 2019 from each category of NRI & PIO will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and a Certificate at the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) Convention, 2019.
India’s growth recovery strengthened last quarter but doubts remain over whether it can sustain that pace amid surging oil prices and a rout in emerging markets. Gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year that ended in March 2018 rose 7.7 percent led by agriculture and manufacturing, according to a statement on the Ministry of Statistics website. That compares with a median estimate of 7.4 percent in a Bloomberg survey of 38 economists. While that makes it one of the fastest-expanding major economies, risks are rising because of a currency slump and faster inflation.
To add to that, India’s nearly $1.7 trillion formal banking sector is coping with $210 billion of soured or problem loans and fraud scandals have erupted at some regional banks. That’s set to curb lending and limit growth even more, and makes the central bank’s job even more complicated ahead of next week’s policy meeting.
“A sustained rise in oil prices to $100 a barrel could even lead to a re-emergence of some of the external and currency risks that existed pre-2014,” said Priyanka Kishore, head of India and South East Asia economics at Oxford Economics Ltd. “The banking sector remains in a fragile state, and such problems have the potential to derail the ongoing growth recovery.”
The economy expanded at 6.7 percent in the fiscal year through March, the slowest pace since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in 2014. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its growth projection for the year ending March 2019 to 7.6 percent from 8 percent, amid concerns that the banking system’s woes are more widespread.
Moody’s Investors Servicecut India’s 2018 GDP growth outlook to 7.3 percent from 7.5 percent, citing higher oil prices and tighter financial conditions.
New risks have emerged just as the economic disruption caused by a cash ban late in 2016 and the chaotic roll-out of a national sales tax fade. India has been swept up in the maelstrom that’s hit emerging markets as rising U.S. interest rates and a stronger dollar prompt investors to pull money out of stocks and bonds. The rupee has been the hardest hit in Asia, dropping more than 5 percent against the dollar this year.
For oil-importing India, the combination of a weaker currency and surging oil prices is a threat not only for the current-account deficit, but also inflation. Consumer-price growth is already picking up — reaching 4.6 percent in April — and for a central bank that aims to keep inflation around the 4 percent midpoint of its target band, an interest-rate hike can’t be far away.
Viral Acharya, the deputy governor in charge of monetary policy, said last month he’ll vote for a withdrawal in monetary accommodation in June. There’s also limited room for a fiscal boost to support growth. India’s budget gap is one of the widest in Asia, and Modi has to walk a fine line to keep the deficit in check while trying to woo voters ahead of next year’s election.
Nevertheless, green shoots are emerging in Asia’s third-largest economy. The industrial sector is expected to pick up while services, which contributes over 50 percent to gross domestic product, is set to remain robust. Even farming, which has been a laggard, is recovering.
India Inclusive event hears that attacks against minorities have increased since the BJP came to power. Increasing intolerance against minorities and socially poor Dalit people challenges the idea of an inclusive India, say activists who gathered to mark four years of pro-Hindu government.
Some 200 people including Dalit leaders, activists, academics, media professionals and politicians attended the May 25-27 program in New Delhi to mark the anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking office on May 26, 2014.
“On any given day, reports about atrocities against religious minorities, Dalits and tribal people are in the media,” Jignesh Mevani, a Dalit leader and member of the legislative house in Gujarat state, told the event, which had the theme of building an inclusive India.
Mevani, who gained popularity during Gujarat elections by challenging Modi’s statements and claims, said attacks on Dalits had become brutal recently. He cited the May 20 lynching of a Dalit man as an example. Mukesh Vaniya, a rag picker, was tied up and thrashed to death by a factory owner and his workers in Rajkot district of Gujarat after being accused of theft.
“If we don’t unite and raise our voice, the days are not far away when the fundamentalists will enter our home and rape our mothers and sisters and can kill us … because the situation has become such that there is no rule of law,” Mevani said.
Leaders like him accuse Modi’s pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of supporting Hindu groups to accelerate attacks against minorities in their rush to turn India into a nation of upper-caste Hindu hegemony.
The program was organized by India Inclusive, which was formed on May 3 with the objective “to safeguard not only the shared heritage and collective consciousness of India but also protect the idea of an inclusive India.”
Shabnam Hashmi, an activist and Muslim leader, said the forum was working to sustain the inclusive nature of India, which for centuries had accepted divergent religions and cultures.
He said people feel insecure as an atmosphere of hatred based on religion and caste exists across the nation.
In the past four years, incidents of intolerance have increased with lynchings in the name of religion and attacks on Dalits, indigenous people and religious minorities such as Christians and Muslims, Hashmi said.
At least 10 Muslim men have been lynched and many injured by vigilante cow protection groups, many of which seemed to operate with the support of the BJP, rights group Amnesty India said in a report this year.
Persecution Relief, an ecumenical Christian forum, claims it recorded 600 incidents in 2017 of violence against Christians, including destruction of churches, threats and harassment, social boycotts, hate campaigns, abductions, murder, physical violence and attempted murder.
Activist Teesta Setalvad said the media and the poor were equally manipulated by vested interests. “The time has come where we have to come forward and save our country,” she said.
Tehmina Arora, a rights activist and Christian, said the government was looking for different ways to harass people. For instance, Christian families can be arrested for religious conversion if they hold prayer gatherings at their homes.
Despite the law and constitution allowing religious freedom, “we are bound to live according to the dictates of the divisive forces seen to enjoy the approval of the ruling government,” said Arora, a lawyer who specializes in constitutional law and human rights.
“I see this program as a positive step ahead because at least now people from all faiths are ready to talk and can come to one platform and express their grievances.”
Hashmi told ucanews.com that India Inclusive plans to organize similar events in many other cities in the coming months.
The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) is presenting “Epic Tales from Ancient India” exhibition of world-renowned over 90 paintings of 16th-19th centuries from June nine through September three.
It includes depictions from Hindu texts Bhagavata-Purana and Ramayana, and Ragamala. The exhibition also includes an interactive performance space to bring the narratives to life through hands-on workshops, musical performances, dance, educational storytelling and more; Museum announcement says.
Activities associated with this exhibition include collaborative rangoli, lecture by a Swami, Navarasa Dance Theater, Indian miniature paintings workshop, henna painting, Indian traditional puppet making, Indian dances, Indian films, etc.
Welcoming SDMA for exhibiting artworks chronicling Hindu texts through paintings, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that art had a long and rich tradition in Hinduism and ancient Sanskrit literature talked about religious paintings of deities on wood or cloth.
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged other major art museums of the world, including Musee du Louvre and Musee d’Orsay of Paris, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Los Angeles Getty Center, Uffizi Gallery of Florence (Italy), Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Modern of London, Prado Museum of Madrid, National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, etc., to frequently organize Hindu art focused exhibitions, thus sharing the rich Hindu art heritage with the rest of the world.
Museum’s collection of Indian paintings “consists of more than 1,400 works of art created during the 12th through 19th centuries at the Mughal, Deccani, Rajasthani and Pahari courts” and is claimed to be “one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of South Asian paintings outside of India”.
SDMA, whose mission includes “to inspire, educate, and cultivate curiosity”, was initially inspired in 1915, and it has 20,000 objects in its permanent collection. Roxana Velasquez and Harvey White are Executive Director and Trustees President respectively.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
The Archbishop of Delhi has spoken. The faithful have heard. What did they make of his message? To be careful while voting? That is the most likely interpretation. And that is what he probably wished to convey.
Christians who voted BJP in 2014 – and there were too many of them to count – have had second thoughts much earlier than May 8, when the Rev Anil Couto’s circular was distributed to all the churches in his diocese.
Archbishop Couto spoke about “the threat to the democratic principles enshrined in our Constitution and the secular fabric”. He is not the only Indian to have raised such concerns. I know countless Hindus, good, solid citizens of our country, who have condemned the covert and overt attempts to demolish institutions, attacks that portend the end of our secular fabric.
BJP bigwigs, Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, have understandably taken umbrage at what Shah calls “the polarisation of voters on communal lines”. Shah himself is adept in the art of communal polarisation. To accuse a cleric like Anil Couto, an uncomplicated individual hailing from my mother’s village in Goa, amuses me not a little.
KJ Alphons, the Christian face in the NDA cabinet, wants ‘godmen’ to keep away from making political statements. But when his own party appoints a ‘godman’ as chief minister, how can its adherent stop a religious leader of a minority community from voicing concerns that are vital to that community’s very existence?
The truth is that the BJP government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as distinct from the previous BJP-led government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, doubts and questions the patriotism of the minorities! This is totally unacceptable.
I remember my own brief interaction with KS Sudershan, the predecessor of the present RSS chief. He talked incessantly of ‘80%’, by which he excluded Muslims and Christians from the mass that constitutes this country’s population!
Ever since the Modi government was installed, Muslims have been subjected to a steady onslaught that has terrorised the entire community. It will not be long before ‘they’ come for the next target in true fascist tradition.
Indian American wiz-kids dominated this year’s National Geographic Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C., on May 23rd taking home the top three honors. An eighth-grader from California, Venkat Ranjan beat nine other finalists to take home the title at the 30th annual National Geographic Bee on May 23 by correctly answering “Paraguay.” The question was: Which South American country has a population size most similar to Lebanon?
That response edged him past Anoushka Buddhikot of New Jersey, who incorrectly answered Guyana. Vishal Sareddy, 14, of Suwanee, Georgia, an eighth-grader at Riverwatch Middle School.
As the national champ, Ranjan will receive a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society and an all-expenses-paid Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour ll. Buddhikot an eighth-grader at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School in New Jersey, the second place winner, will receive $25,000 college scholarship. Vishal Sareddy, the third place winner will take home a $10,000 college scholarship.
This year, apart from the top three winners, five Indian-Americans were among the Top 10 finalists. Other championship finalists included Indian and South Asian Americans Nihar Janga, 13, of Houston; Gayatri Kaimal, 13, of Arizona; Atreya Mallanna, 11, of Massachusetts; Saket Pochiraju, 13, of Ohio; and Ashwin Sivakumar, 13, of Oregon. Sean Cheng, 14, of New Hampshire, and 14-year-old Jonathan Song of North Carolina.
Ranjan, who has been competing in the bee since 2015, also enjoys playing piano, the National Geographic reported. Buddhikot also enjoys reading and playing the violin and hopes to one day write a novel about a National Geographic-style explorer.
In recent past, Indian American kids have been taking home the top honors at this prestigious national contest. Last year, Pranay Varada of Irving, Texas, won the title, after finishing at sixth place the previous year.
Nearly 2.6 million students in the fourth through eighth grades competed in more than 10,000 schools across the country on their knowledge of geography and world affairs in this year’s 30th bee hosted by journalist and humorist Mo Rocca. The contestants were competing for a total of $85,000 in college scholarships. Students had to answer such questions as whether a map of the U.S. shows homelessness or the literacy rate, the range of the black bear or a pon-derosa pine, and ferry boardings versus minimum wage.
In a test of their analytical and communication skills, contestants were asked to choose one of three rivers as the best choice to focus a plastic cleanup effort to reduce the amount of waste going into the ocean. All three finalists chose China’s Yangtze River, explaining that the area’s high population and plastic consumption and limited collection and recycling infrastructure, made it the prime target.
During the competition, students had to answer such questions as whether a map of the U.S. shows homelessness or the literacy rate, the range of the black bear or a ponderosa pine, and ferry boardings versus minimum wage, National Geographic explained in a news release. Contestants were asked to name the U.S. state capital on the Pearl River, Sweden’s largest island, and the currency of Denmark, it added.
After stiff competition, 54 finalists rose to the top, representing winners of each state and overseas territories of the United States. The 54 competitors were reduced to 10 by May 23. Each of them will receive $500. Buddikot was among four girls out of the 54 finalists, with news reports and experts saying that schools and parents should do more to deal with the gender imbalance.
“All of you have demonstrated an impressive commitment to geography and maps, and today we’re rewarding that commitment,” National Geographic Society chair Jean Case told the audience at the event. At National Geographic, “we consider ourselves map geeks,” Case added. “But we understand geography is about so much more than just memorizing places on a map.”
Since the bee started, some 120 million students have participated with more than 90 scholarships doled out totaling $1.5 million to date. “The bee goes right to the heart of what we are all about here at National Geographic,” said Case. “We are about furthering understanding of the world and the people in it. We live in an ever-connected world.”
Five Persons of Indian Origin, including four from the United States, and one from Canada were among the 84 prominent immigrants who received the prestigious 2018 Ellis Island Medal of Honor at a ceremony in New York on May 12nd. The Medal has been officially recognized by Congress as one of the nation’s most prestigious awards; it is annually memorialized in the Congressional Record.
Software pioneer Vanu Bose, who was honored posthumously after succumbing to a sudden pulmonary embolism last year; Moon Express founder Naveen Jain; Ethan Allen chairman and Kashmiri activist Farooq Kathwari; and Sikh activist Bhai Sahiba Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, and Peter Dhillon, the ‘cranberry king’ of Canada, were the recipients of the International Ellis Island Medal.
According to reports, all the honorees and their guests were ferried to Ellis Island for the awards ceremony. Fireworks illuminated the night skies above the Statue of Liberty – the symbol of the American immigrant dream – in New York Harbor after the medals were presented.
“The Ellis Island Medals of Honor embody the spirit of America in their salute to tolerance, brotherhood, diversity and patriotism,” said the organization in a press statement. “Honorees may be native-born or naturalized, but most importantly, they are individuals who have made it their mission to share their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity with those less fortunate.”
According to the NECO website, “the Ellis Island Medals of Honor embody the spirit of America in their celebration of patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity. They recognize individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America. As always, NECO remains dedicated to the maintenance and restoration of America’s greatest symbol of its immigrant history, Ellis Island.”
Farooq Kathwari, the chairman, president and CEO of Ethan Allen, said, “It is an honor for me to receive this esteemed award. I am a proud American by choice, a citizen of a country that offers equality and freedom of expression. I consider myself very fortunate to have the opportunity to use what I have learned for the benefit of others.”
Kathwari is a member of the Board of Overseers of the International Rescue Committee, the advisory board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Council on Foreign Relations, chairman emeritus of Refugees International, an advisory member of the New York Stock Exchange, co-chairman of the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, a director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University and a member of the International Advisory Council of the United States Institute of Peace.
Vanu Bose: Bose, who died unexpectedly at the age of 52 on Nov. 11, 2017, was a software pioneer best known for bringing mobile service to remote areas in the U.S., India, and Africa, among other regions. Bose was the son of Amar Bose, founder of the Bose Corporation, which pioneered high-quality audio.
Vanu Bose founded Vanu, using his research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company’s technology enables multiple networks to operate on the same devices. Vanu, Inc. has also developed cellular antenna systems that require relatively small amounts of energy and can run on solar power. The reduction in power needed for these networks has allowed the firm to help build out networks in rural areas around the world, from India to Rwanda to Vermont, and to address what Bose called the “great need for communication” in those areas, noted MIT in an obituary for Bose last November. Last year, the company used its technology to help hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. “To be unconnected is to be left behind, and we don’t want anyone to be left behind,” said Bose, as noted on the company’s Web site.
Naveen Jain made history in 2016 when Moon Express, a for-profit venture, received approval to embark on the first commercial space mission beyond Earth’s orbit. Former President Barack Obama granted Jain rights to essentially mine the moon. “We are thrilled to have the support of the U.S. Congress allowing Moon Express to mine precious resources on the moon for the benefit of humanity,” said Jain in a press statement. “We applaud the leadership shown by the House in passing this pivotal legislation and look forward to President Obama signing the bill into law.”
Bhai Sahiba Inderjit Kaur Khalsa is known throughout the world as the Bhai Sahiba (chief minister) of Sikh Dharma. She is followed by more than 25 million Sikhs around the globe. Khalsa was born in India in 1935 and immigrated to the U.S. with her husband, the late Yogi Harbhajan Singh. She was given the title of Bhai Sahiba by the Sri Akal Takhat Sahib in 2004, the Jewel of the Nation in 2005, Ambassador of Peace in 2006, the Pride of India award in 2007, named the New Mexico Governor’s Representative to India in 2007, and the Jewel of the Punjab in 2017, according to her biography. She is the founder of the Miri Piri Academy, a boarding school in Amritsar. “Bibiji” – as she is commonly known – is also the founder of the organization Create Inner Peace and has authored numerous of books on Sikh education.
Peter Dhillon: Dhillon, the “cranberry king” of Canada, is the president and CEO of the Richberry Group, the largest Canadian supplier of cranberries to Ocean Spray. The company annually supplies Ocean Spray with more than 20 billion pounds of cranberries; Dhillon also serves as Ocean Spray’s chairman of the board.
At the University of British Columbia, he established the Rashpal Dhillon Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Endowment and the Rashpal Dhillon Track & Field Center in his father’s memory. He has also established the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics in partnership with the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.
The medal was created in 1986 by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, whose founder is the transportation magnate William Denis Fugazy. “From successful businessmen, to pioneering physicians, to artists who enrich our lives through art and music and those who dedicate their lives to the advancement of our community through philanthropy, service to humanity are among those honored with this award every year. In 2017, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, Fareed Zakaria, Author and host of CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” show, Harman International Industries chairman CEO Dinesh Paliwal, Dr Annapoorna S Kini, Yashvant Patel, and Mohan H Patel were honored with the award.
After convincingly winning the runoff election held on May 22nd, Indian American Democratic Party candidate Sri Preston Kulkarni has been declared the Party’s official candidate for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District.
Kulkarni, who had been in a hotly-contested race against Letitia Plummer, got 9,502 – or 62.12 percent – of the 15,296 votes. Plummer, on the other hand, managed a mere 5,794 votes – or 37.88 percent, giving the young Indian American diplomat a nearly 35-point win. Kulkarni now advances to the November general where he hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Pete Olson.
Kulkarni and Plummer were the top two vote-getters in the March 6 primary, with the Indian American receiving 31.8 percent of the vote to Plummer’s 24.3 percent, setting up the runoff While not personally congratulating Kulkarni for the win, Plummer posted a humble concession on her campaign’s Facebook page.
“Today, May 22nd, we made history in District 22. Our movement, uniting diverse communities through shared values, took us across the finish line and helped me become your Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress. None of this would have been possible without our hundreds of volunteers, from middle schoolers to senior citizens, and, of course, the thousands of voters who participated in this election,” Kulkarni wrote on his Facebook page. “I am beyond thankful to be in this fight with you. I look forward to working with y’all to make sure our communities and our families get the representation they deserve in Congress,” he added.
“I resigned as a diplomat in the U.S. State Department, where I had served our country for 14 years. I met with and listened to thousands of people in District 22 on how to make that much needed change possible. We stand proud and celebrate the beautiful diversity of our unique neighborhoods. We have shown we can bridge our communities and have our voices represented,” Kulkarni said.
The 22nd Congressional District covers a diverse region of southeast Texas and includes the cities of Sugar Land, Missouri City, Deer Park, Pearland and Galveston. had the support of Democratic establishment figures such as Fort Bend County’s past Democratic chair, Don Bankston, an executive member of the Texas Democratic Committee, who argued that the attack on Kulkarni was “off base and potentially slanderous,” the Chronicle report said.
On his website, Kulkarni stated that he received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas and was raised in Houston by his parents, Margaret and Venkatesh Kulkarni, a published novelist, who immigrated from India to the United States.
He said his parents had moved to Houston in 1980, where his father taught at Rice University and his mother worked for Exxon. His bio on his website also said that during his State Department tenure, he had done several overseas tours in Iraq, Israel, Russia, Taiwan and Jamaica. As a Pearson Fellow in 2015, his bio noted that he served as a foreign policy and defense adviser to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), helping her with her work as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) has announced the launch of a new partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to end tuberculosis (TB) in India.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding, signed last month in New Delhi and announced in Mumbai, AAPI and USAID will work together to utilize the 100,000-strong network of physicians of Indian-origin living in the United States to support health programs in India, engage AAPI’s network of private charitable clinics for TB awareness, detection and treatment, and explore opportunities for collaborations between U.S. and Indian medical schools to exchange cutting-edge health care solutions.
Home to more than one-fourth of the global TB burden, India has more TB and multidrug-resistant TB cases than any country in the world. A further one million Indian citizens, including 170,000 children, are estimated to be undiagnosed and untreated.At the Delhi End-TB Summit, inaugurated on March 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral approach including the private sector and announced a national plan to eliminate TB by 2025,five years ahead of the World Health Organization’s stated global 2030 goal.
Speaking about the USAID-AAPI collaboration, Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, said: “Elimination of Tuberculosis has been a matter of national concern for many years now. Through our partnership with USAID, we aim to bring American technical expertise to help strengthen India’s fight against TB. Also, we intend to bring in leading subject matter experts, introduce global best practices and cutting-edge business solutions that will complement and grow existing USAID programs in India.”
XersesSidhwa, Director of Health at USAID/India, added: “We have been supporting the TB program of the Government of India for two decades now. Along with extending technical expertise, USAID has invested $140 million to strengthen the capacity of national, state, and district-level TB programs across India. With our collaboration with AAPI, we aim to strengthen the early detection and treatment of TB, with a focus on drug-resistant strains; continue our assistance to the government to plan and implement evidence-based interventions to reach a TB-Free India, and improve patient-centered TB services.”
Drawing attention towards the importance of educating and empowering womento take ownership of the health and hygiene of themselves and their families, Mrs. Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and AAPI also launched “TheW omen Empowerment” campaign that will focus on raising healthcare awareness among women in the country.
Dr. Raj Bhayani, Co-Chair, AAPI GHS emphasized, “Improving the healthcare services in India through its various initiatives, AAPI envisions to share the best from leading experts from around the worldto collaborate on clinical challenges, research and development, philanthropy, policy and standards formulation, and clinical tracks that are of vital to healthcare in India.”
“Taking up the challenge and assisting with the launch and implementation of Ayushman Bharat Program, AAPI is making this the focus of its signature CEO forum”, said Anwar Feroz Siddiqi, Chief Strategy Adviser, AAPI.
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)-Connecticut Chapter will honor outstanding achievers of the Indian American community in Connecticut and those provide service to the community or the society at large at its Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 9th at the Stamford Marriott Hotel, Stamford, CT starting at 6 p.m. Six Indian Americans are honored for their achievements in profession and service to the nation.
The 2018 awardees are: Dr. Rohit Bhalla, MD, Vice President of Stamford Health for Contribution to Health Care Administration; Prof. Sarbani Basu, Chair of Department of Astronomy at Yale University for Achievement in Basic Sciences; Mr. Hasu Patel for Community Service; Mr. Sharad Patney, President and CEO of VLink, Inc. for Achievement in IT Services; Ms. Asha Rangappa, a CNN national security analyst who served as a formerSpecial Agent of the FBI and currently a senior lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs for Service to Govt. and Non-Profit Institutions; and Dr. K. Sudhir, James Frank Professor of Private Enterprise, Management and Marketing and founder-director of the China India Insights Program at the Yale School of Management for Achievement Business Management.
Dr. Rohit Bhalla – Contribution in Health Care Administration
Dr. Rohit Bhalla serves as Vice President and Chief Quality Officer of Stamford Health, in Stamford, CT; where he serves on the executive team that built the new Stamford Hospital, has developed programs in health care quality, patient safety, and care coordination, and has been recognized as the organization’s Planetree Physician Caregiver of the Year. In the region, he leads his organization’s Community Health Improvement Plan, serves on the Board of Trustees of the CT Hospital Association, the Quality Council of the CT State Innovation Model Program, and on programs and advisory committees of the Greater New York Hospital Association, United Hospital Fund, and America’s Essential Hospitals. Dr. Bhalla is Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, has lectured and published several papers in the areas of quality improvement and health policy, and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Public Health/General Preventive Medicine.
Prof. Sarbani Basu – Achievement in Basic Sciences
Sarbani Basu is a Professor at the Department of Astronomy at Yale University, and its current chair. She specializes in the study of the Sun and other stars using data on stellar oscillations (star quakes). She was awarded the 2018 George Ellery Hale Prize of the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society for her contributions to the understanding of the internal structure and dynamics of the Sun and stars.
Hasu Patel – Community Service
Fondly known in the community as Senator Patel, Hasu has been Working with Elderly population, fighting for their rights, helping them to get their medical coverage and food stamps, providing them transportation especially to their medical appointments, legal assistance and providing help in translation due to language barrier. In short, holding hands of elderly people and guiding them at every step and helping them. He has also helping needy people to get them jobs, legal help with immigration and even lodging if needed. He has even helped with funeral arrangements in unfortunate circumstances and financial help when needed. He has helped a good number of students to get jobs, lodging and even financially. When someone looking for business, immigration help or any legal issue he always gives his best advice to the people. He always takes responsibility when the need arises.
Sharad Patney – Achievement in IT Services
Sharad Patney is President and CEO of VLink, Inc., a fast-growing IT services company. Patney is responsible for running all facets of the business. He is the driving force in accelerating growth by implementing corporate direction and strategy. He has led numerous initiatives which resulted in increased customer satisfaction across all industry verticals of VLink. Patney completed BE degree in Power Electronics from University of Nagpur and MS degree in Business Analytics & Project Management at the University of Connecticut.
Asha Rangappa – Service to Govt. and Non-Profit Institutions
Asha Rangappa is a Senior Lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a former Special Agent in the New York Division of the FBI, specializing in counterintelligence investigations. Asha has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post among others is currently a legal and national security analyst for CNN. She attended Princeton University and received her law degree from Yale Law School and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Juan R. Torruella on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Prof. K. Sudhir – Achievement in Business Management
Sudhir is the James Frank Professor of Private Enterprise, Management and Marketing and founder-director of the China India Insights Program at the Yale School of Management. He routinely consults and conducts research for Fortune 500 companies and non-profits in the United States and abroad and his research has been honored with numerous awards. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Marketing Science, the leading quantitative academic research journal in marketing.
Commenting on the award selection, GOPIO-CT President Anita Bhat said, “We select the awardees, who have made an impact in our society and/or those who provide outstanding service.”
GOPIO Founder President Dr. Thomas Abraham who also served as the Chairman of GOPIO-CT Awards Committee said, “These awardees are role models for our new generations and GOPIO-CT has a done great job in building up a good image of India and Indian Americans in Connecticut.”
Over the last 12 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 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.
The awardees will be honored at GOPIO-CT’s Twelfth Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 9th at the Stamford Marriott Hotel in Stamford. CT. The program includes dignitaries, entertainment and Bollywood DJ. For reservation or to buy tickets, call Anita Bhat 203-524-2935 or send an e-mail to abnewyork71@gmail.com.
India has declared its intention to work with the U.S. to find a solution to child abduction cases, a State Department official told lawmakers May 17. “India is beginning to work with us to find practical solutions for children who are being abducted between our two countries,” Suzanne I. Lawrence, Special Advisor, Children’s Issues Bureau of Consular Affairs at the Department of State, told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Sub-committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, as reported by PTI.
In 2017, the State Department reported 104 cases of abduction of U.S. children in India. This includes 20 new cases and 84 from the previous years. Lawrence added that she also pressed upon the Indian government to join the Hague Convention. India is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. No bilateral agreements exist between the two countries. Without the Hague Abduction Convention or any other protocols intended to resolve abduction cases, parents generally must pursue custody of abducted children in Indian courts, where they are mostly unsuccessful.
India is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between India and the United States concerning international parental child abduction, according to the US State Department.
“In February of this year, I travelled to India to encourage government officials there to resolve the numerous abduction cases they have, and for India to join the Convention,” Lawrence said. She said the United States in its bilateral meetings with the governments of India, Brazil and Indonesia have been raising the issue of IPCA. While in the US, it is called abduction, most of such cases are a result of marital dispute wherein one of the parents stays with the child in India and quite often gets a court order in their favor, Lawrence said.
The State Department in its travel advisor for India cautions the US citizens for acting forcefully to get back their kids while in India. “Parental child abduction is not a crime in India. Parents may wish to consult with an attorney in the United States and in the country to which the child has been removed or retained to learn more about how filing criminal charges may impact a custody case in the foreign court,” the State Department says in its travel advisor on India.
According to an annual State Department report, the US, in 2016, had as many as 83 alleged cases of abduction of American children. In 2015, the number was 74. The competent authorities in India persistently failed to work with the Department of State to resolve abduction cases. As a result of this failure, 66 per cent of requests for the return of abducted children have remained unresolved for more than 12 months. India has been cited as non-compliant since 2014,” it said.
Without the Hague Abduction Convention or any other protocols intended to resolve abduction cases, parents generally must pursue custody of abducted children in Indian courts, the report said. “The United States nor India have engaged seriously to remedy the human tragedy, the proof of which lies in the ever increasing volume of unresolved abductions cases to India, over 50 percent of them pending for five years or more,” noted the organization Bring Our Kids Home, which advocates for Indian American children who have been kidnapped by their parents.
India is widely referred to as a “safe haven” for abducting parents who take advantage of a favorable Indian judicial system, and face no consequences for their wrongdoing, noted BOKH. “Parental child abduction is not recognized as a crime in India, judges decide abduction cases on arbitrary basis, wrongfully asserting jurisdiction on foreign nationals and non-resident Indians,” stated the organization.
Lawrence’s remarks came on the same day that the State Department released a new report on child abduction, in which it accused India of not doing enough to protect abducted Indian American children. The report noted that 90 percent of child abduction cases from the U.S. to India have languished in Indian courts for over a year.
“India does not adhere to any protocols with respect to international parental child abduction. In 2017, India demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance. Specifically, the competent authorities in India persistently failed to work with the Department of State to resolve abduction cases,” the report said.
Echoing sentiments expressed India’s Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu who had said last week that India is fighting the problems of poverty, illiteracy, atrocities on women and weaker sections, and religious fundamentalism, despite massive growth, Archbishop Anil Couto, archbishop of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, while drawing attention to the divisiveness prevalent in the nation, has appealed and urged the people of the largest democracy on earth to pray for peace in the country pray that they elect leaders who are committed to secularism and work to unite the peoples of all faiths, rather than dividing them on the basis of caste, creed, economic status, gender, and age.
Shri Naidu, in his address in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram had said, “India has made rapid strides in various fields since attaining Independence. Yet the country is grappling with problems like poverty, illiteracy, atrocities on women and weaker sections, religious fundamentalism and terrorism.”
In a pastoral letter read out on May 13 in all the national capital’s parishes, Archbishop Couto called on Catholics in his archdiocese to start a campaign of prayer for peace and fasting every Friday ahead of the general elections in India, which is due in April 2019, as India faces a “turbulent political future” that threatens the country’s democracy.
Archbishop Anil Couto’s call has sparked a political controversy, with some fundamentalist groups accused him of undermining Indian interests and working with the Vatican to tarnish the government’s image. These divisive groups reacted angrily and said the archbishop’s statement was politically motivated.
Leaders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the prayer campaign was designed to turn Catholic voters against his party, which is seen as working to make India a nation of Hindu dominance. BJP spokesman Sambit Patra told some Christian leaders in a television debate that by “raking up these issues [of discrimination against Christians] you are crucifying the truth about India.”
Rakesh Sinha, an ideologue from influential Hindu group Rashtryia Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said: “This is a direct attack by the church on Indian secularism and democracy, and this is a direct intervention by the Vatican as these bishops are appointed by the pope. Their accountability is not to India but to the pope.” He told the TV debate that the prayer appeal was “only a part of activities of Vatican design to project the Modi government in a poor light.”
He said the archbishop and other Christian leaders need to be told that ever since the Modi government came to power, there has not been a single incident of rioting or anti-Christian or even anti-Muslim violence in the country.
Published data shows Shaina’s claims are incorrect. According to Christian groups, attacks against Christians rose after Modi came to power and have spiralled in recent years.
There were 736 attacks recorded against Christians in 2017 against 348 in 2016, according to data from Persecution Relief, an ecumenical forum that records Christian persecution in India and helps victims. Amid reports of increasing attacks against Christians, Modi himself in February 2015 told a Christian conference in New Delhi that his government would act against such crimes.
Delhi Archdiocesan spokesman Father Savarimuthu Sankar said the “prayers are part of Christian life and it has nothing to do with politics.” The archbishop “of course mentioned the background” for which he sought the prayers. “Media reports are enough to understand how violently people were attacked” in the name of religion-related issues, he said. Father Sankar said the angry reactions linking the prayer campaign with the Vatican and money “means that either they are afraid of our prayers or they are promoted by their own guilt.”
India’s largest lay Catholic organization, The All India Catholic Union, has expressed solidarity with Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi, who is being accused of trying to tarnish the image of India after he launched campaign to pray for peace in the country.
The All India Catholic Union, the largest and oldest movement of lay Christians in the country, in a statement issued on May 24, expressed solidarity with Archbishop Couto and commended “his courage, integrity and spiritual strength in calling attention to this rising tide of targeted violence against Dalits and religious minorities.”
“The All India Catholic Union expresses serious concern at attempts by the Union government, the ruling party and its ideological affiliates as well as a section of the media, to divide the Christian churches, pitting bishop against bishop, and targeting individual religious leaders who dare speak of the multiple threats posed to India’s democracy and its secular and plural character,” the Catholic Union stated in a press statement.
Meanwhile, less than a year ahead of elections in three northern Indian states, Christian leaders have pledged to vote for political parties assuring protection of their communities from discrimination and abuse. An Ecumenical Christian group, Sarva Isai Mahasangh (All Christian Forum) has resolved not to support parties in upcoming federal and state elections that work against religious minorities.
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh states, ruled by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), face elections in November and December while the term of BJP Prime Minister Narendra Modi expires next May.
“We are passing through a very critical period in the history of our country where people are divided on caste and religious lines,” said Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. A very dangerous trend exists in the country that undermines the secular tenets of our constitution. Come what may, we will continue with our mission of serving the poor and the needy.”
The archbishop was among some 700 Christian representatives from nine northern Indian states who attended a May 19 meeting in Bhopal to discuss an “alarming increase” in intolerance toward religious minorities. Christian leaders say extreme Hindu groups have stepped up violence against Christians in their push to make India a Hindu-only nation with support from the BJP, which controls most state governments in northern India.
“PUCL strongly condemns the cold blooded and targeted killing by Tamil Nadu police of over 13 persons on May 22nd, 2018 in Tuticorin (aka Thoothukudi) in South Tamil Nadu,” a statement issued by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, stated. “Many of those killed were part of a continuing unarmed, democratic protest by thousands of local people in and around the Sterlite plant on the outskirts of Tuticorin town, demanding the closure of the severely polluting and environmentally hazardous Sterlite copper smelting plant, part of the Vedanta group, and one of the largest such plants in the world,” PUCL explained.
Eleven people were killed when police opened fire on thousands protesting a multimillion-dollar copper-processing plant which they claim pollutes their environment and drinking water last week in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Dozens of others are battling for lives in local hospitals, after police shot at peaceful protesters, who had gathered at the plant owned by London-based Vedanta in the coastal district of Tuticorin. Vedanta’s subsidiary Sterlite Copper has operated a smelter in the area for 25 years with an annual capacity of 400,000 tonnes and is seeking renewal of its license, which expires this year.
Bishop Yvon Ambroise of Tuticorin told the media that firing was indiscriminate. There was an effort to claim the protest was instigated by the church but it is was a people’s protest because they were seriously affected by it, he said. Father Norbert Thomas, chancellor of Tuticorin Diocese, said, police fired indiscriminately to disperse the crowd after it turned violent on the 100th day of a protest.
The polluting plant operates within the city limits and people have been adversely affected by toxic fumes. In recent years, the area has reported increased cases of cancer. The plant comes under the area of a parish and affects 19 parishes in the city, which together caters to about 100,000 Catholics. “It is natural for the very traditional Catholics here to come to the church and consult in the parish when they face social issues,” Father Thomas said. “However, the protest has nothing to do with religion. It is a people’s protest.”
State Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar told media that police resorted to firing when the crowd went on a rampage near the office of the district collector, the highest state official. Police had imposed prohibition orders near the office and protesters had no permission to organize the march. “The use of force by the police was unavoidable” to disperse the crowd, Jayakumar said.
People have been protesting for the past three months and on the 100th day they organized a march to the office of the district collector, said a statement from the bishop. The protest followed the non-violent principle of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation, and the five-kilometer march was also peaceful, the statement said.
Police baton-charged people near the office and some responded by throwing rocks at police, which led to police firing shots and the deaths of innocent people, the statement said. “The whole thing started after police action,” said Father Thomas, adding that firing was “so brutal” that several women and children were also injured. One bullet passed through the mouth of a 17-year-old girl student, killing her on the spot.
The PUCL s, while deploring the tactics adopted by the Tamil Nadu police and the Government leading to the unconscionable and unconstitutional firing aimed to kill protestors, pointed out that the Anti-Sterlite Movement, spearheading the People’s campaign against the Sterlite copper plant, had called upon people to gather on 22nd May, the 100th day of the protests, and march to the Tuticorin Collector’s Office demanding immediate closure of all construction activities undertaken to expand the Sterlite Plant and to close down the plant itself.
“What however occurred on 22nd May, 2018, was a complete travesty of constitutional rule and a total breakdown of the rule of law and orderly governance. The authorities allowed the gathering of thousands of people outside the Collector’s Office. It is reported that the police resorted to severe and unprovoked lathi charge on the unarmed gathering without giving any prior warning. This is said to have provoked reaction from some sections of the gathering resulting in stone throwing. Without giving the statutory warning of the possibility of shooting, and violating the Police Standing Orders and Guidelines to handle situations of mob agitations, the Police instead fired into the crowd, aiming to kill. The guidelines state that the police should first shoot warning shots in the air, and then only below the knees, were brazenly flouted,” PUCL said.
“Numerous video recordings as also eye witness accounts state that the Police used professional Police Sharpshooters, standing atop police vehicles, in mufti, to shoot directly at people leading the march, aiming to kill them. The Tamil Nadu Police could not have committed such acts without the tacit or unspoken permission from the TN State Government. The police shooting reminds us of the Jalianwala Bagh massacre during the independence struggle. It’s a shame that in independent India too such police killings is allowed to take place.”
The incidents in Tamil Nadu have their repucurssion around the world. An angry protest took place at the Indian High Commission in London. The people were condemning the police firing which killed at least 13 unarmed protesters at an environmental demonstration against British company Vedanta Resources’ copper smelter in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), Tamil Nadu. The protesters demanded of the need to delist Vedanta from the London Stock Exchange. “We call on the British government to launch an inquiry into the multiple legal, environmental and human rights violations by Vedanta Resources, and consider de-listing the company from the London Stock Exchange.”
The London protest was called by Foil Vedanta (1), Tamil People in UK, Periyar Ambedkar Study Circle, South Asia Solidarity Group, Tamil Solidarity, Parai Voice of Freedom and Veera Tamilar Munnani.
John McDonnell MP Shadow Chancellor said: “The news from Tamil Nadu that 13 protestors against Vedanta have been killed is shocking and demands action. This is a major multinational company that for years has operated illegal mining concerns, trashing the environment and forcibly evicting local people. After the massacre of the protestors this week, regulators must now take action. Vedanta must be immediately delisted from the London Stock Exchange to remove its cloak of respectability, restore confidence in the governance of the Stock Exchange, and prevent further reputational damage to London’s financial markets from this rogue corporation.” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44256552)
See images footage from the protest here: https://www.facebook.com/FoilVedanta/posts/1912393518822266 & here https://www.facebook.com/FoilVedanta/videos/1912382025490082/
Prince Harry and his actress bride Meghan Markle married on Saturday in a dazzling ceremony that blended ancient English ritual with African American culture, infusing the 1,000-year-old British monarchy with a blast of modernity.
In a medieval chapel at Windsor Castle that 39 English kings and queens have called home since 1066, Harry and Meghan exchanged vows watched up close by royals and celebrities, and from afar by a global TV audience of many millions.
Wearing a veil, diamond tiara and a sleek dress with a long train, the American actress was accompanied up the aisle of St George’s Chapel by Harry’s father, Prince Charles, before she and Harry exchanged vows and were proclaimed husband and wife.
The couple kissed on the steps of the 15th Century chapel, before delighting the sea of well-wishers, some of whom had camped for days to witness the spectacular show of British pomp and pageantry, by touring Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage.
Prince Harry’s vows at the wedding are as follows: “I Harry, take you, Meghan, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow.”
Among the guests were Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham, Serena Williams and Sir Elton John. India’s very own representative, Priyanka Chopra was at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She made her first public appearance after arriving in London, donning a plaid suit from Alberta Ferretti. “I do think Meghan being a part of the royal family is a big step in the direction of so many things; of women, of feminism, of diversity, of race, of the monarchy versus everyone else. It’s a beautiful step in the right direction,” Priyanka Chopra had said earlier.
Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, became the sixteenth Royal Couple to celebrate their Marriage at Windsor Castle since 1863. The newly-wed royal couple had a tour of the city center of Windsor in a traditional horse-driven Ascot Landau carriage.
More than 100,000 fans cramped the narrow roads of Windsor, about 20 miles (30 km) west of London. Security was tight and visitors had to pass through police search points set up around the castle, home to 39 English monarchs since 1066.
Harry said he had never heard of his future wife or watched her TV series, and she said she knew nothing of the prince. But after just two dates, he whisked her off to Botswana for a holiday, camping under the stars. “The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned, everything was just perfect,” Harry said when their engagement was announced last November.
Harry’s gilded upbringing is in stark contrast with Markle’s. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and her parents divorced when she was six. After a number of minor roles in films and on TV, she won the role as Rachel Zane in “Suits”. She ran a successful lifestyle blog, thetig.com, and has worked as a humanitarian campaigner. In 2011, she married film producer Trevor Engelson but they divorced in 2013.
“We can break the barriers down, it can be done,” said 40-year-old black Briton Yvonne Emanuel, one of the 100,000-strong crowd that thronged Windsor’s streets. The ceremony was typical of royal weddings in many ways. The service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor while Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, declared the couple man and wife, beneath the banners of the knights of the Order of the Garter, the world’s oldest chivalric group dating back to 1348.
The British remain broadly supportive of the monarchy albeit with a sense of mild irony about the pomp and pageantry that accompanies it, though many have deep respect for Elizabeth, after her 66 years of service. Harry, along with brother William and his wife Kate, are at the forefront of an effort to modernize the monarchy by talking openly about their innermost feelings.
The union of Harry, a former royal wild child and sixth-in-line to the British throne, and 36-year-old Meghan, a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is white, was like no other the royal family has seen before.
The newlyweds will also be officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after Queen Elizabeth bestowed those titles on them.
A wealthy Christian businessman from India has gifted a USD 3 lakh mosque to hundreds of Muslim workers ahead of Ramzan in the UAE, media reports here stated. Saji Cheriyan, 49, who hails from Kerala, has built a mosque for Muslim workers living in a worker accommodation that he rented out to 53 companies in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. He will name the mosque as Mariam, Umm Eisa.
The businessman, who had landed in the UAE in 2003 with just a few hundred dirhams, is gifting the 1.3 million dirham mosque to hundreds of workers this Ramzan, the report said. The mosque in the East Ville Real Estate complex in Al Hayl Industrial Area can accommodate 250 worshippers at a time, it said. Facilities for another 700 to pray in the interlocked courtyard of the mosque, which will be shaded by the time it opens, have also been arranged, it said.
Cheriyan said he decided to build the mosque after he saw workers taking taxis to go to the nearest mosque. “They have to spend at least 20 dirhams to go to Fujairah city or another industrial area to attend the Juma prayer in a mosque. So, I thought it will make them happy if I build a mosque here next to their accommodation,” he said.
The construction began over a year ago. Now the mosque is all set to open with the full support of Awqaf in Fujairah. “The Awqaf officials were surprised and happy when they got to know I am a Christian who wishes to build a mosque. They have offered me all the support and were ready to offer free electricity and water and other facilities,” Cheriyan said.
However, all that he has accepted from Awqaf are the carpet and sound system for the mosque. “When word spread about my mosque, many other people also offered cash donations, construction materials like sand and paint. But I have politely refused all those offers as I would like to pay from my pocket for this mosque,” he said.
He said he has opted for the name Mariam, Umm Eisa (Mary, the Mother of Jesus) for the mosque after an Abu Dhabi mosque was renamed so in 2017. Cheriyan, an Orthodox Christian by birth, had previously built a church for his parish in Dibba and also keeps the doors of a multipurpose hall in the East Ville Complex for various other groups of Christian believers to pray.
“I have grown up seeing communities living together in utmost harmony. We celebrate all religions’ festivals and I don’t judge or treat people based on religion, caste, colour or nationality. The UAE is another example of communal harmony and tolerance,” he added.
“For the very first time ever, a three-hour long workshop on the Opioid Crisis in the United States will be part of the upcoming AAPI’s 36th Annual National Convention & Scientific Assembly, to be held from July 4-8, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio,” Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. This initiative of AAPI is being put together by Dr. Hemant Patel, past President of AAPI.
More than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Opiates such as morphine have been used for pain relief in the United States since the 800s, and were used during the American Civil War. Devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic include increases in opioid misuse and related overdoses, as well as the rising incidence of newborns experiencing withdrawal syndrome due to opioid use and misuse during pregnancy.
In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. Increased prescription of opioid medications led to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription opioids before it became clear that these medications could indeed be highly addictive. An estimated 40% of opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription opioid.
“The workshop scheduled to be held on Friday July 6, 2018 9:00am – 12:00pm during the Convention is aimed at educating and creating awareness among the delegates at the convention on the growing opioid crisis, and how the physicians can play a vital role in preventing and containing the fast growing epidemic in the US,” Dr. Samadder added.
Also, for the first time, AAPI offers Living Well: The Happiness Program for Health Care Professionals. A unique advanced Physician wellness program that is designed from the ground up by medical professionals, for medical professionals. It’s meant to provide people working in the healthcare field with an opportunity to learn simple practices and utilize them to enhance their physical, mental, spiritual, and social wellbeing.
What’s more, Living Well’s benefits stretch well beyond HCPs themselves; Living Well is designed to prevent the Burnout Syndrome (BOS) as it influences the HCPs’ performance in all fields, including patient safety. The signature technique of Sudarshan Kriya taught at the program is a time-tested evidence based practice which reduces stress, improves sleep, increases energy and well-being. The happiness program will help MDs start developing a daily self-care routine that includes yoga, breathing & meditative practices.
Attended by over 2,000 AAPI delegates and their families, the 2018 AAPI Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly offers an exciting venue to interact with leading physicians, health professionals, academicians, and scientists of Indian origin. Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country 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. The AAPI convention will also offer 8-12 hours of CME credits. Scientific presentations, exhibits, and product theater presentations will highlight the newest advances in patient care, medical technology, and practice management issues across multiple medical specialties.
Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, said, “The convention offers an exciting venue to interact with leading physicians, health professionals, academicians, and scientists of Indian origin. Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country 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.”
Giving them a platform to celebrate their accomplishments, the annual convention to be attended by nearly 2,000 physicians of Indian origin, it will also provide a forum to renew their professional commitment through continuing medical educations activities. During the five-day event, attendees will engage with an impressive lineup of notable speakers and cutting edge medical and scientific information blended within a rich cultural backdrop of authentic Indian cuisine, fashion, yoga and entertainment from top Indian performers.
The convention includes CME and DME accredited courses as well as variety of panel discussions, presentations and a research competition. There are forums for AAPI Young Physicians Group (AAPI YPS) and for AAPI MSRF for medical students, residents and fellows. A nearly sold out Exhibitor Hall includes medical and pharmaceutical products, devices and equipment and medical and dental, practice-related services.”
“The essence of AAPI is educational,” Dr. Ashok Jain, Chairman of the BOT, while describing the purpose of CMEs said. “That translates into numerous Continuing Medical Education and non-CME seminars by experts in their fields. CME will provide comprehensive and current reviews and guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of various disease states to reduce morbidity and mortality and achieve cost effective quality care outcomes. At the end of the activity, it is expected that attendees will gain an understanding of the causation, diagnosis and the best clinical practices for the management of the diverse group of diseases discussed during this program.”
The event also includes AAPI’s Got Talent, organized by the AAPI physicians, is a chance for all registered guests of the convention to participate and compete in a talent show. It provides a chance for all registered guests of the convention to participate and compete in a talent show. “Physicians are not just about books and work. Our stress, our emotions that we learn to conceal, our tendency to imbibe life’s lessons and take it all as it comes is often channeled into artistic outlets where we let it all flow,” said Dr. Samadder. “Our talent event tagline is true to its word – passion truly meets professionalism in this event!” he added.
“AAPI Pageant, organized and supported by AAPI is more than just a title. It’s a movement for empowering women from all walks of life to achieve their dreams. This pageant promotes self-confidence, leadership, poise and public speaking skills as well as the strong presence of beautiful women in our community!” said Dr. John Johnson, Chair of the Convention Organizing Committee.
One in seven patient encounters in the United States is with a physician of Indian origin. The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, representing over 100,000 physicians of Indian Origin in the United States. Over 2,000 physicians, health professionals, academicians and scientists of Indian origin from across the globe will gather at the popular Convention Center, Columbus, OH from July 4-8, 2018. For more details, please visit: www.aapiusa.org
Indian American Harry Arora has been unanimously nominated for run for Congress on behalf of the Republican Party in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District, running against incumbent Democrat Jim Himes in November. “This race is not an easy race. The incumbent is entrenched. But I do intend to take the fight to him — house by house, street by street, Facebook friend by Facebook friend,” Arora told the CT Post.
A first generation American who came to this country as a graduate school student to pursue the American dream, Arora says, “I still remember the day when my flight landed and I realized that I did not know a single person in the entire country. While I came to this country alone, from the day I arrived, I was the beneficiary of the generosity of Americans. Strangers became friends and partners.”
After graduation, he worked with large corporations for a decade – learning a lot but disillusioned at times. In 2006, he decided to pursue his entrepreneurial dream and start his own investment management business. He worked as a portfolio manager and analyst for 20 years studying and investing in macro markets. Through this experience, he gained an understanding of government policy and its impact on economy, employment and living standards. He learned in great detail about our fiscal and monetary policies. “I came to understand the impact of immigration, employment trends and industry structure. This experience has given me an appreciation of how incentives are critical for the success of a system,” Arora says.
Arora had told the Stamford Advocate earlier that Himes’ and Gov. Dannel Malloy’s policies have failed Connecticut and if he wins, he will focus on the Connecticut economy, healthcare and improving the government, according to his campaign website
The primaries held last week, May 15th in the states of Oregon and Pennsylvania have brought to the front some Indian Americans after they won primaries to state and national offices. Voters in Multnomah County, Oregon, have elected the first South Asian-American to serve in public office in the state. Susheela Jayapal, 55, whose younger sister is Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), bested three rivals to win the nonpartisan seat on the county’s Board of Commissioners in Portland.
Despite it being a four-way Democratic primary, Jayapal made a clean sweep with more than 57 percent of the vote, dispensing with the need to have a runoff election between top two vote-getters on Nov. 6.
An avowed progressive like her sister, Susheela Jayapal’s campaign emphasized issues found in her sister’s campaign too: housing affordability and the prevention of homelessness. Following her victory, she told Oregon Live that her top priorities would be affordable housing, homelessness and working towards creating an ombudsman’s office.
“What I really see and respond to is the effect on communities that have been fractured by these types of displacement. I think we are all worse off when that happens to one of our communities,” she said. Susheela Jayapal succeeds Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith.
“Congratulations to my sis-ter,@SusheelaJayapal, who just became the first #SouthAsian American ever elected in Oregon! She ran an incredible race and won outright with 57% of the vote Multnomah County, she will be a strong progressive champion for you!” the Washington congresswoman tweeted.
Deepak Raj, co-founder of Impact and chair of the Impact Fund, called her “a source of great leadership and inspiration for our community.” Raj Goyle, co-founder of Impact and a former member of the Kansas House of Representatives said “from coast to coast, from County Commission to the U.S. Congress, talented Indian-American candidates are running for office and winning. Impact Fund is proud to stand with them.”
In other election news, Oregon state House of Representatives candidate Vineeta Lower didn’t have to sweat it out for the primary election in the 32nd District. The Indian American Republican candidate, who has a place in the November general election thanks to running unopposed in the primary, learned that Democrat Tiffiny Mitchell will be her opposition candidate.
Another Indian-American who ran for office in Oregon, was Republican Satya Chandragiri making a bid for State Representative from the 19th District. Chandragiri received 12.5 percent of the Republican vote compared to the 54.7 percent for the winner, Denyc Nicole Boles, and 32.7 percent by the runner-up Michael Hunter, according to results posted on the Oregon Secretary of State’s website.
“Growing up in India and the U.S., my mother had Schizophrenia and father served in Air Force, but we remained a close knit family,” says Chandragiri on his election website. He went on to become a physician and a psychiatrist, public servant, and small business owner. “I often say of my early life that: I was born in India but made in the USA.”
In the state of Pennsylvania, another Indian-American Inderjit Bains, who ran on a Republican ticket for the State House of Representatives from the 164th District, was elected unopposed, which means he will run against the Democratic candidate and incumbent State Rep. Margo Davidson in November. State District 164 heavily favors Democrats with some 4,182 Democrats showing up at the polls to vote for Davidson and only 1,055 Republicans voting for Bains.
After the primary, Bains thanked “everyone who came out and exercised their right to vote. I will be working harder to earn your support and vote. We need to have our voices heard in Harrisburg!”
Pennsylvania also saw Bangladeshi-American Nina Ahmad run for Lieutenant Governor in the Democratic primary. She made an impressive showing coming 2nd in a five-way race, securing 23.46 percent of the votes. Incumbent Mike Stack got fewer votes than Ahmad (16.77 percent). The winner in that Democratic primary was Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, who got 38.17 percent. Nina Ahmad said, she wanted to “restore integrity to the office and to be the progressive voice that Pennsylvania needs to take on Donald Trump.”
Long Island University (LIU), one of the largest private universities in the United States, conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree on Rao Anumolu, ASR’s Founder, President & CEO, during LIU’s 2018 Commencement ceremonies on May 11, 2018.
Rao Anumolu is the President & CEO of Long Island (New York) based ASR International Corporation. He obtained a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and also an MBA degree from Illinois Institute of Technology. He has attended several Advanced Management Courses at Defense Systems Management College, Harvard University and Wharton School of Business Management. He is also an OPM graduate of Harvard Business School (HBS).
Anumolu is the only Asian Indian to have been cited by the US Congress for the contributions made by him and ASR International Corporation towards homeland security in USA. Mr. Anumolu is the recipient of the 2010 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. This Medal recognized recipients for outstanding contributions to their communities, their nation and the world. It is the highest civilian award in the US for immigrants – for their contributions in the development of this country. Mr. Anumolu has held senior management positions directing commercial and government programs that included major aerospace design and development projects.
Anumolu founded ASR International Corporation in 1986 in Long Island, NY. ASR is a world renowned high technology company providing Engineering, Information Technology, Training, Project Management, Logistics, and Supply Chain Quality Management Support Services to global Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. ASR is ISO 9001:2015 certified and assessed at SEI CMMI Level 3.
ASR is a world renowned high technology company providing Engineering, Information Technology, Training, Project Management, Logistics, and Supply Chain Quality Management Support Services to global Fortune 500 companies and government agencies.
Founded in 1986, ASR is an ISO 9001:2015 certfied company providing world-wide Management and Technical Support Services to Government agencies and many Fortune 500 customers in the Aviation, Engineering, Manufacturing, Marine, Petrochemical, and Renewable Energy sectors. Visit asrintl.com for more information.
LIU is one of the nation’s largest private universities. Since its founding in 1926, LIU has provided high quality academic programs taught by world-class faculty. LIU offers 500 accredited programs to more than 20,000 students and has a network of over 200,000 alumni that includes leaders in industries across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.
Indian American Preeta Bansal was honored with the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Stewardship Award at the organization’s 24th annual Awards Gala on Tuesday, May 15.
US Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) presented the annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Stewardship Award to Bansal, whohad served as a General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor to the federal Office of Management and Budget from 2009 until 2011. Bansal is currently the CEO of Social Emergence Corporation and she also teaches at the MIT Media Lab, where she is a Senior Advisor for Social Machines.
“I’m honored to present the APAICS Stewardship Award to Solicitor General Preeta Bansal for her leadership in public service, and for her efforts to empower communities,” said the New York Democrat. “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time to honor and celebrate the achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Tonight, we recognize and celebrate Preeta for her immense contributions, and for her service and leadership to our community and the nation.”
APAICS Stewardship Award is presented annually to individuals who are leaders within AAPI communities in public service for their commitment to serve communities.
Prior to serving in the Obama administration, Bansal served as a law partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and as the Solicitor General of the State of New York during Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s first term. She also has been a member and past chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
Bansal is originally from Nebraska, she received an A.B. magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1986 and a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1989.
She also served as a Supervising Editor of the Harvard Law Review and after graduating from Harvard Law School, she clerked for Chief Judge James L. Oakes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1989 to 1990 and for U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens from 1990 to 1991.
After running her own private practice in Washington D.C., Bansal worked in the Clinton Administration from 1993 to 1996 as a Counselor in the U.S. Department of Justice and as a White House Special Counsel. Then in 1999, she was recruited to serve in the office of New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer as the Solicitor General of the State of New York after which Bansal was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Bansal is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She received the National Organization of Women’s “Woman of Power and Influence Award” in 2006 and was named one of the “50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America” by the National Law Journal in its inaugural list in 2008.
In 2006, she was a co-chair for then-Attorney General-Elect Andrew Cuomo’s transition team, and previously served as a board member of the Clinton Global Initiative, the National Women’s Law Center and the New York City Bar Justice Center, and as a Commissioner on Mayor Bloomberg’s Election Modernization Task Force.
Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of the state of Kerala, officially launched the much awaited The Trauma Rescue Initiative (TRI), a life-saving ambulance service network in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, May 11th, 2018. The new initiative was launched in association with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kerala Branch, the Kerala Police, and the Dr. Ramesh Kumar Foundation, based in the United States.
“We have pledged Rs. One Crore for RAMU service and almost half of the money has already been paid to IMA. Our aim is to help the needy, the nature, and help keep the legacy and the fond memories of our beloved son, Dr. Ramesh Kumar (RAMU),” said Dr. Narendra Kumar, past President of AKMG/AAPI and a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Recipient. “In case the patient is unable to pay for the services, IMA with the help of Dr. Ramesh Kumar Foundation will provide the financial assistance. I am happy that this project has come into effect all over the Stat from today.”
The Chief Minister launched the prestigious Accident Rescue initiative at the CM’s Conference Room in the presence of the State Director General of Police Loknath Behera; Inspector General Manoj Abraham; Kerala State MLA and famous Cine Actor Mukesh; Personal Secretary to the CM, Jayaraj; IMA Kerala State Branch President Dr. E K Ummer; Secretary Dr. N. Sulphi; Dr. Marthandapillai; Dr. Sreejith N. Kumar; Dr. John Panicker; Sister of Dr Narendra R Kumar, Dr. Syamala Kumari; Dr. Sunoj and Dr. Danish Salim, who helped develop the software.
The Chief Minister released the helpline number 9188 100100 linked to the state-wide network of ambulances. About 1000 ambulances have been registered with the scheme across the state during the first phase of the online network. These ambulances will be visible on the police web portal.
Under the initiative, ambulance services as well as trauma medical centers, both private and government in the city, will be networked. The project will be first implemented in the capital city on a trial basis. Ten trauma care hospitals have been included in the project and ambulance drivers have been given training.
TRI is using the software, web portal and app developed by PRS hospital emergency department head Dr. Danish Salim. The entire network is known as Ambulances Networking System with emergency Response (ANSWER). The number 9188100100 is operating out of Cantonment police station in Thiruvananthapuram. To ensure 24/7 response on this number, IMA has appointed three persons exclusively for handling distress calls. Ambulance drivers have been given training by the IMA and police department for using the online service.
Once the call goes to 9188 100 100, the staff at police control room will locate the nearest available ambulance from among those linked to the network. Once the ambulance is located, the police will pass on the message, contact number and address to the driver. Soon the ambulance will reach the place and take the patient to the nearest hospital.
The police control rooms have a special portal which gives the real-time location of ambulances close to the accident spot. Similarly, there will be separate mobile applications for ambulance drivers and hospitals to manage the distress calls. The applications can identify various types of available ambulances such as the ICU equipped ones in a particular area. During the next phase, a mobile app will created on the lines of Uber app whereby the users would be able to seek service directly. The project is quite significant considering the fact that on an average 11 persons die and 120 sustain grievous to minor injuries in road accidents in the state daily.
According to the IMA, in the first phase, around 1,000 ambulances plying in the state will be included in the network. IMA also is working towards developing a mobile app for availing the service of the ambulance network in which a person can easily send an alert to the nearest ambulance service available via the app. “Those who dial 9188 100 100 will first be connected to Thiruvananthapuram City Police Control Room. Upon locating the distress call it will be redirected to the nearest ambulance driver available,” said Sulphi.
In the case of the proposed mobile app, the IMA secretary said once an ambulance driver receives an alert, the app will show the place and the direction to reach there. It will also show a list of hospitals near the accident or emergency spot.
Friends and family of Michigan-based Indian American physician Dr. Ramesh Kumar, set up the 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. Kumar was known for his largesse, once paying for the surgery of a woman he didn’t know, friends said.
The Ramesh Kumar Foundation is dedicated to eliminating the barriers of the financial burden on individuals and families in need of medical treatment and also advocating for programs of medical research and education.
The Indian American doctor was the son of Dr. Narendra Kumar, former president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, and Meenakshi ‘Minni’ Kumar. More information about the foundation can be found at www.drrameshkumarfoundation.org.
President Donald Trump nominated Diane Gujarati, a prosecutor of Indian descent, to a federal judgeship on May 10 in an unusual move as she had been former President Barack Obama’s choice for the position. If confirmed, Diane Gujarati of New York will serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Diane Gujarati currently serves as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where she has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the past nineteen years. Ms. Gujarati also served as an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at New York University School of Law until earlier this year.
Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gujarati practiced for three years as a litigation associate in the New York City office of Davis Polk & Wardwell. Upon graduation from law school, Ms. Gujarati served as a law clerk to Judge John M. Walker, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Ms. Gujarati earned her B.A., summa cum laude, from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she served as an editor of both the Yale Law Journal and the Yale Journal on Regulation.
Obama nominated her for the judgeship towards the end of his term in September 2016 but she was not confirmed by the Senate requiring Trump’s renomination. Her father, Damodar Gujrarati, is an emeritus professor of economics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, which trains army officers.
Federal New York Eastern District Court is located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The federal prosecutor’s office for Southern District of New York, where started in 1999, is one of the most high profile jurisdictions in the country as it includes Wall Street as well as the state’s capital Albany.
Formerly headed by Preet Bharara, the office had prosecuted several important people in finance, including Rajat Gupta, Raj Rajaratnam and Mathew Martoma for insider trading on Wall Street and also several important politicians like New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Gupta, one of the highest ranking Indian-American business leaders, was managing director of consulting firm McKinsey and was sentenced to two years in prison and fined millions of dollars.
Four term councilman Saji George has been elected as mayor of the upscale Sunnyvale Township in Texas in the special election held on May 5. He got 54 percent of the votes polled while the nearest opponent Karen Hill received 33 percent votes. The mayoral election, which was nonpartisan. The town is administered by a mayor and five member council. The mayor will hold the office for one year.
The former engineer with the Indian Space Research Organization, was elected mayor of the sparsely populated rural township in Dallas County, Texas. Saji George will serve the remainder of the two-year term of Jim Phaup, who stepped down in March to run for state office on the Republican ticket.
“I feel excited that I get to lead and set the strategy and vision for the township where I have been a resident for the past 18 years. I wanted to put my experience in education and passion for public service into good use and so I stood for the election,” George told India Abroad in a telephone interview after his election.
George came to the U.S. for a master’s degree in engineering at Texas Tech University in 1989, then moved to Dallas. He got involved with the local community, trying to build schools and taking interest in various community issues. He subsequently got an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
“Sunnyvale residents are very educated, and they are informed citizens,” he said. “They want a balanced growth for Sunnyvale and a quality development for the township. I want to enhance quality of life that means I want to protect the green space and would encourage and increase infrastructure to bring in good quality businesses. We need groceries, good restaurants and good shopping centers in the town.” He said that as mayor he will be committed to keeping Sunnyvale safe, protecting its rural atmosphere.
Sunnyvale, which is 15 miles east of Dallas, has a very diverse population. The number of residents, George said, is about 6,500, of which 15 percent are Indian-Americans, mostly of Malayalee origin. George, who used to coach children and help them with studies even when he was in Kerala, is passionate about education. He said although the school board runs the educational system and the mayor’s office does not control the board, he would like to get involved individually as a citizen and work to improve the schools.
“Like all Indians, I put a lot of emphasis on good education,” said George. “Although the school system is very good in Sunnyvale that attracts a lot of people to come and settle in the township, I would like to make them even better.” The Sunnyvale resident and his wife have two children, who are in college.
As the nation is heading towards the next round of general elections in November this year, four states, Ohio, North Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana kicked off with the primaries on May 8 primaries in four states electing Indian-Americans, with a potential increase in the number of Indian-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and several state capitals, in the November election. In these states, several Indian American and South Asian American candidates marched to the generation election, winning in the primaries at the state level emerging victorious.
At least 2 Indian-American candidates won their primaries in competitive races, one in North Carolina running for State Senate against a three-term incumbent, and the other for the Ohio State House. A South Asian (Pakistani-American) candidate in North Carolina made a great showing despite losing the primary; and the fact that several Indian-Americans had no opponents within their parties, two in Congressional races in Ohio, one in a State level race in North Carolina, and another in Indiana, means a potential for come November.
In Ohio, incumbent State Rep. Niraj Antani won the primary by a two third number of votes cast to the Ohio State House District 42 Republican primary. Leading by a wide margin of 63 percent of the vote, Antani handily defeated his closest opponent, Miamisburg Vice Mayor Sarah M. Clark (28 percent), and a 3rd Republican contender, Marcus Rech of Miamisburg (9 percent)
The youngest lawmaker since his first win 3 years ago, Antani, 26, faces off on Nov. 6, against Zach Dickerson, also a youthful Democrat who defeated his opponent with 56 percent of the vote in the primary. “My opponents worked very hard and tried to make it a competitive race,” Antani told News India Times. “The results show I have a strong base in my district and have worked very hard and delivered results,” he added. His selling point, he said, was “the cumulative total of delivering results and solving problems,” adding that his focus has been job creation, workforce development and affordable higher education, as well as building a strong business climate. All these are “important issues for Indian-Americans,” he noted, emphasizing that he “had a strong base in the Indian-American community” and would continue to represent it.
In Ohio, another Indian-American with a fair chance at the U.S. Congress, Aftab Pureval, was unopposed in the Democratic primary from District 1. He will be facing off against incumbent Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, who defeated his opponent Samuel Ronan by a vast margin (83.2 percent to 16.8 percent). The Democratic Party is banking on Pureval to turn a Red seat to Blue come Nov. 6, because it feels the mood has changed nationally and locally to favor Democrats, in an environment where President Trump’s popularity ratings are down.
In North Carolina, while no South Asian American ran for federal office, multiple candidates were seeking spots in the general election for state level offices. Jay Chaudhuri, a state Senate candidate and Democratic incumbent in the 15th Legislative District, won his primary, running unopposed. Chaudhuri will be challenged by Republican Alan Mitchell and Libertarian Brian Lewis, both winning in unopposed elections, in the general.
In North Carolina Democrat Mujtaba Mohammed, an Indian-American public interest lawyer in North Carolina, won a competitive primary May 8, when he defeated a three-term incumbent from his own party. Born in the U.S. to Indian parents, he jumped into a State Senate primary from District 38 in North Carolina, his first foray into electoral politics, to soundly defeat three-term incumbent Joel Ford, winning 51.9 percent of the vote to Ford’s 40.71 percent.
“I appreciate Joel Ford’s service. I felt it was incumbent upon me to run having served the underprivileged all my life, having been in the trenches from where we see the failures of government, a lot of people felt he was out of step with our true democratic values,” the public interest lawyer said. District 38 is Democrat-leaning and Mohammed will probably win the seat to the State Senate Nov. 6, against Republican Richard Rivette, who ran unopposed in his party primary.
Mohammed would then become the 2nd Indian-American in the Upper House, the other being incumbent Democrat Jay Chaudhuri, who was unopposed in his primary from N.C. State Senate District 16. This district is heavily Democratic, so Chaudhuri will be re-elected to office in November, obvious also from his past record.
Dr. Naveed Aziz, a Pakistani-American, made an impressive showing in the May 8 Democratic primary in North Carolina, in her bid for the state senate from District 21 against incumbent and fellow Democrat Ben Clark, making quite a dent with the vote that got behind her. She secured an impressive 44.40 percent of the vote to Clark’s 55.60, indicating her potential to run for future office. Aziz had run for the same seat back in 2016. According to her website Aziz wants to “build the economy of tomorrow” by investing in the people of today, meaningful healthcare, quality public education, and support for women and their families.
Himesh Gandhi won the at-large position one council seat in Sugar Land, Texas on May 5th. Vying for the seat unopposed, Gandhi received 100 percent of the 4,353 votes in claiming a fourth and final term. “Thank you to the citizens of Sugar Land for your trust and confidence as I serve my fourth and final term. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve!” Gandhi wrote on Facebook.
Gandhi has held the seat for three terms and, when announcing his intentions to run for a fourth and final term, he said the city he has called home for most of his adult life is a place he is “committed to maintaining quality development and robust city services while following smart spending practices.”
At 35, Himesh Gandhi became the youngest candidate in the history of Fort Bend County, Texas to win an “At Large” Sugar Land City Council seat, receiving more than 52 percent of the vote and leading his next closest opponent by 20 percent in 2012.
He has served on numerous city council committees and was also a member of the task force that spearheaded development of the Smart Financial Center at Sugar Land—an iconic concert and performance hall that opened last year.
Other successes and projects launched by the city during Gandhi’s previous term include the successful annexations of Greatwood and New Territory, the acquisition of a former prison site for redevelopment, the completion of drainage projects, and the return to normal operations after the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey.
Gandhi is an attorney and shareholder with the law firm Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC. He is board certified in commercial real estate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has served in leading roles in numerous community organizations. In 2015, he was honored by the Houston Business Journal as one of the region’s 40 under 40 young leaders. Gandhi earned a B.B.A. from Houston Baptist University and his law degree from the South Texas College of Law Houston. He, his wife Farrah and their son Jaiden live in the Telfair neighborhood.
“I always had an interest in community service and I grew up here in Sugar Land so it was important for me to make sure that there was excellent leadership. The interest was there and this is just another way of serving the community in this capacity,” Gandhi said.
To Gandhi, “Sugar Land is a great city and I want to make sure it stays that way. I want to make sure it remains as one of the most premier cities in America to live in and I want to make sure I am a part of it moving forward. There are going to be growth issues as it is a growing city. So I want to make sure that I add to that, making sure that the services remain at a high level, making sure it is a safe city and making sure the property values remain very high.”
Unity is strength. This was the simple yet powerful subject of conversation at this year’s annual women’s conference of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS held at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs across North America in 14 different locations on dates between April 21 and May 5.
Held in 14 cities across North America, this conference aims to inspire its attendees to bring about change through dialogue and reflection and this year was no different. At the conferences across the nation, women from different backgrounds and of different ages stressed the power of humility and positivity in creating a unified nation and global community. Organizers said an estimated 2,000 women attended the conference at different centers, including in New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, speaking at the Washington conference, Amita Shukla, CEO of Vitamita, emphasized the importance of the mindset in achieving unity. “Positivity is simply surrendering our fears, humility is surrendering our ego, and unity is becoming one with the elements and seeing everything as an interconnected whole,” she said.
At the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford, Texas on April 21, 2018, the conference dwelt on unity as it is currently on the minds of many in society, and separation due to differences natural, the conference instead focused on the individual’s role in creating a unified nation and world. The speakers delved into the qualities of humility and positivity and their roles in initiating a more unity-centered mind-frame.
At the conference in Robbinsville, New Jersey, the state’s first lady Tammy Murphy, State Sen. Linda Greenstein and New York Assemblywoman Nily Rozic were among the speakers. “It doesn’t make you less powerful to be united. It adds great strength to anything that you’re doing. The unity within us enables and fosters the unity around us,” said Greenstein (DMiddlesex).
The conference covered three key concepts: importance of unity, power of humility and power of positivity and provided an opportunity for attendees to understand the significance of unity as a global concept while also discussing the little steps everyone can take toward this goal.
Another New Jersey speaker, nephrologist Tamanna Kalra used an evidence-based approach to affirm that humility is not a fixed trait, but one that should be practiced and developed. Dr. Priya Patel, a resident in ob-gyn, closed out the conference with a talk on the power of positivity. Her story of a cancer patient’s calm, thoughtful, and positive response to a life-ending diagnosis inspired the attendees.
Naimi Patel, closed out the conference with a compelling talk on the power of positivity. Giving a simple yet practical piece of advice, she said, “You can turn a negative situation into a positive situation through a change in perspective.”
Gauri Chandna, author of the book “Sparks” said at the Westborough, Massachusetts location: “Women play a great role in the growth and development of society making it an advanced and modern society,” and offered a quote often attributed to Brigham Young, a Utah politician and leader in the Latter Day Saint movement: “You educate a man, you educate a man. You educate a woman, you educate a generation.”
Speaking to community and business leaders of New York ,Swami Vigyananand ji said that the mission of World Hindu Congress is to provide a global platform for Hindus to Connect and share Ideas ,inspire one another and impact the common good. It offers Hindus an opportunity to to introspect towards improvement and tap into our collective resources to seek tangible solutions to the most pressing issues of our age.
Virender Patel, Dr Yashpal Arya, Indu Jaiswal , Jagdish Sewhani, Swami Vigyananand ji , Dr Vijay Arya, Urmilesh Arya wer among those who were at the event in New York where Swamiji urged Hindus in New York to participate in large number at World Hindu Congress in Chicago in September 2018.
Held once every four years ,WHC’s seven parallel conferences showcases how the values, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the Global Hindu Community find expression in variety of spheres, including economic. education ,media, organizational and political.as well as the unique leadership and contributions of Hindu women and youth.
WHC also serves as the platform to address critical issues impacting Hindus worldwide, including Human rights, discrimination and cultural assaults. Hindus have face insurmountable odds over the last several centuries yet have been able to nourish and sustain Hindu Civilization.
Guided by the Hindu Principle Sumantrite Suvikrante I.e Think Collectively , Achieve Valiantly., WHC is a movement not to be missed. On the eve of 125th Anniversary of Swami VIvekananda’s Historic address to Parliament of World Religions in Chicago, Hindus from all over the world and from all backgrounds are invited to actively participate.
Jagdish Sewhani said that this is once in a lifetime opportunity for Hindus in America to participate in the World Hindu Congress which is going to happen in Chicago from September 7th To 9th 2018. We are expecting around 2000 delegates from all over the world. We are four million very successful Hindus in America, it is our responsibility to donate generously for this
Mahayagya. For further information you can visit www.worldhinducongress.org or contact Jagdish Sewhani at 917 834 8842 or Email at Jsewhani@gmail.com
The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA) is greatly disappointed, to say the least that the USCIRF has chosen to keep India on Tier II of, the Countries of Particular Concern, instead of Tier I countries, in spite of the unprecedented violence against Christians and other religious minorities for the past three years under Prime Minister Modi and his party’s rule in India.
The following statement is issued by the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations in favor of publishing at the occasion of the Annual Report Release Event held by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, (USCIRF) on May 8, 2018, Washington, DC.
“The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA) is greatly disappointed, to say the least that the USCIRF has chosen to keep India on Tier II of, the Countries of Particular Concern, instead of Tier I countries, in spite of the unprecedented violence against Christians and other religious minorities for the past three years under Prime Minister Modi and his party’s rule in India.
The government of India, under Prime Minister Modi, has been drastically restricting the free exercise of faith by Christians. The militia run by the parent organization of Modi’s political party, The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliated organizations like Hindu Munnani, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) are engaged in a pitched battle at the grassroots level to harass, intimidate and punish people for merely following Christ. They are engaged in vicious and naked aggression against Christians in every corner of the country.
Since 2014, when Modi formed the national government, hate crimes, social boycotts, assaults and forced conversion of Christians to Hinduism have escalated dramatically.
FIACONA is deeply disappointed at the level of insensitivity shown by the USCIRF, to the plight of over 100 million people who have chosen to practice Christianity in India. If the level of violence experienced by Christian populations for the past three years is not sufficient to put India in Tier I, we wonder what will.
We are deeply hurt that the Commission has betrayed the memory of the victims of senseless terror in the name of Hindu nationalism perpetrated by groups affiliated with the Modi government. Unfortunately, this report is seen as pandering to certain interest groups while going against the very idea for which the commission was created.
FIACONA respectfully rejects the conclusion of the Commission and hopes that the new Commission to be appointed will be more sensitive to the victims who suffer under the hostile government policies of Prime Minister Modi and not be political in their decision at the expense of innocent suffering people.
Naperville, IL – May 14, 2018: Indian Community Outreach (ICO) hosted Kick – off ceremony of grand India Day Celebration for 2018 India Day to celebrate 71 years of India’s Independence Day. The event was attended by over 100 guests including Naperville Mayor, Steve Chirico, DuPage County Member, Naperville City Council Member, City of Aurora Alderman, Schaumburg Township Trustee Nimish Jani, Naperville Park District Chair Mike Reilly, Elected Officials & Representatives, Sponsors, ICO Advisors, Community Leaders and Representatives from Media Fraternity. With many exciting additions, this year’s India Day will again take place at Knock Park in Naperville on August 12, 2018 and will feature a grand colorful parade and a concert by Bollywood rock star Sukhwinder Singh, concluding with display of fireworks.
Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, Chief Guest at the event, said, “India Day Celebration in a short span of just three years has become a very impressive event showcasing the Indian culture and heritage.” Mayor Chirico congratulated Krishna Bansal, Chairman, India Community Outreach and noted that heights achieved by ICO in just 4 years usually take decades to reach. He congratulated ICO for achieving the goal of educating and integrating the communities while enhancing economic interest of Naperville. ICO has been instrumental in facilitating many Indian American businesses to come to Naperville.
ICO recently received the Illinois Bicentennial Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Award from Illinois State Governor Bruce Rauner for the Significant Community Contributions and became the first Indian American organization to receive this honor. 2018 India Day has also been inducted as part of Illinois Bicentennial celebrations.
While speaking about the history and purpose behind formation of ICO, Krishna Bansal, Chairman of ICO said that 2018 India Day Celebration would be one of the largest and best Indian American event in United States. Bollywood Rock Star Sukhwinder Singh will be the star performer this year. He also said that there would be multiple activities lined up from morning 11:00 am to 9:30 pm that includes International Food Court, Ethnic Indian Bazaar, Children’s park, Local Talent show, Indian Fashion Show, Parade, Bollywood Concert, Colorful Fireworks and many more to be added in the activities. Bansal urged all community members and Business owners to come forward to support and sponsor the event. Maintaining the commitment, event will again be free to attend for everyone.
Alderman at City of Aurora, Rick Mervine, was a special guest who emphasized the necessity of civic engagement for the Indian American Community.
Over 2,000 AAPI delegates and their families who will attend the 2018 AAPI Annual Convention& Scientific Assembly in Columbus, Ohio will have an authentic experience of yoga and meditation with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on July 5th, 2018. “We are so fortunate to have Sri Sri, who travels the world sharing wisdom and insights on a number of timely and important topics, and is a world –renowned author of books that teach and inspire, has agreed to grace us with his presence and enlighten us all with his wisdom. His talks motivate and encourage, offer comfort and reassurance, and provide insights for daily living,” Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI said.
During the five day event to held from July 4th to 8th, attendees will engage with an impressive lineup of notable speakers and cutting edge medical and scientific information blended within a rich cultural backdrop of authentic Indian cuisine, fashion, yoga and entertainment from top Indian performers.
The event also includes AAPI’s Got Talent, organized by the AAPI physicians, is a chance for all registered guests of the convention to participate and compete in a talent show. AAPI Pageant, organized and supported by National AAPI – a non-profit organization, is being held for the first time in Columbus, Ohio during 36th National AAPI Convention from July 4-8, 2018. “AAPI Pageant is more than just a title, it’s a movement for empowering women from all walks of life to achieve their dreams. This pageant promotes self-confidence, leadership, poise and public speaking skills as well as the strong presence of beautiful women in our community!” said Dr. John Johnson, Chair of the Convention Organizing Committee.
Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, who was present at the 33rd edition of AAPI’s convention in Florida in 2015, recalled, how the delegates of AAPI were led to meditate after an inspiring address on Yoga and health by global thought and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. “The unique event served as a platform for the AAPI members to discuss the importance of meditation in resolving the nation’s pressing health concerns and how Ayurveda, Yoga, and Meditations, the ancient traditions of India offer solutions to the most pressing health problems of the world,” Dr. Parikh said.
“The secret of meditation is in letting go,” Sri Sri told the gathering, which included AAPI members and their families. “Stress arises when we have too much to do, and not enough energy or time to do it. We can neither change time nor the number of things we need to do. So, the only option is to increase energy levels. And this can be accomplished through yoga, breathing techniques and meditation,” Sri Sri told the delegates at the Orlando convention. A happy mind lets you stay calm; make better decisions and improve the overall quality of life, he told the Doctors, acknowledging that they lead a stressful life. “You live on average ten years less than the patients you treat,” as a consequence of the stressful life you lead, he told them.
Dr. Ashok Jain, Chair of BOT of AAPI, highlighted the importance of ancient Indian traditions and how they sow the way to a healthier life in modern world. He thanked the many sponsors of AAPI who make conventions a success. “The presence of Sri Sri in our midst will not only enlighten us, but will enforce in each of us the important contributions of ancient India to the world, especially in the world of medicine,” Dr. Jain added.
The convention offers an exciting venue to interact with leading physicians, health professionals, academicians, and scientists of Indian origin. Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country 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.
The convention includes CME and DME accredited courses as well as variety of panel discussions, presentations and a research competition. There are forums for AAPI Young Physicians Group (AAPI YPS) and for AAPI MSRF for medical students, residents and fellows. A nearly sold out Exhibitor Hall includes medical and pharmaceutical products, devices and equipment and medical and dental, practice-related services.
One in seven patient encounters in the United States is with a physician of Indian origin. The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, representing over 100,000 physicians of Indian Origin in the United States. Over 2,000 physicians, health professionals, academicians and scientists of Indian origin from across the globe will gather at the popular Convention Center, Columbus, OH from July 4-8, 2018. For more details, please visit: www.aapiusa.org
More than 500 guests, including business executives, investors, entrepreneurs and community leaders, who had attended American India Foundation’s annual gala, helped raise $1.84 million to support AIF’s poverty-disrupting work on the ground in India on April 30, at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City.
The fund raised will be used to support the organization’s Learning and Migration Program (LAMP), In India each year, 70 million people migrate from their villages to find work, bringing their children with them to hazardous work sites like saltpans, brick kilns and sugar plantations, where they are vulnerable to child labor and trafficking. These children are pulled out of school for as much as eight months at a time. They fall severely behind, and often dropout – if they are lucky enough to go to school at all.
One of highlights of the evening was a presentation by one of the beneficiaries of the Learning and Migration Program (LAMP). Sunita Koli, who grew up in Gujarat as the daughter of two parents who worked in the saltpans, shared how the program had an impact on her life. As a child, Sunita worked long days on the hot saltpans of Gujarat for up to eight months a year. Because she migrated to the saltpans with her parents, she wasn’t able to go to school and learn.
One day, Sunita learned of an opportunity to stay in her community – and in school – through AIF’s Learning and Migration Program. She found studying difficult at first, but within a few years, had completely transformed.
Sunita became the first girl in her community to graduate 10th grade, and a few years later, to graduate college. Today, she is studying for the Public Service Exam so she can help other girls like herself succeed.
AIF believes that education can break the cycle of poverty and migration that traps individuals and families in menial and exploitative work. Its Learning and Migration Program does just that, by empowering children affected by migration with a quality education.
Sunita Koli said, “I look at this country and all the facilities here and I don’t know if you can understand what it means for someone from my community to go to college. How difficult it is. How many barriers we have to overcome to make this happen. I am proud that I was able to achieve this.”
“Other girls in my community saw me and they realized that there was life outside this village. They wanted to do something and be something in life. My younger sister followed my footsteps and there are other girls from my community who are now going to college,” she said.
Sunita’s story illustrates the impact of the Learning and Migration Program. Now she is a role model and mentor for other girls in her village, said AIF. AIF CEO Nishant Pandey shared the opportunity LAMP has provided to young girls in rural India.
The evening also featured remarks from other prominent leaders who lauded AIF on its continued success in fighting poverty for the most marginalized people in India. These leaders included Raj Gupta, former Chairman & CEO, Rohm & Haas Company, Ajay Banga, President & Chief Executive Officer, MasterCard, and Lata Krishnan, Chief Financial Officer, Shah Capital Partners.
Actress Reshma Shetty engaged the audience throughout the evening as the Master of Ceremonies. The event honored Andrew Liveris, Chairman & CEO of The Dow Chemical Company and Director & Former Executive Chairman of DowDuPont, and Shikha Sharma, Managing Director & CEO of Axis Bank.
AIF Vice Chair, Harit Talwar, Head of Digital Finance at Goldman, Sachs & Co., thanked supporters for their generosity and encouraged those in attendance to continue contributing to the American India Foundation. Talwar said, “With your support, AIF continues to serve as the innovative source of opportunity for those who need it most”.
Prominent speakers included Raj Gupta, retired Chairman and CEO of Rohm & Haas Company; Ajay Banga, President and Chief Executive Officer of MasterCard; and Lata Krishnan, Chief Financial Officer at Shah Capital Partners.
The event honored Andrew Liveris, Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company and Director & Former Executive Chairman of DowDuPont, and Shikha Sharma, Managing Director and CEO of Axis Bank.
Nearly 200 people representing several organizations from the tri-state area, including members from Ohmkara, the Gujarat Samaj of New York, the Gujarat Samaj of Baltimore and the Vaishnav Parivar of Connecticut, led by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA-NY/NJ/CT) came together at the Consulate General of India in New York to celebrate the 58th Gujarat Sthapna Divas on Wednesday, May 2nd.
“I think Gujarat is such a state which inspires our country, which inspires many things in India. The National Anthem was composed in 1919 and Gujarat became a state on May 1, 1960, so even in Rabindranath Tagore’s imagination, Gujarat was very much alive and kicking back then,” said The Consul General of India in New York, Sandeep Chakravorty. “When we celebrate Gujarat Sthapna Divas, we are basically celebrating India’s unity, diversity and cultural rituals,” he added.
Dr. Sudhir Parikh, founder and chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media shared with the audience as to how May 1 is not only Gujarat Day but International Labor Day as well. “May 1 is not only Gujarat Day but it is also International Labor Day which is being celebrated since the 19th century. For Gujaratis who are known globally for their entrepreneurship and hard work, it is an honor to have Gujarat Day held on the same day,” he said, adding, “I am very proud and privileged to mention that the founder of the state of Gujarat was Indulal Yagnik, who started his Gujarat movement from my home in Nadiad.”
Dr. Parikh also touched upon the importance of keeping the Gujarati culture and traditions alive by the diaspora. “As NRIs, it is our duty to help Gujarat in whatever way we can. A small philanthropic effort can help change the lives of many underprivileged people, so we should step up our effort to reach out with a helping hand. Gujaratis make up to 33 percent of the Indian population worldwide and the United States has the second largest population of Gujaratis,” he said. Dr. Parikh was felicitated also at the meet, for his contribution to the Gujarati community.
Air India recently launched a new flight from Newark to Ahmedabad, which brought plenty of cheer for the Gujarati community, especially for those on the East Coast. “This is a tribute to your success and support that after decades, we have started a new flight to Ahmedabad from Newark via London. Gujarat is such a vibrant part; when every state prospers then India prospers. Air India is the only airline that operates to the most cities within Gujarat,” said a representative from Air India.
Others who spoke at the occasion included Ramesh Patel, the chairman of FIA; Srujal Parikh, the president of FIA; Yogesh Patel, a BJP MP from Gujarat; Pinakin Pathak, the chairman of Ohmkara; Vishnubahi Patel of the Gujarat Samaj of New York; Rajiv Desai of the Vaishnav Parivar of Connecticut; Rupal Shah of the Gujarati Samaj of Baltimore and Smita Miki Patel of the Indian Performing Arts Center.
Cultural performances including colorful dancers from the Indian Performing Arts Center, Foram Shah and Umesh Bhatt were enjoyed by one and all. A Gujarati dinner was provided by Rajbhog Foods.
AAHOA, in partnership with Polaris, a global leader in the fight against modern slavery, launched a new digital training for members and their employees that focuses on raising awareness of human trafficking in the hospitality industry. The AAHOA Human Trafficking Awareness Training (HTAT) is available exclusively to AAHOA’s nearly 18,000 members and the over 600,000 employees at member properties at no cost.
“Hoteliers have a moral imperative to prevent human trafficking at their properties,” said AAHOA Chairman Hitesh (HP) Patel. “Unfortunately, the privacy and anonymity that are inherent in the hotel industry, as well as the frequent turnover of clientele, make hotels an attractive venue for criminals looking to exploit trafficking victims. This new training developed with Polaris will go a long way to help hoteliers and their employees identify the signs of sex and labor trafficking, assist victims, and work with law enforcement to keep this criminal activity out of our communities.”
Patel made his remarks today in Houston, Texas, where he participated in a roundtable discussion about raising awareness of and preventing human trafficking. The roundtable, hosted by House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), also included representatives from the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign and Polaris.
“This training is a vital tool in the fight against sex trafficking and forced labor,” said Joe Racalto, Director of Government Relations at Polaris. “Education is one of the keys to ending modern slavery and restoring freedom and dignity to survivors. By making it freely available to so many hoteliers and hotel workers, we can quickly raise awareness of the issue.”
The AAHOA Human Trafficking Awareness Training provides an overview of sex and labor trafficking, discusses red flags, and provides case examples. Participants are also informed about appropriate steps to respond to suspected instances of trafficking. Upon completion of the training, participants earn a certificate which may satisfy state and/or local training requirements.
“With a membership that owns about one in every two hotels across the United States, AAHOA is capitalizing on that reach to promote education and awareness of human trafficking. This important training not only focuses on sex trafficking, but also on labor trafficking, which can be difficult to spot. Being a conscientious employer means understanding how labor brokers and recruiters exploit workers and requesting supply chain transparency to ensure that no one is being forced to work against his or her will. Hoteliers are uniquely positioned to disrupt the criminal networks and individuals that exploit society’s most vulnerable through human trafficking, and they can save lives in the process,” said AAHOA President and CEO Chip Rogers.
AAHOA Human Trafficking Awareness Training is available through AAHOA’s website (http://www.aahoa.com/htat/). Non-members can register for and complete the training by either renewing their AAHOA membership or joining the association.
AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the world. The nearly 18,000 AAHOA members own almost one in every two hotels in the United States. With billions of dollars in property assets and hundreds of thousands of employees, AAHOA members are core economic contributors in virtually every community. AAHOA is a proud defender of free enterprise and the foremost current-day example of realizing the American dream.
The theme for the 25th celebration of World Press Freedom Day is “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law,” focussing on the importance of an enabling legal environment for press freedom, and gives attention to the role of an independent judiciary in ensuring legal guarantees for press freedom and prosecution of crimes against journalists..
Only 13% of the world population enjoys a free press, where coverage of politics is robust, the safety of journalists is guarateed, and state intrusion in media affairs is minimal. A partly free press to 42% of the world population. The remaining 45% lives in countries where a free press is non-existent (“New Report: Freedom of the Press 2017”). Political and economic transformations of some countries alongside their technological developments place new restrictions on press freedom.
Governments of these countries tend to implement restrictive laws and censorship on freedom of press, usually justifying these actions as a necessary tool for national security against terrorism. Apart from violating the right of freedom of expression, these restrictions place higher risks of violence, harassment and death on journalists.
Since the year 2000, annual incarceration of journalists has continued to increase globally, with many of them never seeing the inside of a courtroom. In 2017, 81 journalists died whilst committed to their jobs – 66% of them were murdered.
According to the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, violence and restrictions against media freedom has risen by 14% in the time period of 2012-2017. At the same time, since 2016, media freedom in countries where it was ranked as “good” decreased by 2.3%.
Among the countries that suffered the largest declines on the report’s 100-point scale in 2016 were Poland (6 points), Turkey (5), Burundi (5), Hungary (4), Bolivia (4), Serbia (4), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (4).
The world’s 10 worst-rated countries and territories were Azerbaijan, Crimea, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Turkmenistan.
Obesity Awareness Campaign (VOAC) 2K walk was organized by Dr. Bhushan Pandya in Danville, Virginia. The event was based on a First VOAC pilot event organized by Dr. Uma Koduri, leaders of the VFW and VA MOVE! Initiative, in Oklahoma, last year.
The Danville event was hosted by VFW post 647 led by Commander Jeff Crews and Quarter Master Dennis Forslund. The Mayor of Danville John Gilstrap, proclaimed April 21, 2018 as the “Veteran’s Health and Obesity Awareness Day” as more than three quarters of veterans receiving care in VA facilities are considered obese, overweight or struggling with weight-related issues.
Dr. Pandya talked about the medical ill effects of obesity and the importance of staying healthy while Janice Bailey, a dietician at VA clinic and MOVE! Coordinator, said, “it is a negotiation when you come to see me. What are you willing to do to remain physically independent, similar to what you did during active duty?”
Virginia Senator Frank Ruff donated to the event and joined the 2K walk along with Virginia General Assembly Delegate Les Adams. The event also featured a mini Yoga session and a CPR demonstration by first responders.
The event was attended by a number of Indian American physicians and showcased their service to the community, It was supported by Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, founder and chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and Dr. Sanku Rao of Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), WHEELS Global Foundation, Greater Piedmont Triad AAPI and DPAM.
VOAC is chaired by Dr. Vikas Khurana and co-chaired by Dr. Uma Koduri and Dr. Satheesh Kathula. It was launched at the Consulate General of India in New York, on November 4, 2017.
Earlier in November 2017, the national AAPI had launched a similar campaign across the US> “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. Gautam Samadder said adding that one out of seven doctors in the United States is of Indian heritage, providing care to around 40 million Americans.
The AAPI has been conducting awareness campaigns aimed at childhood obesity for several years, adopting more than 80 schools around the country, and that has led to taking up the veterans health challenge.
CNN’s medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has taken the unusual step of publicly urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reconsider his opposition to medical marijuana, particularly as a way to fight the opioid epidemic.
The Indian American physician TV show host wrote a public letter to Sessions, saying that he had changed his mind on the use of medical marijuana, “and I am certain you can, as well.”
In his open letter, Dr. Gupta wrote: “I feel obligated to share the results of my five-year-long investigation into the medical benefits of the cannabis plant. Before I started this worldwide, in-depth investigation, I was not particularly impressed by the results of medical marijuana research, but a few years later, as I started to dedicate time with patients and scientists in various countries, I came to a different conclusion.
“Not only can cannabis work for a variety of conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and pain, sometimes, it is the only thing that works. I changed my mind, and I am certain you can, as well. It is time for safe and regulated medical marijuana to be made available nationally. I realize this is an unconventional way to reach you, but your office declined numerous requests for an interview, and as a journalist, a doctor and a citizen, I felt it imperative to make sure you had access to our findings.”
He said he made his plea after Sessions declined to be interviewed for his special on the topic, which aired April 29 on CNN. A spokeswoman for Sessions declined comment April 26.
The CNN special followed football player Mike James and others who say that medical marijuana has both eased the pain of injuries and weaned them from addiction to opioids. Medical marijuana is currently legal in 29 states and Washington, D.C.
Before he began researching the issue a few years ago, Gupta said he was not a believer in medical marijuana and, in fact, thought it was essentially being used as a ladder to recreational use of the drug. But he said he became convinced that research on the issue was intentionally skewed negative, and he spoke to enough people who swear by it.
“The idea that it could work for people, and sometimes is the only thing than can work for people, should give it the respect that it deserves,” he said in an interview. Still, reporters generally tell stories and don’t become advocates the way Gupta has by writing to Sessions.
“I don’t see it, first of all, as a step into advocacy,” he said. “As a journalist, one of the things that we’re obligated to do is speak truth to power and this is a good example of that.” The opioid epidemic lends urgency to the issue, he said.
The special quotes Sessions in a public appearance saying “how stupid is that” to the opinion that medical marijuana could be used to stem heroin addiction. Gupta said the marijuana use needs to be carefully regulated and tested to determine the correct dosages. In his letter to Sessions, Gupta said that if researchers started from scratch to design a medicine to help turn around the opioid epidemic, it would likely look like cannabis.
He said he’s not morally opposed to recreational use of marijuana, which is legal in nine states and the District of Columbia. But he said he didn’t want to confuse the two issues. “People comingle the two issues and I think it’s really hurt the medical marijuana movement,” he said.
“Making medicinal marijuana available should come with certain obligations and mandates, just as with any other medicine. It should be regulated to ensure its safety, free of contamination and consistent in dosing. It should be kept out of the hands of children, pregnant women and those who are at risk for worse side effects. Any responsible person wants to make sure this is a medicine that helps people, not harms,” Dr. Gupta stated.
The mPower student team at Duke University led by Indian Americans Saheel Chodavadia and Harshvardhan Sanghi has advanced to compete for the $1 million Hult Prize with their project that aims to address cold storage in India.
Hult Prize, a global competition, advertises itself as “a benchmark program for social entrepreneurs.” Each year, aspiring social entrepreneurs at Duke get the chance to participate by first competing in Hult Prize @ Duke, which is co-hosted by the Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative and the NET Impact Club at The Fuqua School of Business.
Hult Prize hopefuls are given a different challenge each year, and they must create a social enterprise addressing the challenge. This year, teams were tasked with harnessing the power of energy to transform the lives of 10 million people by 2025. There’s a lot at stake: The final prize is $1 million to fund the winning social venture.
At Duke, five teams were chosen from the semi-finals round to advance to the finals round, held on a recent evening at Fuqua. After each team completed a six-minute pitch and a round of questioning from the judges, a winner was announced.
That winner was mPower, a team of four sophomores that aims to fill India’s shortage of agricultural cold storage solutions by offering a novel product and distribution network that compensates farmers and simplifies the supply chain.
The team, also comprising Sherry Feng and Jason Wang, initially won the university competition and pitched the idea of their business in Mexico City at the regional competition, winning there to advance to the final in London. By winning the regional, the team will take part in an eight-week summer start-up accelerator alongside 50 other teams at Ashridge Castle in London.
Traditionally, Indian farmers must sell their produce to middle men for a much lower price than its actual market value — around 25 percent lower, by some estimates, a Duke University report said.
mPower plans to change this by purchasing produce directly from farmers, storing the produce with its cold storage technology, and distributing it to markets, it said. This can create new jobs and empower existing communities, the team explained during its pitch, the report added.
The team’s cold storage technology is a custom solar-powered modular refrigeration unit. Their units’ design focuses on passive cooling, reducing energy consumption and differentiating their product from others on the market, the university said.
mPower was especially equipped to answer this year’s challenge on energy because of their involvement in the energy space at Duke. Sanghi and Wang both live in the Duke Smart Home, and Sanghi regularly takes part in Duke University Energy Initiative programs, is a member of Duke’s Energy Club for undergraduates, and is working on energy access research through a Bass Connections project, the university said.
Sanghi, who is from India, and Chodavadia, who has family living there, knew firsthand of energy access challenges and inefficient agricultural processes in that country. They decided to target this population with their Hult Prize project, it said.
“Energy access is broader than just giving people energy,” Sanghi said in the report, pointing out that their solution also addresses poverty and agriculture. “Energy affects all aspects of a person’s life.”
Team mPower’s approach has evolved throughout the course of the competition. After winning at Duke, they made adjustments to achieve greater scalability and a more impactful approach. They branched out from a traditional business model scalability and added the modular refrigeration strategy, the report said.
“Our network of mentors helped us flesh out minute details within our business model, clarify logistics, and improve the viability of our proposed technology,” Sanghi added. The experience of competing at regionals was also instructive, the report noted.
“At regionals, we were exposed to different perspectives and made friends from 17 other countries who were gathered to solve similar challenges and make an impact on the world,” said Chodavadia. “It was also extremely encouraging to hear from the CEO of Hult Prize, Ahmad Ashkar, that our idea could be the next big thing,” he added.
The team, according to the report, is eagerly anticipating the accelerator program, where global experts will lead them through an eight-week MBA course covering topics like risk assessment, partnerships, marketing, sustainability and launch strategy. After this accelerator, the top six teams are invited to pitch at the United Nations for the chance to win $1 million.
While the Trump and his administration has been anti-immigrants, falsely accusing them of taking away the jobs in the United States, in yet another example of how immaigrants build and create jobs here in the US, the India-based Infosys, a consulting, technology and next-generation services firm, has announced the launching of a technology and innovation hub in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 26, declaring that it plans to establish a U.S. education center in the city as well as expand its hiring by 1,000 more jobs.
According to reports, Infosys has reached a deal to build a technology hub at the former Indianapolis International Airport terminal site, according to sources familiar with the plan. The development will include more than 120 acres and is expected to result in 3,000 new jobs — 1,000 more than previously announced. The Indianapolis Airport Authority, the city and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. reached terms on an agreement with the India-based technology company last week.
The center intends to train American workers and arm them with skills for the digital future. Additionally, the firm said in a news release it has expanded its hiring plans for the state from 2,000 to 3,000 new jobs by the end of 2023.
Infosys will provide an initial investment of $35 million to create the first 125,000 sq. ft. of development to transform the 70.5-acre site at the old Indianapolis airport terminal into its U.S. Education Center. Infosys will break ground on this initial phase before the end of 2018 and anticipates its completion by the end of 2020, it said.
The initial phase will comprise of a training center and will accommodate a 250-person residential facility. The center will also serve as a hub for development of next-generation digital technologies, according to the news release.
“We are excited to partner with Indiana to grow our U.S. presence by building our U.S. Education Center here, which is dedicated to continuous learning and incubating the skills of the future,” said Infosys president Ravi Kumar in a statement.
“At Infosys, we have always invested in advanced technology and skills and bring deep experience from running the largest corporate training facility in the world. Our new Indianapolis facility will prepare our American employees-and those of our clients-to master the kinds of advanced skills that are now required to succeed in our digital future,” Kumar said.
The state and Indianapolis are offering up to $101.8 million in incentives for the project, according to an IndyStar report. Infosys ultimately plans to build the $245 million, 141-acre campus in phases over several years, the report said.
Specifically, the state will offer Infosys up to $56.5 million in conditional tax credits and up to $1.5 million in training grants based on the company’s job-creation plans. The state also will offer up to $6 million in conditional tax credits for the company’s capital investment plans, the report noted.
Indianapolis is contributing $17.8 million in infrastructure improvements and real estate. The state is contributing an additional $20 million for infrastructure improvements, the publication said. The project far exceeds Infosys’ previous plans, both in real estate ambition and hiring, IndyStar added.
The company’s grander plan attracted the attention of Vice President Mike Pence, who changed his schedule to appear at the whirlwind announcement that came together so quickly it caught some state and city officials off guard. Mayor Joe Hogsett also attended the announcement, which culminates a year of negotiations with Infosys, the report said.
Infosys’ initial plan already stood as the second-largest jobs announcement in Indiana, after Honda’s decision more than a decade ago to build a $578 million plant in Greensburg and hire 2,064 workers, it added.
Infosys’ vision for the finished site includes regeneration of the area to feature walkways, green spaces and recreational facilities, the news release added.
Using best practices from Infosys’ Global Education Center in Mysore, India, and partnerships with academia and education providers, the initial training programs at the U.S. Education Center will combine classroom-based and immersive, real-world learning focused on key competencies such as user experience, cloud, big data and core technology and computer science skills, it said.
“Today’s announcement with Infosys is a big win-not just for Indiana but for the nation as a whole, which is why I’m glad Vice President Pence was able to join us,” Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb said in a statement.
“Infosys’ state-of-the-art training facility will teach thousands of folks across America right here on Indiana soil. And, it will help prepare more current and future Hoosiers for success in our rapidly evolving, global economy,” he added.
This announcement is part of Infosys’ commitment to hire 10,000 American workers over the next two years and invest in training to ensure that the U.S. workforce has the essential skills required for the digital economy, the company said.
Hundreds of Indian Americans came together in cities across United States for candlelight vigils and demonstrations demanding fair and speedy trials of the accused in the now infamous Kathua and Unnao rape cases. Vigils were held over the weekend in San Jose (CA), San Diego (CA), and Ft. Lauderdale (FL), with hundreds of Indian Americans showing an outpouring of support for the rape victims. The vigils were marked with chants of “Justice for Asifa”, “Justice for Unnao”, and railed the Indian government’s failure to properly investigate the cases for several months after the crimes. In the previous weeks, similar vigils where held in several other cities including Washington D.C., New York (NY), New Jersey, Baltimore (MD), Boston (MA), Seattle (WA), Raleigh (NC) and Minneapolis (MN).
Earlier this year, Asifa, an eight-year old girl was abducted in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir state, imprisoned for a week in a temple, where she was starved, drugged and gang raped repeatedly before being murdered. According to the police charge sheet of those arrested, the rape and subsequent murder was planned and executed in order to terrorize the Bakarwal Muslim community and drive them out of the area. The attempts to file a charge sheet against the accused at a local court was repeatedly blocked and followed by violent protests in their defense by extremist groups aligned with the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Two BJP ministers who attended the protests urged the crowd to obstruct the prosecution of the accused. In yet another incident from Unnao, a powerful BJP lawmaker in the Uttar Pradesh State Assembly, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, is accused of raping a teenage girl, obstructing justice, and then conspiring with his brother to kill the girl’s father after the family filed a police report.
“Words cannot do justice to the terror that the victims of these crimes have had to suffer. The preachers of Hindutva, who are feted not punished, are responsible for an epidemic of hate inspired brutal rapes and mob lynchings. Sometimes these crimes are justified on the pretext that the victims have consumed beef or slaughtered cows. Sometimes simply being a Muslim is enough to invite violence,” said Ahsan Khan, the President of Indian American Muslim Council and one of the organizers of yesterday’s candlelight vigil in San Jose (CA).
“In the four years of Prime Minister Modi’s rule, the intimidation of religious minorities and violence against them have reached levels that have not been witnessed in the history of independent India. In both Kathua and Unnao rape case, we demand speedy trials free of all political interference as well as thorough investigations into the role of extremist outfits like Hindu Ekta Manch in spreading hate and obstructing justice,” added Khan.
Indian American Muslim Council is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with chapters across the nation. For more information, please visit our website at: http://iamc.com/
In the last two years, GOPIO had organized conferences, public platforms on issues, community celebrations and social service and philanthropic activities. The Biennial Convention held in New York in June 2016 has become a corner stone for GOPIO to be more involved in business, technology, investment and philanthropic activities. GOPIO decided to initiate GOPIO International Chamber of Commerce (GICC) which was officially launched on January 10th, 2017 in Mumbai. In the last two years, GOPIO organized conventions in Paris, Bangalore in conjunction with Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and GOPIO Global Indian Business Summit in Durban South Africa.
With the last GOPIO team ending its term in Bahrain, a new team was elected by an online vote before the convention. Over 70% of the delegates participated in the election. The following persons were elected:
During the convention, Sunny Kulathakal, an Indian from the Middle East was sworn in as the Global President of the organization for the two-year term of 2018-2019. It is the first time in the history of three-decade old GOPIO that an Indian from a country outside the US & Europe was given this position. Kulathakal has been actively involved with GOPIO for more than a decade. He served the Organization as Middle East Co-Coordinator, Executive Vice President & Global Ambassador.
South Africa’s Ishwar Ramlutchman is the new Executive Vice-President while Ram Gadhavi from the US is new Vice President. Dubai-based journalist Issac John has taken on the mantle of GOPIO Global Ambassador. Dr. Thomas Abraham from the US will continue as Chairman. Others elected/appointed are Lal Motwani and Dr. Asha Samant as International Coordinators-at-Large, Mehen Poinoosawmy as International Coordinator for Europe, Jagdish Lodhia as International Coordinator for Oceania, Kurian Abraham as International Coordinator for South Asia, Rita Abraham as International Coordinator for South Africa, Johny Kuruvilla asInternational Coordinator for the Middle East, and Harbachan Singh as International Coordinator for North America.
The Executive Council Meeting also appointed the following persons: Executive Trustee of the Foundation – Inder Singh; Chairman of GOPIO International Chamber of Commerce – Niraj Baxi; Secretary (Admin) – Dr. Rajeev Mehta; Chairman Chapter Review Committee and Automation – Dinesh Mittal; Treasurer – Kewal Kanda; and, Associate Secretary – Jaswant Mody
Since 2017, the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)-Connecticut Chapter took a new initiative for health and wellness of the society at large. Recently, GOPIO CT hosted the second part of the Health & Wellness Seminar Series titled “Beyond Wellness” for the benefit of its members and communities – a sequence of continuing education on healthy living.
The speakers were Dr. Jaya Daptardar, Dr. Alka S. Popli and Yashasvi Jhangiani, who spoke about understanding of and appreciation for preventive medicine, routine screening, age appropriate immunization, and lifestyle modifications as the key to healthy living and aging. They incorporated their expertise in allopathy, homeopathy, and ayurvedic specialty in their highly informative discussion – it was gratefully appreciated! Dr. Daptadar said, “The goal of this health and wellness seminar series is to provide information of modern medicine, alternative and complementary health and wellness approaches to the community to pick up the least risky treatment menu with the most effective results.”
GOPIO CT president Anita and Health chair Dr. Jaya want to promote health and wellness series for the CT communities and it will be held in different cities.
The Sikh Coalition has announced that New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has conferred the state’s first-ever citation in recognition of April 2018 as Sikh Awareness & Appreciation Month. Through the Sikh Coalition’s engagement, the New York citation now joins the outstanding community-driven Sikh Awareness & Appreciation Month resolutions in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
“In New York, we know our diversity is our greatest strength, and Sikh Americans enrich our communities across the state,” said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. “I extend my best wishes to the Sikh community during Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month.”
Additionally, 40+ bipartisan Congressional and Governors’ offices joined the Sikh Coalition to celebrate Vaisakhi by sharing social media posts on their platforms on April 14th, reaching a potential eight million Americans. These Sikh awareness initiatives join a Vaisakhi resolution introduced in the U.S. Senate and over 40 official Vaisakhi and Sikh awareness resolutions, proclamations, citations and events secured by Sikh leaders across the United States.
These additional recognitions include the following: Tucson, AZ; Union City, CA; Rock Island County, IL; Silvis, IL; Burlington, NJ; Fair Lawn, NJ; Franklin Park, NJ; Franklin, NJ; Glen Rock, NJ; Hamilton, NJ; Highland Park, NJ; Jersey City, NJ; Marlboro, NJ; Middlesex County, NJ; Monroe, NJ; Oakland, NJ; Robbinsville, NJ; Sayreville, NJ; Somerset County, NJ; Trenton, NJ; New York, NY; Houston, TX; Auburn, WA; Burien, WA; Kent, WA; Renton, WA; Tukwila, WA; King County, WA; and in the states of California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Pennsylvania. We acknowledge these and other communities that spread Sikh awareness this April.
“This public recognition demonstrates the power that we have as a community to raise Sikh awareness locally and nationally,” said Sim J, Singh, the Sikh Coalition’s National Advocacy Manager. “It’s inspiring to see so many Sikh community members working together to achieve this outcome as we continue our joint efforts to combat hate and educate the American public.”
The Sikh Coalition would like to thank the hundreds of Sikhs that worked to raise Sikh awareness this month as we continue our organizational work to educate the American public in a sustainable and cost effective way. Another marquee moment is coming this week when the groundbreaking episode of CNN’s United Shades of America, the first-ever hour-long cable episode focusing on the Sikh American community, airs this Sunday, May 6th at 10 pm ET/PT and 9 pm CT.
United Punjabis of America (UPA) celebrated Vaisakhi with a grand mela on Saturday, April 14 at the Sant Nirankari Mission in West Chicago, Illinois. The grey and drizzly day was brought to life by the vitality and energy of the mela.
Sharing the duties of the MC for the event, Om Dhingra and Pratibha Jairath welcomed the attendees and started the program with Lamp Lighting. The dignitaries and guests of honors invited for Lamp lighting included Vice Counsel RP Singh, Congressional candidate J Divankar, Congressional candidate Sean Casten, Grand sponsor Anil Loomba, Krishna Bansal of the Indo-American Business Council of Naperville, FIA founding president Sunil Shah, FIA current president Neil Khot and Mr. Anil Oroskar & Dr. Asha Oroskar, and Mr. Brij Sharma, chairman of UPA..
Shammi wahi and kumkum Kumar welcomed everyone at the Registration desk, while Girish Kapoor, Atul wahi , Vishal Dutt and all UPA team was thrilled to receive all the dignitaries and start the show. “Wow the colorful backdrop and flowers around the stage look great for Vaisakhi theme but stage looks even better with young dancers wearing zazzy outfits” exclaimed Rosey Bhasin.
The audience had a chance to see some amazing dance performances with children from various dance schools performing to Punjabi as well as Bollywood songs. The performers were apparently fired up to do their best in their age group category. The panel of judges included Ratna Kapoor, Shammi wahi, Kamal Man Arora and Yogesh Kamal. The winners in three different categories were from ‘Mayuri Rajesh’ School, ‘Rhythms & Grace’ school and the ‘Dwance’ school. DJ Sid was well organized with all the performance tracks and did an awesome job with sound as well.
“We are gratified to see performances representing not just Punjab but every part of India,” exclaimed Ramesh Malhan, UPA president, as a trio of young women performed a lavni dance, unique to the state of Maharashtra.
In addition to group dance items, there was a singing segment by Pratibha Jairath and Raju Bankapur that brought audience to floor with some new and old popular foot taping numbers. “Yes, Delar Mehndi songs still motivate people to come to floor’, said Madhu Uppal, a trustee of UPA.
Anil Loomba of Home Mortgage Solutions was received “UPA’s Distinguished Punjabi Entrepreneur Award” and Dr Surinder Nand received “UPA’s Distinguished Punjabi Community Service Award” for nearly four decades of service. Dr. Harjeet Singh unveiled his forthcoming book, “Smart Patient Smarter” and presented a copy to the UPA Chairman, Brij Sharma.
It was nice to hear few words from Congressman Raja Krishnamurthy who was able to attend the event in the later part of the afternoon. “This event, or any event of this size, would not take place were it not for the hard work of our executive team and the generous sponsorship of our sponsors like Anil Loomba of Home mortgage solutions, Amrit Mittal of NY Life, Sunil Shah of FIA, Anuja Gupta of Veranda, Luis Garcia of State farm, Jigar from Sai Saffron, Geetanjali and Abir Maru from Raag & Rock, Moin Haque group and many more” noted Dharam Punwani, a trustee of UPA.
Food stalls did brisk business throughout the afternoon as the attendees enjoyed traditional Punjabi foods like saag and makki roti and chana bhaturas, to be washed down with delicious lassi or chai. “I can’t wait for the next mela,” remarked a young woman as she shopped for the latest design in sarees on sale there.
A community activist & leader, a successful businessman, an industrialist, a scientist, a renowned musician, two young prodigies, an organ donor, and a journalist were honored at a colorful bi-annual NAMAM Excellence Award 2018 ceremony held at the Royal Albert Palace, Edison, New Jersey on April 28th, 2018.
What stood out at the long-awaited historic event was that among the 7 honorees, two are leaders of the Indo-American Press Club (IAPC). Dr. Babu Stephan, current Chairman, and Ajay Ghosh, founding President of IAPC, were the recipients of the NAMAM awards for their contributions and successes in the business and media world, respectively. IAPC, founded 6 years ao, has been serving as a platform to raise the voice of Indian Americans journalists in North America.
Dr. Stephen is the CEO of DC Healthcare Inc, and the president of SM Reality LLC in Washington, and has been politically well-connected in both Washington DC and Kerala. He has dabbled in media and having arrived in America almost 4 decades ago, and has been among the first generation of Indian community builders here. In his acceptance speech for the award for excellence in business, he recounted the Indian American community’s landmark achievements in all walks of life here – and we have only started!
Ajay Ghosh was chosen for his contributions in media. He has founded the Universal News Network (UNN), a news portal as chief editor, and has been associated with news publications including India Tribute, Indian Express (North American edition), NRI Today and Asian Era magazines. And since 2010, he has been the media consultant of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). In addition, he has taught Social Work Seminar and guided students at the Graduate School of Social Work at Fordham University in New York City since 2006 and works as a Primary Clinician at Yale New Haven Hospital, serving patients with behavioral health issues. Mr. Ghosh dedicated his award to the journalists of Indian origin, who work tirelessly to inform, educate and create awareness on issues that affect the peoples of the world.
Other awardees included, a world renowned community leader and activist, Dr. Thomas Abraham; T. S. Nandakumar, a renowned and versatile Carnatic music percussionist; Ramadas Pillai, President/CTO of Nuphoton Technologies, Inc; Rekha Nair, who has been an advocate for organ donation; Tiara Thankam Abraham, a 12-year-old soprano prodigy and a child genius; and, Child Genius Tanishq Mathew Abraham, a 14-year-old senior completing his biomedical engineering degree at Univ. Of California, Davis. He will be the youngest engineer to graduate in June 2018.
Dr. Thomas Abraham highlighted the need for bringing together the Indian Diaspora under the banner of GOPIO and how it has become a powerful force in raising our voices against discrimination and injustice. In her acceptance speech, Rekha Nair, who stunned the world by donating one of her kidneys at a young age to save the life of a woman she barely knew at the time last year, made an impassioned appeal for organ donation and blood donation.
Of the two siblings, Tanishq, 14-year-old senior (4th year) completing his biomedical engineering degree, could not come down from California, so his younger sister Tiara, 12, accepted the award on his behalf too. She also gave a performance and showed why she is considered a prodigy soprano.
NAMAM, or the North American Malayalees and Associated Members, founded by Madhavan B. Nair, has been honoring its best and brightest at biennial events. Madhavan Nair, in his welcome address, described it as, “an unforgettable evening as we honor extraordinarily accomplished individuals, who have made valuable contributions to the Indian-American community with the NAMAM Excellence Awards.”
The evening program was studded with dance and live music performances, both Indian classical and contemporary/Bollywood. Among the 350 attendees at the event were many prominent members of the community and guests from India.
Founded in 2010, NAMAM has been reaching out to the community with cultural programs, social gatherings and humanitarian aid efforts. Madhavan Nair summed up the essence of the awards nite and the goals of NAMAM: “It is our priority to pass a deep awareness about our rich heritage, unique customs and eclectic culture of Kerala to the younger generation in the USA, so that they can appreciate and take pride in their genealogy.”
“In the Western imagination, India conjures up everything from saris and spices to turbans and, temples—and the pulsating energy of Bollywood movies,” the prestigious Smithsonian Institute stated recently. “But in America, India’s contributions stretch far beyond these stereotypes. From the builders of some of America’s earliest railroads and farms to Civil Rights pioneers to digital technology entrepreneurs, Indian Americans have long been an inextricable part of American life. Today, one out of every 100 Americans, from Silicon Valley to Small town, USA, traces his or her roots to India. Breakthroughs in business, the arts, medicine, science, and technology, and the flavorful food, flamboyant fashion and yoga of India have become a central part of our national culture.”
In 1997, when I had landed in Milwaukee, WI to pursue my journalism degree, it was rare to find Indian Americans in the city. Today, everywhere I go, at work, shopping malls, sports arena, theaters, churches, schools where my 3 daughters attend, and in my neighborhood where I live, there is a growing number of Indian Americans. There has been an influx of Indian Americans across the nation, especially in the past couple of decades.
According to The Economist, “Three-quarters of the Indian-born population in America today arrived in the last 25 years.” The present Indian population can be explained from the nearly 147,000 immigrants that India provides to the country on a yearly basis, reported Huffington Post.
In the early 20th century just a few hundred people emigrated from India to America each year and there were only about 5,000 people of Indian heritage living in the United States. Today Indian-born Americans number over 3.8 million 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.
The modern immigration wave from Asia is nearly a half century old and has pushed the total population of Asian Americans—foreign born and U.S born, adults and children—to a record 18.2 million in 2011, or 5.8% of the total U.S. population, up from less than 1% in 1965.
Pew Research study has found, “Asian Americans are the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States. They are more satisfied than the general public with their lives, finances and the direction of the country, and they place more value than other Americans do on marriage, parenthood, hard work and career success.”
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.”
The less than four million Indian Americans appear to be gaining prominence and have come to be recognized as a force to reckon with in this land of opportunities that they have come to call as their adopted homeland. They are the most educated population in the United States, with more than 80 percent holding college or advanced degrees, as per a report by Pew Research Center. They have the highest income levels, earning $65,000 per year with a median household income of $88,000, far higher than the U.S. household average of 49,000, according to the survey.
Although disparities persist with nearly nine percent of Indian Americans live in poverty, they have made a mark in almost every field in the United States through their hard work, dedication and brilliance. Notching successes in fields as diverse as poetry and politics, the fast growing strong Indian American community packed more power and influence far beyond their numbers in the year gone by.
“While the Indian-American community has been the wealthiest, most-educated minority in the U.S. for some time now, they’re only more recently experiencing wide-scale recognition in public life,” Forbes magazine stated.
Indian Americans are just one percent of the American population, but 3 percent of its engineers, 7 percent of its IT force, and 8 percent of its physicians and surgeons. Some 10-20 percent of all tech start-ups have Indian founders. Indeed, a joint Duke University-UC Berkeley study revealed that between 1995-2005, Indian immigrants founded more engineering and technology companies than immigrants from countries like UK, China, Taiwan and Japan combined. They have risen to the top ranks in major companies like Satya Nadella in Microsoft, Sundar Pichai in Google and Indra Nooyi in Pepsico.
Indians for decades have been playing an important role in global technology landscape. Indians, especially in Silicon Valley, are growing in prominence, influence, and sheer population. The fact that Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, and Nikesh Arora lead some of the most prominent tech world giants is an example of their importance to the larger world and the significant contributions they continue to make.
Rajeev Suri is leading Nokia. Hyderabad-born Shantanu Narayen is the leader of Adobe, while Sanjay Jha ids the CEO of Global Foundries. George Kurian became the CEO and president of storage and data management company NetApp in June 2015. Francisco D’Souza is the CEO, Cognizant, and Dinesh Paliwal is the president and CEO of Harman International, and Ashok Vemuri is the CEO, Conduent Inc, the Xerox’s sibling business services. These are only a few of the success stories of Indians in the US, leading the tech industry in the US.
The surge in Indians moving to America was 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.
Today a quarter or more of the Indian-born workforce is employed in the tech industry. In the Silicon Valley neighborhoods 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.
If Indians are a powerful force in the tech sector, they have also begun to show their power in the political arena. There have been several Indian Americans who have been elected and appointed to important positions at national, state and local level offices.
A record five Indian-Americans serve in the US Congress, scripting history for the minority ethnic community that comprises just one per cent of America’s population. Congressmen Ami Bera, Raja
Photo by: Dennis Van Tine/STAR MAX/IPx 4/14/16 Dr. Vivek Murthy (U.S. Surgeon General) at The National Action Network Conference. (NYC)
Krishnamoorthy, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal have been elected to the US Congress while Kamla Harris represents California in the US Senate.
Kamala Harris, a rising star, the first Indian American and first black senator from California, the Huffington Post has suggested Harris could be “the next best hope for shattering that glass ceiling=,” by becoming the first female President of the greatest democracy in the world. Pundits have compared her rise to that of former President Obama.
Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, a fast-rising Democratic star, has featured in the Politico magazine’s “Power List for the year 2018” for having assumed the mantle of a House “leader of the resistance.”
Over the past several months, there have been a number of articles in the national press, 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.
In the most recent elections, Indian Americans made huge victories across the nation. Last November, Indian American politician Ravinder Bhalla made news by being the first Sikh mayor of the New Jersey city of Hoboken, as well as one of the first public officials in the US to wear a turban. The occupational profile presented by the Asian Indian community today is one of increasing diversity. Although a large number of Asian Indians are professionals, others own small businesses or are employed as semi- or nonskilled workers.
Forbes wrote recently about the new additions to the Trump administration: “two Indian Americans, Raj Shah and Manisha Singh, the latest instance of a relatively new, larger trend: the growing participation — and success — of Indian Americans in public service.”
Trump appointed Raj Shah principal deputy press secretary — who also continues to hold his post as deputy assistant to the president. US assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs, Manisha Singh, 45, is a noted lawyer from Florida.
As the chairman of the United States Federal Communications Commission, accomplished attorney Ajit Pai works on a wide variety of regulatory and transactional matters involving the cable, internet, TV, radio and satellite industries.
A respected legal scholar, Neomi Rao is the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the White House. Seema Verma is the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Vishal Amin is Trump’s intellectual property enforcement coordinator. Neil Chatterjee is chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
While several Indian Americans are now key players in pushing the Trump White House’s conservative agenda, the Indian-American community in general has long leaned left. Politically, they are more Democratic leaning than any other group as a whole in the nation. A whopping 84 per cent Indian-Americans voted for President Barack Obama in the general election in 2012. Compared with other US Asian groups, Indian Americans are the most likely to identify with the Democratic Party; 65 percent are Democrats or lean to the Democrats, 18 percent are Republicans.
In the Obama era, they were recognized by the Democratic Party with important jobs in Washington, DC as never been before. “It is very exciting to serve in an Administration that has so many great Indian-Americans serving,” said Raj Shah, former Administrator of USIAD, the highest ranking Indian-American in the Obama Administration.
In 2012, a record 30 Indian Americans fought to win electoral battle with Republican Nikki Haley and Democrat Kamala Harris handily winning back their jobs as South Carolina governor and California’s attorney general respectively. Amiresh ‘Ami’ Bera, the lone Indian American in the US House of Representatives, repeated history by winning a tight California House race.
Dr. Vivek Verma won an uphill battle against the powerful Gun Lobby and won the majority support at the US Senate. President Barack Obama appointed Richard Rahul Verma as the first envoy from the NRI community to India. Nisha Desai Biswal was heading the State Department’s South Asia bureau. Puneet Talwar took over as assistant secretary for political-military affairs to serve as a bridge between the State and Defense departments, while Arun Madhavan Kumar became assistant secretary of commerce and director general of the US and Foreign Commercial Service.
Subra Suresh was inducted into the Institute of Medicine (IOM), making him the only university president to be elected to all three national academies, while Sujit Choudhry, a noted expert in comparative constitutional law, became the first Indian American dean of the University of California-Berkeley, School of Law, a top US law school. Sriram Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe won the Scripps National Spelling Bee contest after 52 years and for just the fourth time in the contest’s history. Indira Nooyi, another person of Indian origin has been leading as the CEO of Pepsi, one of the largest corporations.
Former US attorney Preet Bharara made history by going after small and big law breakers in the nation. Among many judges of Indian origin, Sri Srinivasan stole the headlines with his unanimous support from the US Senate to the US Federal Court in DC.
In the glamor world of the nation, Indian Americans are not far behind. Aziz Ansari, the Master of None star won the Golden Globe this year for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Several others have found leading roles in the highly competitive Hollywood movies and on TV.
Priyanka Chopra has been voted the “Sexiest Asian Woman” in the world in an annual UK poll released in London last week. From splashes of red and black to purple velvet, with models that defied tradition both in size and age, Indian-American fashion designers showed their metal at the New York Fashion Week that was held in New York City in February this year. They included Bibhu Mohapatra, Prabal Gurung, Misha Kaura, Naeem Khan, Sachin & Babi, and the MacDuggal brand.
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.
Ten richest of all Indian Americans have made it to the Forbes List 2018, The World’s Billionaires on March 6th. The richest Indian American on the list is Rakesh Gangwal, the co-founder of the airline Indigo and is worth $3.3 billion, after he made an extra $1.2 billion in the past year. Romesh T. Wadhwani, an IT entrepreneur and philanthropist, closely follows him, with a net worth of $3.1 billion, who ended up topping the list last year. Forbes list this year has a record of 2,208 members including two new Indian Americans, Niraj Shah who is worth $1.6 billion and Jayshree Ullal who is worth $1.3 billion. Shah is the CEO and co-founder of Wayfair while Ullal is the CEO of Arista Networks.
Again, quoting Pew Research, Indian Americans are the highest-income and best-educated people in the United States and the third largest among Asian Americans who have surpassed Latinos as the fastest-growing racial group, according to a new survey. Seven-in-ten (70 percent) Indian Americans ages 25 and older, have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree; this is higher than the Asian-American share (49 percent) and much higher than the national share (28 percent), the survey found.
Indian Americans generally are well-off. Median annual household income for Indian Americans in 2010 was $88,000, much higher than for all Asian Americans ($66,000) and all U.S. households ($49,800). In 2010, 28% of Indian American worked in science and engineering fields; according to the 2013 American Community Survey, more than two-thirds (69.3%) of Indian Americans 16 and older were in management, business, science and arts occupations.
They are the largest segment of any group that entered the country under the H1-B visa program, which allow highly skilled foreign workers in designated “specialty occupations” to work in the U.S. In 2011, for example, 72,438 Indians received H1-B visas, 56% of all such visas granted that year.
Indian Americans have quietly permeated many segments of the American economy and society while still retaining their Indian culture. Most Asian Indian families strive to preserve traditional Indian values and transmit these to their children. Offsprings are encouraged to marry within the community and maintain their Indian heritage.
Indian Americans stand out from most other US Asian groups in the personal importance they place on parenting; 78 percent of Indian Americans say being a good parent is one of the most important things to them personally. Indian Americans are among the most likely to say that the strength of family ties is better in their country of origin (69 percent) than in the US (8 percent).
Nearly nine-in-ten (87 percent) adult Indian Americans in the United States are foreign born, compared with about 74 percent of adult Asian Americans and 16 percent of the adult US population overall. More than half of Indian-American adults are US citizens (56 percent), lower than the share among overall adult Asian population (70 percent) as well as the national share (91 percent).
More than three-quarters of Indian Americans (76 percent) speak English proficiently, compared with 63 percent of all Asian Americans and 90 percent of the US population overall. The median age of adult Indian Americans is 37, lower than for adult Asian Americans (41) and the national median (45).
Although over four fifths of Indians belong to Hindu religion in India, only about half (51%) of Indian Americans are Hindu, while nearly all Asian-American Hindus (93%) trace their heritage to India. 18% of Indian Americans identified themselves as Christians; 10% said they were Muslim.
More than seven-in-ten (71 percent) adult Indian Americans are married, a share significantly higher than for all Asian Americans (59 percent) and for the nation (51 percent). The share of unmarried mothers was much lower among Indian Americans (2.3 percent) than among all Asian Americans (15 percent) and the population overall (37 percent).
The first Asian Indians or Indian Americans, as they are also known, arrived in America as early as the middle of the nineteenth century. By the end of the nineteenth century, about 2,000 Indians, most of them Sikhs (a religious minority from India’s Punjab region), settled on the west coast of the United States, having come in search of economic opportunity. Other Asian Indians came as merchants and traders; many worked in lumber mills and logging camps in the western states of Oregon, Washington, and California, where they rented bunkhouses, acquired knowledge of English, and assumed Western dress.
Between 1910 and 1920, as agricultural work in California began to become more abundant and better paying, many Indian immigrants turned to the fields and orchards for employment. For many of the immigrants who had come from villages in rural India, farming was both familiar and preferable. Some Indians eventually settled permanently in the California valleys where they worked. Because there was virtually no immigration by Indian women during this time, it was not unheard of for Indian males to marry Mexican women and raise families.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, about 100 Indian students also studied in universities across America. A small group of Indian immigrants also came to America as political refugees from British rule. The immigration of Indians to America was tightly controlled by the American government during this time, and Indians applying for visas to travel to the United States were often rejected by U.S. diplomats in major Indian cities like Bombay and Calcutta. The Asiatic Exclusion League (AEL) was organized in 1907 to encourage the expulsion of Asian workers, including Indians.
In July 1946, Congress passed a bill allowing naturalization for Indians and, in 1957, the first Asian Indian Congressman, Dalip Saund, was elected to Congress. Like many early Indian immigrants, Saund came to the United States from Punjab and had worked in the fields and farms of California. He had also earned a doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley. While more educated and professional Indians began to enter America, immigration restrictions and tight quotas ensured that only small numbers of Indians entered the country prior to 1965. Overall, approximately 6,000 Asian Indians immigrated to the United States between 1947 and 1965.
From 1965 onward, a wave of Indian immigration began, spurred by a change in U.S. immigration law that lifted prior quotas and restrictions and allowed significant numbers of Asians to immigrate. Between 1965 and 1974, Indian immigration to the United States increased at a rate greater than that from almost any other country.
This wave of immigrants was very different from the earliest Indian immigrants—Indians that emigrated after 1965 were overwhelmingly urban, professional, and highly educated and quickly engaged in gainful employment in many U.S. cities. Many had prior exposure to Western society and education and their transition to the United States was therefore relatively smooth. More than 100,000 such professionals and their families entered the U.S. in the decade after 1965.
Almost 40 percent of all Indian immigrants who entered the United States in the decades after 1965 arrived on student or exchange visitor visas, in some cases with their spouses and dependents. Most of the students pursued graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines. They were often able to find promising jobs and prosper economically, and many became permanent residents and then citizens.
The 1990 U.S. census reported 570,000 Asian Indians in America. In general, the Asian Indian community has preferred to settle in the larger American cities rather than smaller towns, especially in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. This appears to be a reflection of both the availability of jobs in larger cities, and the personal preference of being a part of an urban, ethnically diverse environment, one which is evocative of the Indian cities that many of the post-1965 immigrants came from.
Indian Americans are more evenly spread out than other Asian Americans. About 24 percent of adult Indian Americans live in the West, compared with 47 percent of Asian Americans and 23 percent of the US population overall. More than three-in-ten (31 percent) Indian Americans live in the Northeast, 29 percent live in the South, and the rest (17 percent) live in the Midwest.
Despite their successes, they have been also subjected to discrimination and racist attacks. According to a recent report called “Communities on Fire” by the Washington, DC-based group South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), hate crimes against Indian Americans and other South Asian Americans surged 45% from November 8, 2016, to November 7, 2017. The group recorded 302 incidents during that period, 213 of them being direct physical or verbal assaults
The Indian American community continues to play an important role in shaping the relationship between India, the largest democracy and the US, the greatest democracy in the world. “The model minority stereotype stems from the “non-threatening nature” of the Indian immigrant — a label bestowed by the white counterpart. The Indian American community is seen as “successful” – a prototype to be followed by fellow minorities,” Huffington Post wrote.
“Indian-Americans are tremendously important and we hope they would be increasingly visible not only in the government, but also in all parts of American life,” said Maya Kassandra Soetoro-Ng, maternal half-sister of Obama, adding that the President was very proud of the community. “It is certainly a reflection of how important India is and how important Indian-Americans are to the fabric of the nation. I would just like to celebrate all of the contribution artistic, political and so much more of the community. It is time we come to recognize fully the contribution of the Indian-American community here,” said Maya.
Deepika Padukone is the only Indian actress to feature in TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’ list, sharing space with names like Nicole Kidman, Gal Gadot, Greta Gerwig and Lena Waithe. India’s cricket captain Virat Kohli was another Indian who had made it to the list this year.
Ola co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Are the other two people of Indian origin who made it to the list. The list, now in its fifteenth year, recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.
World leaders like US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Bangladesh’s premier Sheikh Hasina were also featured in the list of 100 most influential people.
In the magazine, international star Vin Diesel, Padukone’s co-star in her Hollywood debut, “xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” has penned a few words of appreciation for her.
Diesel wrote of her: “When Deepika Padukone came in to read for one of the Fast and the Furiousfilms, I knew instantly I was in the presence of someone very special. As soon as she entered the room, there was a synchronicity, a synergy, a chemistry—it promised great things to come. Her schedule didn’t work for that movie, but I never gave up. She was the first role we cast in xXx: Return of Xander Cage. She said, “I want to do this movie, but if I do, you have to come to India.” Thank God I made that deal.
“Making that movie, Deepika took committed to a whole other level. That’s who she is as a performer. She wants the whole movie to shine, which is a rare thing. Anyone could talk about how beautiful she is, and anyone could tell you about her unmatched comedic timing. But she isn’t just a star. She’s an actor’s actor, dedicated to the craft.
“So often in the entertainment industry we deal in stereotypes, and people get stuck in certain markets. Deepika is the best Earth has to offer. She’s not just here to represent India; she’s here to represent the world,” Diesel stated.
Padukone scored a success at the box office this year with the epic drama, “Padmaavat,” in which she played the title role. One of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema today, she has 18 brands in her portfolio and has a strong social media presence.
Apart from her work as an artiste, Padukone’s philanthropic side has seen her spreading awareness on the condition of mental illness. She has spoken about her battle with depression and has been working towards creating awareness with her NGO, The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLF). The list also features actress Meghan Markle, who will become a British royal family member upon her wedding to Prince Harry in May.
Sachin Tendulkar wrote about Virat Kohli: “Every sportsman knows what it’s like to have good spells and bad ones too,” the batting maestro explained. “Virat took the criticism he faced during a disappointing West Indies series and returned home with a goal: to improve not only his technique, but also his fitness level. He’s never looked back.”
“Honestly, I’ve never really believed in self-acknowledgement. Instead, I have always looked ahead. But I must admit that today, I do feel a small sense of achievement. It is humbling to be acknowledged for the work that you do, and so, it’s my absolute honour to be part of this prestigious list alongside such incredible achievers,” Deepika also expressed her gratitude in her Instagram post feeling honoured.
Nadella, the chief executive of Microsoft, had his excerpt in the magazine’s influential list written by former managing editor of Time and current history professor at Tulane University Walter Isaacson, who said, “In the four years since he inherited a sticky wicket, Microsoft’s market value has increased 130 percent.”
“More important,” Isaacson continued, “the company is now making products that feel more user-friendly, empathetic and collaborative.”
The South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA) announced a new initiative April 19, to launch a nationwide “Naturalization Drive.” A majority of SABA chapters will be hosting local drives on May 19, “providing support to a community that does not usually get” (sic) it, the organization said in a press release.
Spelling out the advantages of citizenship, SABA noted it “is the path to fully participating in American life.” Citizenship allows a person to vote, freely travel, protect themselves and family members from the risk of deportation, hold a wider range of jobs, petition to unite with other family members, and run for public office.
The Naturalization Drive is targeting eligible South Asians in the community who wish to apply for U.S citizenship. Clinics across the country will be available to assist those applying for citizenship, the organization said. “It will be a great event to promote civic engagement to serve the South Asian community pro bono,” SABA said.
For more information about local events, SABA urged those interested to reach out to participating chapters who will hold the event on May 19 — SABA Austin, SABA Chicago, SABA Colorado, SABADC, SABA Florida,SABA Georgia, SABA Greater Boston, SABA Houston,SABA New Jersey, SABA New York, SABA Northern California, SABA Sacramento, SABA San Diego, SABA Southern California, and SABA Washington. The chapters in Connecticut and Metro St. Louis, Missouri, will hosting theirs later in the year.
The South Asian Bar Association of North America is an umbrella organization to 26 chapters in the United States and Canada. For more information visit http://www.sabanorthamerica.com/page/naturalization.
The Trump administration April 6 backed an Asian American student group that claims Harvard University has discriminated against the Asian American community in the admissions process.
A judge April 6 has decided to make records of Harvard’s admissions public, according to a CNN report. The move by the Justice Department forecasts the emerging fault lines in what could serve as the first major affirmative action case of the Trump administration, the report said.
The fight surrounding the secrecy of Harvard’s competitive admissions process stems from a 2014 lawsuit brought by Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit organization that argues race-conscious admissions policies are unconstitutional, the report said.
The group includes over a dozen students who claim they were rejected from Harvard because it engages in “racial balancing” by capping the number of Asian Americans it admits each year, it said.
As part of pre-trial discovery in the case, the group obtained a mountain of high school applicant files and detailed information on the inner workings of Harvard’s admissions process, much of which it wants to use as evidence as the lawsuit moves ahead, CNN reported.
The institution says the materials are “highly sensitive” and “highly proprietary,” and has asked the judge to shield the records from public view if used in court filings, the report added.
The Justice Department has not formally joined the students’ current lawsuit in federal court, but has a keen interest in making the admissions data a matter of public record now: the department is embroiled in a parallel case over Harvard’s policies as it investigates a similar 2015 complaint filed by a coalition of Asian American associations, CNN noted.
Justice Department lawyers wrote April 6 that the lawsuit “overlaps with the legal and factual bases undergirding the United States’ investigation and could directly bear on that investigation.”
The department could eventually bring its own lawsuit against Harvard based on its findings, or decide to simply join the students’ ongoing case as a “friend of the court,” the report said.
The university in an April 6 statement said it would continue to protect prospective student’s personal information.
A court hearing over how the confidentiality of the documents will be treated was held April 10 at the U.S. District Court in Boston, at which Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled that, within the next two months, lawyers for Harvard University and advocacy group Students for Fair Admissions must file two near-identical sets of previously confidential Harvard admissions documents—one unredacted set to be filed under seal and one redacted version of the set to be filed publicly, reported The Harvard Crimson. Essentially, a small, redacted portion of more than 90,000 pages of Harvard admissions documents—including applicants’ files and internal correspondence between admissions officers—will become public information in coming months.
The National Crime Records Bureau data of 2016 suggests that crimes against children in India have increased by 14 per cent from 2015.
Crimes against minors have soared 500 per cent over the past 10 years in India, says a new analysis by Child Rights and You (CRY).
CRY has done a cumulative analysis which revealed a rise of sexual crimes against children to 106,958 in 2016 as against 18,967 in 2006.
“More than 50 per cent of crimes against children have been recorded in just five states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and West Bengal,” said a CRY statement.
According to the NGO, while Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 15 per cent of recorded crimes against children, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh came close at 14 and 13 per cent respectively.
“It is also a matter of grave concern that in 11 out of 36 states and union territories (UTs), more than 50 per cent of the offences against children are sexual offences and in 25 out of 36 states and UTs more than one-third of the crimes against children are sex crimes,” it added.
The National Crime Records Bureau data of 2016 suggests that crimes against children in India have increased by 14 per cent from 2015.
As per a 2016 analysis of crimes under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, sexual offences accounted for one third of all crimes against children in India.
According to it, a sexual offence is committed against a child in India every 15 minutes. All crimes under POCSO Act constitute around 33 per cent of total crimes against children. The number of sexual offences registered against children increased by an alarming 300 per cent over the last five years.
The report comes amid widespread anger over incidents of rape throughout the country. An eight-year-old girl from a nomadic group in Jammu and Kashmir was found raped and murdered in January while the body of a nine-year-old girl was found in Gujarat with 86 injury marks.
Two incidents of rape of minors were reported on Thursday — from Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
Students and faculty from schools across Columbia University were joined by members of the South Asian diaspora from across New Yor City to sign an open letter to the Prime Minister of India condemning the recent cases of sexual violence and political inaction by the ruling dispensation this Friday in the Columbia University campus in New York City. Over 120 students, representing several schools of Columbia University, carried out a candlelight vigil under the banner ‘SILENCE NO MORE’ to express solidarity with the victims and demanded immediate action against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against humanity.
The event was supported by the Indian Students at Columbia (ISAC), a student body comprising of students from India who are currently studying across engineering, public policy, management, law and several other disciplines across Columbia University. Several other schools like the Columbia Journalism School, Law School, Business School, Teachers College, Columbia College and School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) were represented by students and faculty present.
The group marched from the iconic Earl Hall to the Butler Library where they expressed their protest through theater, dance and music which was followed by remarks by students, faculty members like Prof Shayonee Mitra and Prof Gauri Viswanathan and scholars and activists from other universities Ruchira Gupta, Biju Matthew and Sujatha Gidla, among others.
The students then released a letter to the Prime Minister demanding swift action against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. The petition was also signed by students from other Universities in New York and is currently being circulated across campuses in the United States to gather more signatures, although the written document is being released now. The students demanded that the Prime Minister put to action his promises made on several forums to end violence against women and ensure stringent action against and strict condemnation of his own party members in perpetrating crimes against women.
Fury in diaspora over the stomach-turning details of the heinous crimes, the political motives behind them, and the patronage given to the accused April 14, 2018
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos has joined millions of Indians and people of conscience across the world in expressing its outrage and disgust over the gang-rape and murder of 8-year old Asifa Bano in January, as well as the rape of the 17 year old Dalit girl in Unnao, UP. The ghastliness and brazenness of the crimes has been coupled with outrageous attempts by Hindutva goons to protect the perpetrators.
Asifa Bano, belonging to the Bakarwal community in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, was kidnapped, drugged and brutally gang raped for three days. Her strangled body that was found on January 17, 2018 bore mute testimony to the inhumanity of her tormentors.
Police reports indicate Asifa was locked inside a temple and repeatedly raped for three days and finally strangled to death. The perpetrators, including the temple custodian have been apprehended, and the police have DNA evidence linking the men to the crime. Their motive was apparently to push Asifa’s community away from the area. Furthering the violence carried out by the four men, a mob of BJP-affiliated lawyers blocked the police officers from making their way to file the police report, making bogus claims that the men would not get due process.
This was done as part of a premeditated terror tactic to drive out a Muslim nomad community to which Asifa belonged. Different arms of the local government and political groups colluded to subvert the initial investigation and are using extrajudicial means to protect the accused.
In the case the of 17-year Dalit girl from Unnao village in UP, a powerful BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sehgar raped her last year and intimidated her whole family against complaining to the police. The family had to flee for safety to Delhi but her old father persisted in lodging the complaint. As a result he was tortured and killed in cold blood while in police custody. Despite prima facie evidence, the administration of Yogi Adhityanath did not place the culprit under arrest, until after a week of sustained public outrage, and international media attention.
During a recent interview given to media the girl broke down and even fainted while narrating the horror “Jaise papa ko maara tha. Woh joota pehan leta hai. Aur jalte hue cycle ka tyre chhua chhua ke maarta hai. Paani daal daal ke maarta hai” (He would torment people the way he killed my father. He puts on his boots and uses burning bicycle tyres to torture his victims).” In an act of extreme depression the victim even tried to burn herself outside the residence of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath.
“Asifa’s and Unnao rape survivors horror stories are examples that illustrate cowardly attempts to protect the beasts who committed these heinous acts. Moreover the Hindu Ekta Manch rally in Jammu is a low point in the history of the country where obstruction of justice and rewarding rapists have become new benchmarks in service to religious fascism,” said Mr. Ahsan Khan, President of IAMC. “We call upon the state and central governments to demonstrate their own humanity, by holding the perpetrators accountable to the full extent of the law,” added Mr. Khan.
This is the most ghastly tragedy in a pattern of brutalities against Muslims and Dalits under the current regime. Anti-Muslim and Dalit rhetoric has become mainstream. The political motivations behind these heinous crimes are often euphemistically expressed in prime time television by the ruling party’s spokespersons and associates.
Indian American Muslim Council is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with chapters across the nation. For more information, please visit our website at: http://iamc.com/
In the aftermath of the deadly shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, a majority of American teens say they are very or somewhat worried about the possibility of a shooting happening at their school – and most parents of teens share that concern, according to new Pew Research Center surveys of teens ages 13 to 17 and parents with children in the same age range.
Meanwhile, when it comes to what can be done to prevent this kind of violence, far more teens view proposals focused on mental illness, assault-style weapon bans and the use of metal detectors in schools as potentially effective than say the same about allowing teachers and school officials to carry guns in schools.
The surveys of teens and parents were conducted in March and April 2018, following the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School – one of the deadliest mass school shootings in U.S. history. Seventeen people were killed in the attack and more than a dozen others were injured. The surveys also come as the nation prepares to mark the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado.
Overall, 57% of teens say they are worried about the possibility of a shooting happening at their school, with one-in-four saying they are very worried. About three-in-ten (29%) say they are not too worried about this, and just 13% say they are not at all worried.
Nonwhite teens express a higher level of concern than their white peers. Roughly two-thirds (64%) of nonwhite teens, including 73% of Hispanics, say they are at least somewhat worried about this, compared with 51% of white teens.
School shooting fears differ by gender as well: 64% of girls say they are very or somewhat worried about a shooting happening at their school, compared with 51% of boys.
Parents of teenagers express similar levels of concern as teens themselves, with 63% saying they are at least somewhat worried about the possibility of a shooting happening at their child’s school. And there are similar patterns when it comes to race and gender, with nonwhite parents and mothers expressing more concern. Lower-income parents are particularly worried – in fact, 82% of parents with annual household incomes under $30,000 say they are at least somewhat worried that a shooting could happen at their teen’s school, compared with 64% of those with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 and 53% of those with incomes of $75,000 or more.
Some policies seen as more effective than others
Against the backdrop of organized school walkoutsand marches calling for new legislation to address gun violence, teens see more value in some proposed measures than others. Asked to assess how effective various measures would be at preventing school shootings, 86% of teens say that preventing people with mental illnesses from purchasing guns and that improving mental health screening and treatment would be effective, including majorities who say each of these proposals would be very effective. Roughly eight-in-ten teens (79%) say that having metal detectors in schools would be effective and 66% say the same about banning assault-style weapons.
By contrast, a much smaller share of teens (39%) say that allowing teachers to carry guns in schools would be very or somewhat effective at preventing school shootings; 35% of teens say this would be not at all effective.
Black teens are far less likely than white and Hispanic teens to say allowing teachers to carry guns in schools would be at least somewhat effective: 23% of black teens say this, compared with 44% of white teens and 39% of Hispanic teens.
Views on the effectiveness of banning assault-style weapons also differ by race and ethnicity. About eight-in-ten black teens (80%) and Hispanic teens (79%) say this would be at least somewhat effective; a smaller share of white teens say the same (59%). And while teens across racial and ethnic groups are about equally likely to see metal detectors as effective, black teens are far more likely than their white and Hispanic counterparts to say this would be very effective (59% vs. 39% and 41%, respectively).
Teens’ views on proposals to prevent school shootings mirror those of the general public, for the most part. Among all adults, opinions on arming teachers and banning assault-style weapons diverge sharply along party lines, according to a separate Pew Research Center survey also conducted in March and April. (The survey of teens did not ask respondents for their partisan affiliations.)
About eight-in-ten Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (78%) say that allowing teachers to carry guns in schools would be very or somewhat effective at preventing school shootings, compared with just 24% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. Democrats, on the other hand, are far more likely than Republicans to say that banning assault-style weapons would be at least somewhat effective (81% vs. 35%).
But there are some points of partisan agreement – substantial majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say that proposals directed at mental illness and having metal detectors in schools have the potential to be at least somewhat effective in preventing school shootings.
Washington, DC: April 21, 2018. The powerful voice of the leaders and members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, was heard on Capitol Hill early Thursday, April 12th at the annual Legislative Day. Addressed by dozens of lawmakers from both the parties, the event was forum for AAPI to have its voices heard on the corridors of power and giving them a voice in shaping the healthcare policies and programs of the nation.
In his welcome address, Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI, expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to AAPI delegates and the Congressmen “for taking the time out to come and support AAPI’s agenda at the national level, in our efforts to make our voices heard in the corridors of power. AAPI’s legislative day on Capitol Hill, addressed by dozens of US lawmakers from both the major parties, a recognition of AAPI’s growing influence and having its united voice heard in the corridors of power.”
AAPI Agenda for its 2018 Legislative day included, expressing support for the H.R. 3592 “The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2017,” providing for research and grants to improve the cardiovascular health care of South Asian Americans; Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs; Immigration Reform, enhancing H-1 and J-1 visas, Green Card that are used by many South Asian American physicians, playing an important role in providing critical health care across the country; Increased Residency Slots, help reducing the chronic physician shortage, urging legislation adding 15,000 more residency slots, which will help to train up to 45,000 more doctors in the next two decades; Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursements that have not kept up with the cost of care and the growing populations utilizing them; and, Tort Reform, to reduce the practice of defensive medicine, thus, bringing down the overall cost of health care, and limit the number of meritless lawsuits; and, discussing the disadvantages of Repeal of the Individual Mandate, especially, leading to patients drop their health care coverage and how will this impact premiums.
“I know you are hitting the Hill on a number of issues not the least of which is health care and your concerns about the direction of our country”, Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley of New York told a packed room of Indian-origin physicians in the Rayburn Building. “What really drives all of you is that you want to be able to carry out your profession in a noble way. At the same time, you want that respect which you deserve. More importantly, you want to save people’s lives, make the human condition better. That is incredibly admirable, something that is given short shrift”, he said.
Rep. Crowley assured, “I continue to work to increase the number of slots here in the United States” and spoke of the GME (Graduate Medical Education) Expansion Legislation which he introduced with Republican Congressman Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania, in 2017. The bill calls for an additional 3,000 residency positions for five consecutive years. “It is important that we increase the slots because we are going to need more doctors, more technicians, more physician assistants, not less”, Crowley said.
As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce stated he “has worked very diligently to improving US-India relations”. The California Republican called for liberalizing changes in policy that create economic opportunity for everyone. Republican Congressman Steve Chabot who represents Cincinnati, Ohio, said, “The relationship between India and the US is, I believe, one of our most important. We are natural allies. We have so much more in common than differences”, he said.
Congressman Joe Wilson said, “I was not born in India, but I was born with an appreciation of the people of India. The lawmaker lauded the contributions of Indian-Americans, in particular Dino Teppara who has served as his chief-of-staff. Teppara, now a public affairs officer in the US Navy Reserve, has been working closely with AAPI leaders for the very successful Legislative Day on Capitol Hill.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, the first Hindu lawmaker to serve on Capitol Hill and current Democratic co-chair of the House India Caucus, pointed to how the relationship between “our two countries has progressed. It has only continued to grow stronger and stronger.” She acknowledged that “the H-1B visa issue is one of the biggest challenges facing the community” and lamented that a lot of people don’t understand the consequences of the backlog and continued effort to limit H-1B visas. “In Hawaii, we have a drastic shortage of physicians and it’s always difficult to get and retain doctors who can provide that care”, Gabbard told the AAPI delegates. “Your presence and your advocacy is very helpful as we try to construct substantive policy that best serves the American people”, she said.
Pramila Jayapal, the first ever Indian-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives, who had introduced ‘The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2017′ with her Republican colleague Joe Wilson of South Carolina to improve the cardiovascular health care of South Asian Americans, said, “It is a bill that can actually move, that helps educate our community because frankly, we can be a little flip about heart health.” Stressing that the community has incredibly high incidents of heart disease, she believed that being able to use a few resources from the federal government to emphasize and target the South Asian community is very important. “I am going to continue to lift up health care for everyone”, she pledged. To AAPI leaders, she said, “Thank you for your incredible leadership, for your advocacy, for your friendship, for your support. It means so much to me. When I come here it feels like I am coming home”.
“I have seen Dr. Shivangi, Ramesh Kapur, Dr. Shah, Dr. Bharat Barai, knocking the halls of Congress before it was popular”, Congressman Ro Khanna said at the event. “Now, it is very trendy to be Indian-American. You get invited everywhere. Everyone wants to meet with you. That was not the case earlier. These folks have dedicated their lives to being a voice for our community. They have dedicated their skill at it”, he stated, adding he is “so proud of all the doctors” as they “are the ambassadors of the community” even in rural areas.
“Some of my favorite people in America are here in this room”, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said, looking around a venue packed with his supporters. “There is only one reason that I was elected to the United States Congress and that reason is you”, he stressed. “You are a success in the greatest country the world has ever known: the United States. And you are the pride of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known: India”, he said. Krishnamoorthi made a strong pitch for Indian-Americans to become even more engaged – to vote, volunteer on campaigns, run for political office. Referring to an adage he often repeats, ‘If you don’t have a seat on the table, you’re on the menu’, Krishnamoorthi added, “We will not be on the menu if we do the needful” by being engaged in public policy.
Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., of New Jersey, co-founder of the House India Caucus, denounced the anti-immigrant fervor emanating from the White House. He referred to a bill he introduced with two other House Democrats which would prevent the ACA from being sabotaged by President Trump and Republicans in Congress. He explained that the legislation eliminates the cap on subsidies, increases the amount that is available to help people pay their premiums, and seeks to stabilize the market by having a reinsurance component to get more insurers and create more competition to lower prices. He was hopeful the bill will pass if Democrats win the House and Senate in the 2018 midterm elections. “We need to have a pathway to citizenship for H-1B and J-1 visa holders, and for the Dreamers”, he added.
Extolling AAPI members for their “incredible work ethic and strong family values”, Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro, who had supporting pro-immigration bill H.R. 392 (Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2017), said, “It is immigrants who have made America the great country that we are”. He was critical of the fact that in his home district in California, “we have 0.95 physicians for every 1,000 people, not even one physician for every 1,000 people”, he said. “The statewide average is 2.25 physicians. So, we are trying desperately, besides our Residency programs, to get a medical school in the San Joaquin Valley as part of the University of California system”. He highlighted the fact that between Bakersfield and Modesto in CA, there are over 900 Indian-American physicians, serving his district.
“We are blessed to have a great Indian-American community with physicians so well represented”, Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock of Virginia said. Referring to shortages in the whole medical field — doctors, physician assistants, nursing homes – the lawmaker told AAPI members, “As we are an aging population, we are facing all kinds of shortages and I know you are on the front lines of that. If we could work together, I would be delighted to”, she said. Regarding soaring pharmaceutical costs, Comstock mentioned she is part of a bipartisan group in the House called the Problem Solvers Caucus which, among other issues, is focused on bringing down drug prices.
Congressman Peter Roskam of Illinois, former Republican co-chair of the House India Caucus, spoke of the “enormous Indian diaspora in Chicago. Nearly every physician I meet is married to another Indian physician”, he quipped. “What is so interesting is how deeply connected and what a big leadership role these communities are playing in the Chicago area”, he said. The lawmaker, who chairs the subcommittee on health on the Ways and Means Committee, encouraged AAPI members to provide feedback from a medical point-of-view about the obstacles they face in caring for their patients.
Among other attendees at the AAPI event were: Republican Congressman Phil Roe of Tennessee, one of few physicians serving on Capitol Hill; Republican Congressman Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania; Republican Congressman Andy Barr of Kentucky; Maryland Delegate Aruna Miller (Democrat), currently running for Congress in the state’s sixth Congressional District; Jason Marino, Senior Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs at the American Medical Association; Dr. Naseem Shekhani, president-elect, Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA); and Nuala Moore, Associate Director of Government Relations at the American Thoracic Society.
“AAPI represents, 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 hard work, dedication, compassion, and skills, we 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,” Dr. Vinod Shah, AAPI’s Legislative Committee Chairman, said.
Legislative Co-Chair Dr. Sampat Shivangi, said, “There are many issues affecting our community and the physicians across the nation. Now is the time to ensure our voices are heard on these vital issues. Additionally, those with good contacts with their own congressman, should reach out to his/her office and enlist their support on these issues dear to us.”
The day began on Capitol Hill, and concluded with a packed gathering that evening at a reception and buffet dinner hosted by the Indian Embassy featuring remarks by the Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Santosh Jha and AAPI leaders. Dr. Sudhir Sekhsaria , Co-Chair of AAPI’s Legislative Committee was instrumental in organizing the evening Gala at the Indian Embassy.
Dr. Naresh Parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, said, “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. I am extremely happy that we have come together today to express our voices and as we all stand together to convey and communicate our concerns on this very special day to the lawmakers who have come to hear us and address our concerns.” For more details on AAPI and its numerous inittiaves, please visit:www.appiusa.org
The thirteenth edition of the World Social Forum came to an end on Saturday (March 17), attracting more than 60,000 people to the various activities and debates held during the five-day event.
The main venue was on the campus of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), in Ondina, but other spaces of the Bahia capital held activities as well, including the Exhibition Park, the Isba Theater and the Pituaçu stadium..
The tone to the Forum was set by discussions of democratization of communication, financial system, work, education and youth, future of work, science and technology, employment and income, rights for migrants and refugees, national sovereignty and science and technology. “This is my first forum and the debates have been very rich and complementary and show the importance of our struggles and confrontations against the advance of neoliberalism,” says Chilean student Maribel Diaz.
Cedro Silva, the president of the Central Única dos Trabalhadores da Bahia highlighted the importance of the event held in the capital of Bahia. “CUT Bahia is proud to have organized the World Social Forum here in Salvador. The positive result is that we are sure that people from other states, from other countries, will return to their places of origin full of energy and possible solutions for a possible society that respects the rights of all.”
Here is a review of what was promoted during the 5 days of activities at WSF 2018:
A democratic and collective space between social organizations; the World Social Forum was also the opportunity for many families to earn extra money and support themselves. This is the case of Maria Andrezina, an artisan from Tocantins. She traveled a distance of more than 1500 km in three days of travel to expose
Naperville, IL, April 15, 2018: The unseasonably cold, rainy April day did not dampen the enthusiasm of the guests as they poured into the Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN) to attend the Open Mosque Day hosted by the Islamic Center on Sunday, April 15th. They walked in from the cold to a warm, friendly welcome by about 80 volunteers from ICN who have been working tirelessly over the past few weeks to make this a successful event.
“We really enjoy hosting our friends and neighbors from different faiths and we strive hard to make their visit to our mosque a memorable one” said Shoaib Khadri, President of the Islamic Center of Naperville. “This is our sixth Open Mosque Day and at every one of them, we see many familiar faces of interfaith partners, friends and people who have attended before, but this year, we saw a significant number of new people, which was very welcoming. The primary purpose of the event was to give people of different faiths an opportunity to visit a mosque, something they may have never had a chance to do, and learn more about their Muslim neighbors and the faith that they practice.”
The guests started coming in as soon as the doors opened at 11 AM and it was a constant flow of people who varied from students to church groups, elected representatives, school board officials, law enforcement officers, local girl scout troops, families with kids, and the elderly across various faith denominations. Many students from local community colleges who are in Professor Dave Huber’s “World Religion” class participated in the event to get some firsthand exposure to Islam. The organizers estimated over 800 attendees based on the registration figures.
The format of the Open Mosque Day (OMD) was similar to the previous similar events with the main booths and food in the gym, the congregational prayers in the prayer halls, and presentations in separate rooms. A new addition to this year’s OMD was an inspirational gallery showcasing beautiful exhibits with verses of the Quran as well as Hadith – the sayings of Prophet Mohammed.
All the booths were laid out along the periphery of the gym with a large open area in the middle for people to gather, meet with a seating section facing a stage where continuous videos featuring the activities of ICN were played along with some snippets about Islam. The booth on Prophet Muhammad provided information about the life and the teachings of the last messenger of Islam where volunteers discussed various aspects of the prophet’s exemplary character and its impact on the Muslims. A second booth was dedicated to the Quran, the holy scripture of Islam that Muslims believe was the divine revelation from God.
The booth that always attracts a lot of questions was the “Islam and Extremism” booth considering all the negative perception of Islam in the public. The volunteers shared a lot of material that clearly explained that aggression and killing of innocent people were clearly forbidden in Islam and how most violence carried out in the name of religion is actually politically motivated and had no religious basis.
People lined up to get their names written in Arabic Calligraphy by Mahfooz Khan, an active member of the ICN Interfaith Committee who also has a flair and talent in Arabic Calligraphy. An “Artifacts and Culture” booth highlighted different aspects of Islamic culture, architecture with displays of different artifacts.
An “Islam & Science” booth illustrated the harmony between Islam and science by highlighting various scientific facts with references to the Quran and the numerous contributions of Muslims to the field of Science.
The “Women in Islam” booth was buzzing with activities with people curious to learn about women’s rights in Islam and questions about why women cover their hair. Various women volunteers at the booth were happy to answer their questions while giving the female guests a unique opportunity to try on a hijab (head scarf) that the guests were allowed to take home. Volunteers also drew beautiful designs of henna on guests’ hands.
The guests enjoyed a wide array of food ranging from Mediterranean cuisine to South Asian snacks to delicious desserts with tea and coffee. The food tables were well staffed with cheerful volunteers and continually replenished with the delicious food throughout the event. There were booths with free literature on Islam and copies of the Quran for people to take home, including a separate booth with literature in Spanish.
One of the most attractive features of the event was the screening of a multimedia presentation titled “Journey through Time” which was produced by Yousuf Siddiqui, Chairman of ICN’s Outreach Committee – a beautifully articulated message highlighting six of the greatest messengers of Islam – Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad with direct references in the Quran on each of them. Mr. Yousuf Siddiqui, said “We wanted to show our guests that Islam believes in these prophets, and their common message of the worship of One God. We had huge interest from the visitors and had excellent dialogue afterwards in the post question and answers sessions.” A recent addition to the multimedia presentations was a video production called “The Great Women in Islam” that highlighted inspiring stories from women who are revered in Islamic history as well as great contributors to the faith over the years.
Shahab Sayeedi, a board member of the ICN as well as an active member of the Outreach Committee, presented the basics of Islam and answered guest’s questions. Islam 101 presentation at the top of every hour was a popular attraction as the crowds filled the room Shahab said, “The Islam101 presentations provided our guests with an understanding of Islam and some of its practices while allowing them to ask questions and any clear misconceptions they may have had in a friendly and relaxed environment in the mosque.”
A new feature called “The Feedback Wall” – a large paper mounted board to solicit feedback from the guests, captured the mood of the visitors as many of them penned their thoughts in vibrant marker colors. Mayor Steve Chirico of Naperville, who spent a fair amount of time interacting with the hosts as well as the guests, commented: “Thank you for being such wonderful community partners.”Another guest wrote: “It’s amazing how at home I feel when we talk about our similarities and not our differences, Thank you for sharing your beliefs.” Bishop Andrew Child of the Church of Latter Day Saints who brought a number of his congregants, summed it up very well: “Thank You! Inspiring event. We can all learn from each other and strengthen one another in our faith.”
Indian Americans will face a severe undercount in the 2020 Census, noted Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, during a national press call April 5. The call brought together several civil rights leaders who examined the impact of chronic underfunding and a new, untested question on citizenship to the accuracy of the 2020 Census count. The panelists concluded that the citizenship question would deter the immigrant community from responding.
Gupta, who served in the Justice Department’s civil rights division during the Obama administration, noted that many Indian Americans live in “mixed status” households, in which certain family members may be citizens whereas others are undocumented. Such households would be reluctant to respond to the Census survey, she said. “The level of distrust is already very high; it is pitched by the anti-immigrant rhetoric of this administration,” said Gupta, responding to a question. “The climate of fear created by the Trump administration will cause participation rates to plummet,” she asserted.
“Inclusion in the Census is very important to the functioning of our democracy,” said Gupta, underscoring the point that both federal dollars and representation in government are determined by Census data. She feared that insufficient federal resources would be allocated to minority communities based on an inaccurate Census count, and added that mayors around the country – of both parties – are concerned about potential cuts in federal revenue due to inaccuracies in Census data.
India is the home country for the fastest-growing population of undocumented Americans; almost half a million Indian Americans – one out of every six – lack requisite immigration documents, according to data culled from 2016 Department of Homeland Security statistics.
U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced late March 26 that a question about citizenship would be added to the 2020 Census, immediately sparking fierce backlash from the immigrant community that the question would lead to an undercount of the U.S. population.
California state Attorney General Xavier Becerra immediately filed a lawsuit. New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman led a coalition of 18 attorneys general and six cities and the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors to file a lawsuit April 2 which would block the administration from adding the citizenship question to the 2020 form.
“Ross caved to pressure. His decision is deeply flawed and a failure of leadership. It is a capitulation to Trump’s nativist agenda,” said Gupta during the press call. Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials – NALEO – stated that Ross’s decision to add the untested citizenship question to the Census was “the worst policy decision ever.”
“This is a tactic devised to keep people away from participating in the Census,” he said, noting that this is the first time an online Census will be implemented which could lead to a critical undercount of minority and rural communities who lack access to the internet.
John Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, noted that $800 billion of federal funding is allocated in accordance with Census population data. He added that businesses also use the data when determining where to set up shop, and in staffing decisions that mirror local communities.
Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, added that the new decision to count incarcerated people in the counties in which they are jailed, rather than their homes, would also lead to inaccurate data. He characterized an undercount of a specific community as racial discrimination. Morial served as chair of the 2010 Census Advisory Committee.
Thousands of turbans were on the heads of people from different races, religions and nationalities as the non-profit Sikhs of New York held Turban Day 2018- Times Square– A Vaisakhi Celebration.” The Sikh community’s this annual initiative held on April 7th in New York City this year, has been launched to promote understanding of their faith and dispel stereotypes about the piece of attire as the main stream media and the whole world watched live and live-streaming of the event via social media.
Volunteers from Sikhs of New York organization tied turbans on the heads of visitors while explaining its significance for Sikhs and telling them about their religion, which is probably the most misunderstood faith in the US.
Thousands who came to enjoy the show also participated in turban tying, so that a new Guinness World Record for the “Most Turbans tied in 8 hours” was set at Times Square. Representatives from Guinness World Records were present to judge the turban tying, and awarded the recognition based on their first-hand witnessing of the event. And Sikhs of New York also received a citation from Governor Andrew Cuomo, the organization announced in a press release.
Intense and pulsing Punjabi beats filled the air in Times Square as many including famous food lover Varli Singh and her family, joined the celebration, dancing and raising their voice in some “balle balle” showing off the newly-tied turbans. So many who came got turbans tied so that Times Square turned into waves of color as if Holi was being played, but this time with long pieces of colorful cloth artfully wrapped on the head.
As some volunteers were asking the public whether anyone wanted to get a Turban tied for free, other volunteers were holding up signs with the names and photos of important Indian-American Sikhs to further educate New Yorkers and tourists about Sikhs and their contributions worldwide.
“The reason we are having this event is to spread awareness that people with turban on their heads are Sikhs,” said Gagandeep Singh, one of the event’s organizers from Sikhs of New York. “We explain why Sikhs tie turbans, what a turban stands for. It gives you a responsibility. If a person needs help, a person with a turban is supposed to help them,” he said, adding that this was the sixth edition of the event and the people’s response has been amazing.
“Really enjoyed celebrating #TurbanDay in NYC today. Event intended to demystify Sikh turban and educate general public about the Sikh community. Honored by the very warm welcome from so many in the Sikh community” Bhalla tweeted on the evening of April 7 with a bunch of photos showing how much fun he had with his family at the event.
Sikhs of New York has been hosting Turban Day since 2013 to raise awareness about the fifth largest religion whose followers began coming to the U.S. during the British Raj in India about 125 years ago. Despite their long history in this country, Sikhs remain the least understood minority among Indian-American immigrants in this country, and have borne the brunt of hate crimes and attacks on South Asians since 9/11.
New York: Now in its 5th year, Indo American Press Club (IAPC) inaugurated its 2018 Executive Committee at the Indian Consulate in New York on April 19. Well-known TV journalist as well as social and political activist Renee Mehrra is the incoming President. The oath of office was administered by Ginsmon Zacharia, who founded IAPC and served as chairman till last year. Among other activities, the new team will organize the annual International Media Conference in Atlanta this October.
In his inaugural address, Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty encouraged IAPC and its new team in their mission. He specially congratulated the club on selecting a woman to lead it. He said that government officials and diplomats like him depend on the media to get their message across.
Renee Mehraa, in her acceptance speech, said, “Media has a responsibility to lead society and culture in a positive way and we are fortunate to do work that makes a tangible difference in the lives of our vibrant community.” She promised to take IAPC to a new level with the help of her executive committee and her friends in the social-political sphere. She also would like to see more women of color in US media for a more inclusive democracy.
As TV anchor Renee has been associated with ITV for many years. As community activist, she is a former NYC Commissioner for Human Rights and is Adviser, Women’s Cabinet, NYC Mayor’s Office of Minority Affairs.
Many officials and Indian community leaders were at hand to congratulate Renee, whom they have known for many years. Among them was NYS Assemblyman David Weprin, Dr Neeta Jain (Democratic District leader from 25th Assembly District), Shiv Dass and Darshan Singh Bagga. Malini Shah, community liaison for NYC Councilman Paul Vallone gave a citation to Renee as did a representative from NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office. Governor Andrew Cuomo and Congressman Joseph Crowley sent congratulatory messages. 4-year-old Merryn Augustine gave a Bharatanatyam performance. Vote of thanks was given by Anil Mathew, IAPC General Secretary. Roopsi Narula of TV Asia and IAPC Vice President ably conducted the event as MC.
The powerful voice of the leaders and members of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, was heard on Capitol Hill early Thursday, April 12th at the annual Legislative Day. Addressed by dozens of lawmakers from both the parties, the event was forum for AAPI to have its voices heard on the corridors of power and giving them a voice in shaping the healthcare policies and programs of the nation.
In his welcome address, Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI, expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to AAPI delegates and the Congressmen “for taking the time out to come and support AAPI’s agenda at the national level, in our efforts to make our voices heard in the corridors of power. AAPI’s legislative day on Capitol Hill, addressed by dozens of US lawmakers from both the major parties, a recognition of AAPI’s growing influence and having its united voice heard in the corridors of power.”
AAPI Agenda for its 2018 Legislative day included, expressing support for the H.R. 3592 “The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2017,” providing for research and grants to improve the cardiovascular health care of South Asian Americans; Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs; Immigration Reform, enhancing H-1 and J-1 visas, Green Card that are used by many South Asian American physicians, playing an important role in providing critical health care across the country; Increased Residency Slots, help reducing the chronic physician shortage, urging legislation adding 15,000 more residency slots, which will help to train up to 45,000 more doctors in the next two decades; Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursements that have not kept up with the cost of care and the growing populations utilizing them; and, Tort Reform, to reduce the practice of defensive medicine, thus, bringing down the overall cost of health care, and limit the number of meritless lawsuits; and, discussing the disadvantages of Repeal of the Individual Mandate, especially, leading to patients drop their health care coverage and how will this impact premiums.
“I know you are hitting the Hill on a number of issues not the least of which is health care and your concerns about the direction of our country”, Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley of New York told a packed room of Indian-origin physicians in the Rayburn Building. “What really drives all of you is that you want to be able to carry out your profession in a noble way. At the same time, you want that respect which you deserve. More importantly, you want to save people’s lives, make the human condition better. That is incredibly admirable, something that is given short shrift”, he said.
Rep. Crowley assured, “I continue to work to increase the number of slots here in the United States” and spoke of the GME (Graduate Medical Education) Expansion Legislation which he introduced with Republican Congressman Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania, in 2017. The bill calls for an additional 3,000 residency positions for five consecutive years. “It is important that we increase the slots because we are going to need more doctors, more technicians, more physician assistants, not less”, Crowley said.
As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce stated he “has worked very diligently to improving US-India relations”. The California Republican called for liberalizing changes in policy that create economic opportunity for everyone. Republican Congressman Steve Chabot who represents Cincinnati, Ohio, said, “The relationship between India and the US is, I believe, one of our most important. We are natural allies. We have so much more in common than differences”, he said.
Congressman Joe Wilson said, “I was not born in India, but I was born with an appreciation of the people of India. The lawmaker lauded the contributions of Indian-Americans, in particular Dino Teppara who has served as his chief-of-staff. Teppara, now a public affairs officer in the US Navy Reserve, has been working closely with AAPI leaders for the very successful Legislative Day on Capitol Hill.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, the first Hindu lawmaker to serve on Capitol Hill and current Democratic co-chair of the House India Caucus, pointed to how the relationship between “our two countries has progressed. It has only continued to grow stronger and stronger.” She acknowledged that “the H-1B visa issue is one of the biggest challenges facing the community” and lamented that a lot of people don’t understand the consequences of the backlog and continued effort to limit H-1B visas. “In Hawaii, we have a drastic shortage of physicians and it’s always difficult to get and retain doctors who can provide that care”, Gabbard told the AAPI delegates. “Your presence and your advocacy is very helpful as we try to construct substantive policy that best serves the American people”, she said.
Pramila Jayapal, the first ever Indian-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives, who had introduced ‘The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2017′ with her Republican colleague Joe Wilson of South Carolina to improve the cardiovascular health care of South Asian Americans, said, “It is a bill that can actually move, that helps educate our community because frankly, we can be a little flip about heart health.” Stressing that the community has incredibly high incidents of heart disease, she believed that being able to use a few resources from the federal government to emphasize and target the South Asian community is very important. “I am going to continue to lift up health care for everyone”, she pledged. To AAPI leaders, she said, “Thank you for your incredible leadership, for your advocacy, for your friendship, for your support. It means so much to me. When I come here it feels like I am coming home”.
“I have seen Dr. Shivangi, Ramesh Kapur, Dr. Shah, Dr. Bharat Barai, knocking the halls of Congress before it was popular”, Congressman Ro Khanna said at the event. “Now, it is very trendy to be Indian-American. You get invited everywhere. Everyone wants to meet with you. That was not the case earlier. These folks have dedicated their lives to being a voice for our community. They have dedicated their skill at it”, he stated, adding he is “so proud of all the doctors” as they “are the ambassadors of the community” even in rural areas.
“Some of my favorite people in America are here in this room”, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said, looking around a venue packed with his supporters. “There is only one reason that I was elected to the United States Congress and that reason is you”, he stressed. “You are a success in the greatest country the world has ever known: the United States. And you are the pride of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known: India”, he said. Krishnamoorthi made a strong pitch for Indian-Americans to become even more engaged – to vote, volunteer on campaigns, run for political office. Referring to an adage he often repeats, ‘If you don’t have a seat on the table, you’re on the menu’, Krishnamoorthi added, “We will not be on the menu if we do the needful” by being engaged in public policy.
Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., of New Jersey, co-founder of the House India Caucus, denounced the anti-immigrant fervor emanating from the White House. He referred to a bill he introduced with two other House Democrats which would prevent the ACA from being sabotaged by President Trump and Republicans in Congress. He explained that the legislation eliminates the cap on subsidies, increases the amount that is available to help people pay their premiums, and seeks to stabilize the market by having a reinsurance component to get more insurers and create more competition to lower prices. He was hopeful the bill will pass if Democrats win the House and Senate in the 2018 midterm elections. “We need to have a pathway to citizenship for H-1B and J-1 visa holders, and for the Dreamers”, he added.
Extolling AAPI members for their “incredible work ethic and strong family values”, Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro, who had supporting pro-immigration bill H.R. 392 (Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2017), said, “It is immigrants who have made America the great country that we are”. He was critical of the fact that in his home district in California, “we have 0.95 physicians for every 1,000 people, not even one physician for every 1,000 people”, he said. “The statewide average is 2.25 physicians. So, we are trying desperately, besides our Residency programs, to get a medical school in the San Joaquin Valley as part of the University of California system”. He highlighted the fact that between Bakersfield and Modesto in CA, there are over 900 Indian-American physicians, serving his district.
“We are blessed to have a great Indian-American community with physicians so well represented”, Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock of Virginia said. Referring to shortages in the whole medical field — doctors, physician assistants, nursing homes – the lawmaker told AAPI members, “As we are an aging population, we are facing all kinds of shortages and I know you are on the front lines of that. If we could work together, I would be delighted to”, she said. Regarding soaring pharmaceutical costs, Comstock mentioned she is part of a bipartisan group in the House called the Problem Solvers Caucus which, among other issues, is focused on bringing down drug prices.
Congressman Peter Roskam of Illinois, former Republican co-chair of the House India Caucus, spoke of the “enormous Indian diaspora in Chicago. Nearly every physician I meet is married to another Indian physician”, he quipped. “What is so interesting is how deeply connected and what a big leadership role these communities are playing in the Chicago area”, he said. The lawmaker, who chairs the subcommittee on health on the Ways and Means Committee, encouraged AAPI members to provide feedback from a medical point-of-view about the obstacles they face in caring for their patients.
Among other attendees at the AAPI event were: Republican Congressman Phil Roe of Tennessee, one of few physicians serving on Capitol Hill; Republican Congressman Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania; Republican Congressman Andy Barr of Kentucky; Maryland Delegate Aruna Miller (Democrat), currently running for Congress in the state’s sixth Congressional District; Jason Marino, Senior Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs at the American Medical Association; Dr. Naseem Shekhani, president-elect, Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA); and Nuala Moore, Associate Director of Government Relations at the American Thoracic Society.
“AAPI represents, 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 hard work, dedication, compassion, and skills, we 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,” Dr. Vinod Shah, AAPI’s Legislative Committee Chairman, said.
Legislative Co-Chair Dr. Sampat Shivangi, said, “There are many issues affecting our community and the physicians across the nation. Now is the time to ensure our voices are heard on these vital issues. Additionally, those with good contacts with their own congressman, should reach out to his/her office and enlist their support on these issues dear to us.”
Dr. Naresh parikh, President-Elect of AAPI, said, “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. I am extremely happy that we have come together today to express our voices and as we all stand together to convey and communicate our concerns on this very special day to the lawmakers who have come to hear us and address our concerns.” The day began on Capitol Hill, and culminated at the Indian Embassy with a dinner and was addressed by the Indian Ambassador to the US and other senior officials. For more details on AAPI and its numerous inittiaves, please visit: www.appiusa.org
Saira Rao, a Denver Democrat, has announced that her campaign received contributions from more than 500 individual donors within a month of launching her primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, who is serving her 11th term representing Colorado’s 1st Congressional District.
“We are not taking any corporate PAC money,” Rao said in a statement. “Special interests are robbing people of their voices, and I am not going to play that game. We’re doing this the hard way — dollar by dollar, door by door.”
Rao filed paperwork to run in the heavily Democratic district on Jan. 10; her campaign logged its 500th donor last week, 28 days in, a campaign spokeswoman said. Rao has cleared “six figures” in contributions, her campaign manager, JoyAnn Ruscha, told Colorado Politics, but she declined to elaborate. Campaign finance reports covering the period are due to the Federal Election Commission April 15.
The entrepreneur and social justice activist has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars in less than three months, just from individual donors. She has vowed not to accept a dollar from any corporate political action committees.
The Indian American Rao had written in a Huffington Post op-ed piece: “I’m a Brown Woman Who’s Breaking Up with the Democratic Party.” The piece immediately went viral. And although Rao, 43, is a newcomer considered a longshot by analysts, she remains undeterred in taking on fellow Democrat and entrenched incumbent Diana DeGette in the 1st Congressional District.
Analysts have said her attempt to defeat the 22-year incumbent, who has continued to be re-elected with massive margins, is an exercise in futility. But Rao, an unabashed progressive, believes it is imperative to take on the Democratic establishment, which she calls indifferent toward towards minorities and people of color.
“This campaign is about bringing people together. I’m proud of the coalition we’re building of Democrats and independents who want a more representative government,” she said. “If Democrats are going to take back Congress, we need to build a party that answers to everyday people, not corporations. We can’t fight Trump’s anti-worker agenda if the same donors are funding both parties.”
Last month, her Congressional campaign turned in its petition for ballot access in District 1, having collected more than 1,700 signatures from registered Democrats. But analysts say it will take a miracle for Rao to upset DeGette in the June 26 primary. But they believe that, if she is victorious, she would be a shoo-in at the general election in November as District 1 is a safe Democratic seat, comprising all of Denver as well as parts of Arapahoe and Jefferson counties.
She would become the first Indian-American or Asian-American — and the first woman of color — to represent her state in the House of Representatives. Rao is co-founder of a media publishing company This Together Media, which publishes children’s books that feature diverse protagonists, especially kids of color.
Rao, raised in Richmond, Virginia, has several priorities on her agenda, from fighting the burgeoning racism and bigotry and xenophobia to controlling prescription drug costs, and eliminating student loan debt to passing a single-payer healthcare bill. She believes that entrenched Democrats in safe seats are apathetic toward disenfranchised and marginalized constituents and that’s why she opted to challenge DeGette.
Rao was endorsed last month by former Colorado Democratic Party Chair Buie Seawell, son of former North Carolina Attorney General Malcolm Buie Seawell. He is a longtime party figure and community leader, and a distinguished professor at the University of Denver. “She is not ‘the same old thing’ “ he said. “Saira Rao embodies the future.”
Rao has said she’s running the quintessential grass-roots campaign. “This campaign is about giving everyone a seat at the table and making Colorado a progressive leader in national politics,” she said. “I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make this happen, and I look forward to a robust primary and healthy debates on healthcare, criminal justice reform, and getting corporate money out of the Democratic Party.”
During 2 separate events held in California on March 17th and 24th, The American India Foundation raised over $1.8 Million to Help Underprivileged in India. At the 5th annual gala held on March 17th, the Orange County, California chapter of the American India Foundation celebrated 16 years of service to India’s underprivileged population and raised more than $500,000 to support the organization’s contributions to education, public health, livelihood, leadership and gender focus in India, according to a press release. The event was attended by more than 300 local community professionals and was held at the Pasea Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, California.
The evening was filled with traditional Indian cuisine, a live performance by the performance ensemble Molodi and the auction of international travel packages, art painted live by Gregory Adamson and a wine and culinary experience at Gagnon Cellars of Temecula. Master of ceremonies was comedian Anish Shah and the live auction was hosted by Matt Rogers.
The gala honored the achievements of Kevin and Nita Parikh of the Avasant Foundation and highlighted contributions of the Orange County chapter to foundation programs. The gala was chaired by MSI International and Tarsadia Foundation. AIF’s Southern California chapter was launched in the summer of 2013 to accelerate the foundation’s mission of catalyzing social and economic change in India.
The Foundation on March 24 hosted its annual ‘Bay Area Gala 2.0’ at the Union Square Hilton in San Francisco, raising funds in helping to achieve its mission addressing development challenges in India, including poverty, educational gaps and maternal health. The $1.3 million raised at the gala will help the foundation with continuing to deliver life-changing programs to those in need.
The gala drew leaders and luminaries from the Indian American and wider Bay Area communities who came out to support the foundation which, in its 18 years of service, has uplifted the lives of over 3.7 million people in India.
Among the AIF initiatives the funds will support are: Digital Equalizer, the Learning and Migration Program, the Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative, Market Aligned Skills Training, Ability-Based Livelihoods Empowerment and Rickshaw Sangh.
“We are working with over 13,000 schools in India and have impacted 200,000 families through our education and skill development programs, but there is lot to do,” AIF chief executive officer Nishant Pandey told India-West. “Our vision is to significantly scale up all our programs and leverage resources of the government and the private sector towards this goal.”
The CEO added that he is “proud of everything” AIF is doing, particularly by the passion and commitment of all its supports. “(The) Bay Area has been a big pillar in terms of the time and resources of people,” Pandey said, adding the foundation is looking for more engagement and resources from the area, which has already had a tremendous impact. “The magnitude of challenges in India is huge and we would like to scale up all our programs.”
During the event, AIF Board co-chair Lata Krishnan addressed the more than 500 donors and supporters on hand with the gala’s keynote address, relaying the inspiration she exudes having been with the organization for nearly two decades. “Having been here for over 17 years I am still inspired and energized by how little it takes to impact not just one life, but millions. I believe that in today’s uncertain times, civil society and nonprofits, like AIF, help bridge the gap between government and society,” Krishnan said. “It is our role to enhance the abilities of the government and the private sector to transform poverty into potential.”
Vijay Goradia, Indian American founder and chairman Vinmar International, received the AIF Leadership Award for his tireless support of nonprofit organizations dedicated to education and entrepreneurship. “When you are young and healthy, what you give is gold. When you are old, what you give is silver. What you leave behind when you are dead is lead. My wife and I decided to give when we are of sound mind and healthy,” said Goradia, who pledged $100,000 to AIF. “I believe the more resources you put in, the greater the impact. The sooner you put those resources to work, the quicker you will get the results,” Goradia added.
Millions of people have tuned in for Swedish physician and statistician Hans Rosling’s TED Talks over the years, and the videos caught the attention of at least one famous fan: Bill Gates. Gates and his wife Melinda went on to befriend Rosling, who gained his global audience with insights on how data can help lead to better outcomes in global poverty and health.
TIME caught up with Gates to talk about what makes the book — and Rosling — so special.
Gates: Hans believed the world was making remarkable progress, and he wanted everyone to know about it. Factfulness is his final effort to help people identify areas where things are getting better and spread that improvement. It explains more clearly than almost anything else I’ve read why it’s so difficult for people to perceive progress. He offers clear, actionable advice for how to overcome our innate biases and see the world more factfully. This is one of the most educational books I’ve ever read, and I think everyone can benefit from Hans’ insights.
If the world really is improving at a faster rate than people think, why does it matter whether people have incorrect notions about it?
It’s easier to accelerate progress if you know how far we’ve already come. If you don’t believe the world has improved, you’re more likely to look at a tragedy and think nothing can be done. But someone who knows how much progress is possible can look at a bad situation and say, “How can we make this better?”
Hans liked to call himself a “possibilist,” which is a perfect way to describe this worldview. He believed that things could get better, not that they will get better. A possibilist like Hans doesn’t wait for improvement — he looks for the areas where progress is happening and finds way to duplicate it in other places.
Rosling details ten instincts that distort our perspective on the world — like an instinct toward negativity, or one toward fear. Which of the 10 do you find most concerning for our future and why?
I’m worried about the blame instinct, although not for the obvious reasons. When something happens, it’s human nature to look for the person responsible. Everyone knows the problem with creating scapegoats. But our instinct to turn people into heroes can also be a barrier to progress.
With a few exceptions, things don’t get better because of heroes. There were heroes 1,000 years ago, and the world was awful. Modernity is a miracle of systems. Jonas Salk was an amazing scientist, but he isn’t the only reason we’re on the doorstep of eradicating polio — it’s also thanks to the coordinated vaccination effort by health workers, NGOs, and governments. We miss the progress that’s happening right in front of us when we look for heroes instead of systems. If you want to improve something, look for ways to build better systems.
What fact in this book especially surprised you?
The framework that Hans uses to describe the world was a revelation for me. He categorizes people by four income levels and emphasizes the commonalities that exist on each one. For example, people tend to buy shoes and bikes when they double their income from $2 a day to $4 a day, whether they live on the outskirts of Kinshasa or a remote village in Bangladesh. Organizing populations by how they live — rather than where they live — is a much more precise way to talk about the world.
MASCONN as it ushers in its 10th anniversary celebration with its very own superstar Biju Menon’s show Madhuram Sweet 18 in the state of CT. In addition to the popular and acclaimed movie star Biju Menon of South Indian Film World, he will be accompanied by over two dozen stars from the Bollywood world on Memorial Day, May 28th, 2018 at 3 pm at Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06605. Phone # (800) 424-0160
“With a live audience exceeding over 1,600 people from across the states of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, the event, the first ever of this kind, organized my the Malayalee Association Of Southern Connecticut (MASCONN)http://www.masconn.org, the event is a platform for all people of Indian origin to come and celebrate our culture and enjoy the entertainment,” said Sujana Nair, an organizer of the event. Inviting sponsors to the event, he added, “It’s a a golden opportunity to showcase your products and services before a fast growing South Asian community in the Tri-State region.”
The South Asian community in the state of Connecticut is fast growing. They are well known for their business initiatives, higher income, higher education levels and is fast becoming a prominent community with many seeking public offices around the nation.
For more information about the event and for sponsorship opportunities, please visit: http://www.masconn.org
An Indian court has sentenced Bollywood superstar Salman Khan to five years in jail for poaching rare antelope back in 1998. The court in Jodhpur also fined him 10,000 rupees ($154; £109) for the crime. He has since been taken to jail.
Khan killed the two blackbucks, a protected species, in the western state of Rajasthan while shooting a film. Four other actors who starred with him in the movie and were also charged with the offence have been acquitted.
Khan, 52, can appeal against the verdict in a higher court. Correspondents say he will have to spend at least a few days in prison.
What is behind the Salman Khan case?
This is the fourth case filed against the actor in connection with poaching animals during the filming of the 1998 movie Hum Saath Saath Hain. In 2006, a trial court convicted the actor in two cases of poaching and sentenced him separately to one year and five years in prison. The Rajasthan high court suspended the sentences the following year, and eventually quashed both convictions in 2016.
The state government has appealed against that order in the Supreme Court. Khan was then acquitted of a third case in 2017, which was for possessing unlicensed weapons used to poach the wildlife in 1998.
The original poaching complaint against him was filed by the local Bishnoi community, who revere and worship the blackbuck. In December 2015, Khan was cleared in a 2002 hit-and-run case in which a homeless man died and four others were in injured. His car allegedly ran over them while they were sleeping on a street in the western city of Mumbai.
A lower court had convicted him in May 2015. During his trial, Khan had argued that his driver had been behind the wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been driving under the influence of alcohol.
Seven months later, the high court acquitted him. It said that key evidence – including testimony from a policeman who had since died – was not reliable. In January 2017, Khan was also acquitted in another case that charged him with using illegal firearms to kill the blackbucks.
One of Bollywood’s biggest stars, the actor has appeared in more than 100 films and has a huge fan following across the vast spectrum of Indian society.
His fans include the middle-class English-speaking audiences as well as poor slum dwellers for whom the 350-rupee ($5.20; £3.40) tickets do not come cheap.
Known for his romantic roles as well as action films, Khan has won several prestigious Indian cinema awards. The eldest of the three sons of well-known screenplay writer Salim Khan, he is a hit on social media too – his Facebook page is liked by more than 36 million fans, while on Twitter he has 32.5 million followers.
Khan’s conviction is making waves on both mainstream and social media. The hashtag #BlackBuckPoachingCase is the top trend on Twitter India while #Salman Khan is also trending. Many of the tweets addressed the fact that the case has gone on for years.
(Edison, New Jersey: April 7th, 2018) Ajay Ghosh, the Chief Editor of www.theunn.com (The Universal News Network) has been chosen to receive NAMAM Excellence Award 2018 for his contributions to the media world. Born and educated in India, Ajay Ghosh,
Other winners of the award include, a community activist & leader, a successful businessman, an industrialist, a scientist, a renowned musician, two young genius children, and an organ donor, who have made it to The NAMAM Excellence Award 2018 winners list. The most awaited “Namam Excellence Award 2018” will be held at Royal Albert Palace, Edison, New Jersey on April 28th, 2018 at 5 pm, Madhavan Nair, Founder and Secretary General of North American Malayalees and Associated Members (NAMAM, announced here. “An unforgettable evening as we honor extraordinarily accomplished individuals, who have made valuable contributions to the Indian-American community with the NAMAM Excellence Awards,” Nair added.
Ajay Ghosh, the Chief Editor of Universal News Network and The Asian Era, came to the United States to pursue higher studies in Journalism in 1997 at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. In India, Ajay had earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Delhi University, and had worked as a freelance writer on social issues for numerous publications on in Delhi, including the Times of India, The Hindu and the Pioneer, and had served as the Editor of The Voice Delhi.
After graduating from Marquette University, his life as a professional journalist began in the summer of 1999 in New York City. Starting as a reporter for India Post, he worked as the New York Bureau Chief of Indian Reporter and World News from 2000 to 2005. From 2002 to 2008, Ajay worked as the Executive Editor of NRI Today, a monthly magazine, published from New York. He was instrumental in launching The Asian Era, a colorful magazine published from New York and worked as the Chief Editor from 1999 to 2015, and has rejoined The publication recently and is serving as the Editor in Chief. He had worked for about two years as the New York Bureau Chief of India Tribune, a weekly newspaper, published from Chicago.
Since early 2014, he served as the Bureau Chief of The Indian Express, North American Editions. In 2014, he along with Dr. Joseph Chalil launched The Universal News Network, an online publication (www.theunn.com) and continues to serve as the Chief Editor of the web-portal. In 2010, Ajay was appointed as the Media Consultant of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI, the largest ethnic association representing over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin in the United States. In 2012, he was awarded the Best Journalist by AAPI at its annual convention in San Antonio, Texas.
With the objective of bringing together the journalists of Indian origin scattered across the United States, Ajay along with his friends/colleagues in the media, was instrumental in forming Indo-American Press Club, and had served as the founder President of Indo-American Press Club in the year 2012-13.
Enthurai, a non-profit organization in the US, serving the people in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, India. He had raised funds after the Tsunami struck the region in 2005 and most recently, he had raised over half a million Rupees to benefit the families who had lost their primary family members in the Cyclone Ockhi in Southern parts of India.
In addition, Ajay taught Social Work Seminar and guided students at the Graduate School of Social Work at Fordham University in New York City since 2006. He has worked as the Administrator of the Mental Health Clinic at Saint Dominic’s Home, Bronx, New York from 1999 to 2014. He worked as the Treatment Coordinator at Saint Vincent’s Hospital’s Westport Campus, which serves patients with mental health issues, and had a brief stint as a Senior Social Worker at Children’s Village that serves children and families for over 150 years. At present, he works as a Primary Clinician at Yale New Haven Hospital, srving patients with behavioral health issues.
Ajay Ghosh is married to Mini, his closest friend and wife for nearly two decades and the couple are blessed with three beautiful daughters, Archana, Navya, and Ahana. The Ajay Family lives in Trumbull, Connecticut.
The world renowned community leader and activist, Dr. Thomas Abraham; Dr. Babu Stephan, the CEO of DC Healthcare Inc and the president of SM Reality LLC; T. S. Nandakumar, a well known and versatile Carnatic music percussionist; Ramadas Pillai, President/CTO of Nuphoton Technologies, Inc; Rekha Nair, who has been an advocate for organ donation; Tiara Thankam Abraham, a 12-year-old soprano prodigy and a child genius; and, Ajay Ghosh, an accomplished journalist, are the winners of the NAMAM Excellence Award 2018.
Dr. Babu Stephan
Dr. Babu Stephan, a winner of the NAMAM 2018 award, is the CEO of DC Healthcare Inc and the president of SM Reality LLC. He was the president of Indian cultural coordination committee ( ICCC) for two years. He was a contributing Member of the Unites States Congressional Advisory Board and had served a two year term as the Regional VP of the Federation of Indians in America (FIA). He was also the President of Association of Indians in America (AIA) and is the present chairman of Indo-American Press Club (IAPC).
A founding member of Kairali television, a leading channel with an impressive viewership around the world, Dr. Stephan is the publisher of two newspapers, ‘Express India’ and ‘India this Week’, in the metropolitan DC area for the local Indian communities are part of his media engagement. He was the founding producer of ’Darshan Television’ in Washington DC. He is a balanced player in US political system and has successfully hosted multiple fundraisers to candidates across three decades in Washington, DC and was part of the Washington DC Mayor’s business delegation to China. A resident of Washington DC, Dr. Stephan lives with his family, wife Gracy Stephan, daughter, Sindu Stephan, son-in-law, Jimmy George and three delightfully sweet and talented grandkids, Shriya, Pavit, and Tejas.
Dr. Thomas Abraham
The world renowned community leader and activist, Dr. Thomas Abraham has been the founder president of many Indian community institutions in the USA including the Federation of Indian American Associations (FIA) which does the largest Indian Day Parade outside India in New York, the National Federation of Indian American Associations and the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). He also served as the Co-Chair to institute Jagdish Bhagwati Chair for Indian Political Economy at Columbia University and helped to initiate groups such as the Indian American Kerala Center, South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) and National Indian American Association for Senior Citizens. An alumni of Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) and Columbia University.
By profession, Dr. Abraham is a nanotechnologist and serves as president of Stamford based Innovative Research and Products, Inc., Stamford, CT, a technology and market research firm. For his dedicated community service, Dr. Abraham has been recognized with Bharatvanshi Gaurav Award by former Vice President of India Bhairon Singh Sekhawat, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by President of India, Life Time Achievement and Service Award from India Abroad and Outstanding Alumnus Award from MNIT. Currently, Dr. Abraham serves as the Chairman of GOPIO International and as Board Member of SACSS, The Kerala Center and American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI).
Dr. Ramadas Pillai
Dr. Ramadas Pillai, another awardee this year, is the President/CTO of Nuphoton Technologies, Inc., in California and VinVish Technologies in Technopark. Nuphoton Technologies as well as VinVish are hardware companies, making Optical Fiber Amplifiers and Transmitters for Communications and sensing for terrestrial, undersea and space applications. He is s a laser scientist and entrepreneur for the past 20 years.
Pillai is the past president of KHNA (2007-2009). Nuphoton Technologies, Inc., and is a pioneer in fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers with applications covering industrial, defense, aerospace, biomedical, telecommunications and research areas. The company is in operation since 1996 using proprietary, leading edge technologies for the design and manufacture of high performance fiber lasers, EDFA’s and broadband ASE sources. The company’s customer base is spread over a large cross section that includes universities & national laboratories to Fortune 500 companies. Hailing from Muhamma, in Alappuzha, Ramadas did his MTech from IIT Delhi and Ph.D. from University of Southern California
Rekha Nair
NAMAM Excellence award for 2018, based on outstanding contributions to the society and humanitarian services is being given to Rekha Nair, who has been an advocate for organ donation. In July 2017, she donated one of her kidneys to a young woman who she barely knew at the time. This selfless act saved a life. She works as a Senior Data Analyst at CVR Housing, White Plains, NY. She is also very eloquent and talented as a singer, dancer, choreographer and Program Manager in MAZHAVIL FM.
Born in the melting pot of the world, New York, Rekha’s parents immigrated to the US from Kerala decades ago. She gives credit to her parents for raising and helping her to be what she is today. She considers it a blessing to be part of the great US nation, and she is grateful that this country has abundantly received people from so many different countries and making them an opportunity to survive, to thrive, to live, and to be happy!
In early January 2017, when she came to know that Deepti, living in New Jersy, was on peritoneal dialysis and was in need of a kidney transplant, and was she needed a donor, not knowing much about transplant, she casually texted her telling her she was willing to test and see if she could donate her kidney to her. Rekha followed this up later on , and completed the application to be a donor to this woman, whom she had met barely once at a party in New Jersey. Luckily ofr her, after tests, it was found that she was perfect match to donate her own kidney.
“That is when actual reality had kicked in me,” Rekha says. “I really had to make a decision. I told my husband about this. He gave me the freedom to decide whatever I wanted. Before I went for all this testing, all I told Deepti was that “If my kidney matches, I will give you. Don’t worry!” And, it was a very difficult decision. But Rekha kept her word. On July 11th 2017, “one of my kidneys was transplanted into Deepti at St. Barnabas Hospital in New Jersey.” Rekha is proud that with her sacrifice, another life has been saved. “I believe we can all do the same thing, if you have the heart for it,” Rekha says, who has now become a champion of organ donation.
T. S. Nandakumar
T.S. Nandakumar, a well known and versatile Carnatic music percussionist, is another awardee this year. He is primarily adept in playing the Mridangam. The son of Shri Balakrishna Panicker and Shrimati Saraswati, he comes from the family of the well known nadaswaram duo, the Ambalapuzha Brothers. A child prodigy, Nandakumar had only talent with which he conquered the world of music with his beats on the mridangam. He learnt mridangam under the guidance of Shri Kaithavana Madhavdas in the gurukula samprada tradition and acquired proficiency as Laya Vidwan.
Nandakumar developed a strong interest in music when he was four years old. He gained a reputation as an accompanist to some well-known names in Carnatic music such as Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. D. Ramanathan, S. Ramanathan, R. K. Srikantan, V. Dakshinamoorthy, Bhimsen Joshi, M. Balamuralikrishna, T. N. Krishnan, L. Subramaniam, N. Ramani, K. J. Yesudas, N. Rajam, T. K. Govinda Rao, Nedunuri Krishnamurthy, T. V. Gopalakrishnan and several others. He has taken up his life mission to perpetuate Indian ancient art form and has dedicated himself in teaching the same to hundreds of students worldwide.He was quoted as “Guru of all musical things”, “King of percussion in suburbs” and “The Master Of Rhythm” by The Times of India.
Nandakumar has been awarded with numerous prestigious awards. He received the LifeTime Achievement Award from Shanti Foundation, Chennai; he was honored by the Cleveland Tyagaraja group with the ‘Best Teacher Award’; and the Bharat Ratna M. S. Subbulakshmi Best Teacher Award from the Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai .He was also felicitated and honored by Shri R. K. Laxman the cartoonist. Pittsburgh University in America conducts special classes in percussive arts for which they have enlisted Nandakumar. A renowned music teacher, around the world, he is well known for conducting 24 hours nonstop Akanda Seva Bhajan with his students in Mumbai for the tsunami-affected victims of India.
Tanishq Mathew Abraham
Child Genius Tanishq Mathew Abraham is a 14-year-old senior (4th year) completing his biomedical engineering degree at Univ. Of California, Davis. He will be the youngest engineer to graduate in June 2018. Tanishq made international headlines when he graduated from high-school at 10-years-old and later at 11-years-old when he graduated with triple Associate Degrees from American River College. He again made headlines after he was accepted with to two universities, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz with the prestigious Regents Scholarship to continue his undergrad degree.
Tanishq first started his on-campus college classes at 7-years-old. Due to his passion for astronomy, along with the support of his astronomy professor, he co-founded the Astronomy & Physics club at American River College at 8-years-old. He became the founding Vice President of the club and held that position for 2 years when he would help starting new projects, research, recruiting new members and creating and maintaining social media sites. Meanwhile at home, he would spend countless hours, volunteering for a citizen scientist project helping astronomers look through hundreds of NASA images for exoplanets (planets that are outside our solar system), solar storms and supernova. While going through hundreds of images, he discovered, an exoplanet, two solar storms and a supernova at 8-years-old. He presented his findings, verified by other citizen scientists, at a talk for his college astronomy club.
Tiara Thankam Abraham
Tiara Thankam Abraham is a 12-year-old soprano prodigy and a child genius. She is a homeschooled student who studies high school and college level material. At 11-years-old, she wrote the SATs for the first time and scored 95th percentile among the 7th graders. Due to her good score at 11, she became part of the Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) which allows students like Tiara to advance their love for learning. With a determination to score well, she prepared for the SAT in a month while helping her mom who was caring for Tiara’s granddad at the hospital. After getting back late from the hospital, the 11-year-old would sit up as late as 1:00 am to keep up with her SAT preparation, much to the disapproval of her mom.
Tiara started her first on-campus college classes at 7-years-old. She has taken campus college courses in foreign languages (French, German, Italian, and Spanish), voice and music theory classes and finished about 30 college semester units. She became a member of the high IQ society, MENSA, at 4-years-old.
Due to her inborn talent and passion for singing and math, she is planning to pursue a music (in vocal performance) and math major as her college degree. Tiara has won 1st place at several vocal competitions. She had the honor of performing twice as a soloist at the famous Carnegie Hall, NYC when she was 9 and 10 years old respectively. She also released her debut album “Winter Nightingale” when she was 10. Her album with 9 songs covers different genres in 6 Romance languages
NAMAM is an Indian cultural organization that was formed in the United States in 2010. Under the strong and inspiring leadership of Madhavan B. Nair, the founder of NAMAM, a team of enthusiastic people with unswerving dedication has transformed the organization into a platform for families to come together and experience a wonderful sense of belonging and oneness.
NAMAM functions as a juncture of like-minded individuals across the community to engage in social and cultural activities. NAMAM has been reaching out to the community with varied cultural programs, social gatherings and humanitarian aid efforts. “It is our priority to pass a deep awareness about our rich heritage, unique customs and eclectic culture of Kerala to the younger generation in the USA, so that they can appreciate and take pride in their genealogy. We welcome you to join our organization and participate in our community outreach activities,” Madhavan Nair says.
Five Indian American women were honored with an Achievement Award by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran at the Indian American Forum Gala at Antuns by Minar in Hicksville, New York, on March 22.
Pinky Rangi, Dr. Isha Mehta, Nami Kaur, Reema Rasool and Ananga Manjari Malatesta Gonzalez were honored for their outstanding achievements within the community, according to a press release.
Indu Jaiswal, Dr Bhupendra R Patel, Ravi Batra, Pinky Rangi, Mr Rajan Rangi, Kamal Dandona, Ranju Batra, Satbir Singh Bedi and Chanbir Kaur. Curran lauded the honorees for their achievements and hoped many more women will come forward to play significant role in the county.
Curran also spoke of the many opportunities that were available to women in Nassau County.
Shammi Singh, Dr Shama Rasool, Indu Jaiswal, Reema Rasool and Dr Ayaz Rasool
The gala was attended by a couple of local politicians and officials and attracted a large number of community members, leaders and presidents of various organizations. Those who addressed the gathering included IAF founder Bobby Kumar Kalotee, IAF chair Indu Jaiswal, IAF PR chair Mohinder Taneja and Gala Chair Shammi Singh.
(New York, NY) On Wednesday, March 28, NYTWA members, including yellow cab, green car, black car, and app-dispatched drivers, gathered on the steps of City Hall to mourn four colleagues who committed suicide in the past four months and to demand immediate action by the Mayor. Drivers stood with Gabriel Ochisor, the son of Nicanor Ochisor, a yellow-taxi owner-driver who committed suicide on March 16th.
NYTWA Executive Director Bhairavi Desai said, “The Governor, Speaker and Majority Leader should have been standing with us today to give us courage as we mourn our brothers, instead they are scheming to put congestion pricing on the backs of drivers. Yellow cabs, in particular, have contributed to close to $1 billion toward the MTA since 2009. There is a serious crisis among drivers. Any other cut to their wage – especially one aimed at reducing their ridership – is going to have serious human consequences. Albany and City Hall need to hear our call for help. It’s born from tragedy not theater.”
Four driver deaths in four months: Nicanor Ochisor, a yellow taxi owner-driver, Danilo Corporan Castillo and Alfredo Perez, Bronx livery drivers, and Douglas Schifter, a black car driver. All driven to financial ruin by unregulated Wall Street darlings Uber and Lyft, who in 2016 had more lobbyists than Walmart, Microsoft and Amazon combined. Meanwhile, an MIT study found more than half of Uber drivers earn below minimum wage. No driver wins this vicious race to the bottom.
Nicanor’s family has started a GoFundMe campaign to pay off his medallion so his wife can finally retire. Speakers at the rally included: Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance; Gabriel Ochisor, son of Nicanor Ochisor; City Council Member Barry Grodenchik; City Council Member Stephen Levin
Nicanor, the most recent driver pushed to suicide, was an immigrant worker and a yellow taxi medallion owner-driver, who drove with his wife, an increasing pattern among drivers’ families working around the clock without time to rest or recuperate with loved ones, adding to the crushing devastation of poverty. Nicanor lost his life savings and was pushed to financial ruin when New York City broke its promise to professional drivers. Instead of keeping its commitment to yellow cab drivers, who operate in the heavily-regulated medallion industry, the city allowed Uber, Lyft, and their cohorts to flood our streets with vehicles covered by zero regulation. This anti-regulation zealotry came at the expense of professional drivers. Black car, yellow cab, green car and even Uber drivers themselves have been pushed into poverty as drivers see their incomes plummet, competing for fares in streets swamped by 100,000 for-hire vehicles and with no relief in sight.
We must stop treating the devastation of people’s lives as inevitable. We cannot allow Uber to continue to destroy lives for a business model that hasn’t even been proven sustainable. We must come together now and demand protections for ALL drivers and for rational regulations that level the playing field.
NYTWA has the following demands:
Cap the number of for-hire-vehicles to protect full-time work. Yellow and green cabs are already capped. Uber/Lyft are not and are responsible for the flooding of cars on our streets.
Establish the TLC-regulated yellow and green cab meter rate as the wage floor across all sectors. No company can go lower. No more slashing rates on drivers’ backs. Uber & co. should also not be able to charge more from the rider and pay less to the driver.
Raise the current rates so that drivers are able to support themselves and their families.
Place caps on expenses charged drivers such as vehicle financing, commission / lease rates and TLC fines. Fines should be in relation to how much we earn, not punish us for being poor.
Protect drivers against wage theft by increasing the Taxi and Limousine Commission enforcement capability and allowing restitution to drivers when companies have been found to violate rules.
Founded in 1998, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) is the 19,000-member strong union of NYC taxicab drivers, representing yellow cab drivers, green car, and black car drivers, including drivers for Uber and Lyft. We fight for justice, rights, respect and dignity for the over 50,000 licensed men and women who often labor 12 hour shifts with little pay and few protections in the city’s mobile sweatshop. Our members come from every community, garage, and neighborhood. To find out more visit NYTWA.org, follow us on twitter.com/nytwa or like us on facebook.com/nytwa.
