Category: Community

By Dr. Thomas Abraham

Novi, Michigan – American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI) held its 32nd Annual Convention focusing on the theme of Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurship (ETE 2017). This convention was held on December 9th at the Novi Civic Center in Novi, Michigan. The 32nd Annual Convention is hosted by the Michigan Chapter of ASEI. The objective ETE 2017 was to provide a forum to promote and share advancements related to emerging technologies and entrepreneurship. This convention was attended by scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders across USA. This convention will feature multiple interactive sessions with prominent business owners, technologists, media personalities, educators, policy makers, and investment bankers.

The convention had multiple interactive sessions led by various subject matter experts providing information and insight on many topics related to the convention theme. The attendees found these sessions very informative and comprehensive. The sessions were organized in two tracks with topics such as Autonomous Cars, Latest Trends in Automotive Transmissions Technology, Tax Considerations for Entrepreneurs, War on Cash, Cybersecurity and Healthcare, Innovations in Branding, and Intelligent Transport Systems. The speakers for these sessions were from Ford, GM, Harman, Prudential, SBD, Futurenet, Michigan Business Network, University of Michigan, TiE, and Jenesys Group. The attendees found these sessions very informative and helpful.

There were two keynote speakers at lunch time who provided motivational presentations about their professional achievements. Sanjay Dhal – CEO of Detroit Flying Cars talked about introducing new approaches, bridging diverse domains, small footprint thinking and seeking efficiencies while pursuing his lifelong passion for designing, building and flying models and full size aircraft. Mehul Desai – Founder and CEO of DeZai, LLC focused on has 25 years of experience in ICT and related applications worldwide, focusing on fostering innovation in the areas of Technology, New Media and Social Entrepreneurship and his pioneering work in the field of secure transactions for mobile phone users, evolving the Digital Wallet to Mobile Wallet to Lifestyle Container.

There was a Youth Technology Exhibition (YTE) for middle and high school students to demonstrate their work based on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. There were over 35 students from 11 teams who participated in this exhibition. All participants received a plaque and gift card from ASEI.

The one-day convention concluded with a Gala Dinner Celebration including Bollywood entertainment. There were three evening keynote speakers – Mamatha Chamarthi, CIO – ZF TRW, Sam Mahalingam – CTO, Altair, and Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence – US Congress.  Mamatha Chamarthi talked about her life journey and factors attributed to her professional achievements. Sam Mahalingam provided insights into his successful career spanning multiple roles in increasing responsibilities. Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence spoke about the importance of STEM and commended ASEI for taking an initiative in organizing STEM based activities. She also reflected on the positive impact from all mentors who helped her through school and college.

 The annual ASEI awards were presented to several individuals for following categories:

–       ASEI Technology Leadership Award – Mamatha Chamarthi, CIO – ZF TRW

–       ASEI Engineer/Scientist of Year  – Dr. Rahul Mittal, Global Technical Specialist – GM

–       ASEI Entrepreneur of Year – Bhushan Kulkarni, CEO – GDI Infotech / Infoready Corp.

–       ASEI Founder’s Award – Aaron Ghumman, President – ASEI Seattle Chapter

 Harinder Bir Singh, Anjali Tiwari, and Santosh Tiwari from ASEI Michigan Chapter were recognized with an award for their dedicated service and commitment to ASEI for many years.

The American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI) is a not-for-profit organization that provides a platform for networking, career advancement, community service, mentoring and technology exchange for professionals, students and businesses in the United States and abroad. Members are guided by several objectives, including the creation of an open, inclusive, and transparent organization; providing positive role models, awarding scholarships, and remaining socially responsible. ASEI was founded in 1983 in Detroit, Michigan by a handful of visionaries. Today, the organization also has chapters in Michigan, Southern California, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit: https://aseiusa.org/

Asian Media USA ©

Chicago IL: US India Chamber of Commerce, Midwest organized “2017 Annual Holiday Dinner” on December 08, 2017 at Ashyana Banquets, Downers Grove, Illinois. The theme of the event was “India: A Prime Investment Destination”.

 The event was packed and attended by leading entrepreneurs, professionals and industry leaders and spouses. Roopla Khanna, Board Member welcomed the gathering. Dr. Ajit Pant, President and Founder Member, spoke about the history of the Chamber since its founding in 2002. He highlighted its recent activities and programs and explained the “Future Vision of the Chamber”.

 Thereafter, an illustrious Panel consisting of Dr. Ajit Pant, Dr. Shekhar Mishra and Mr. Rajeev Ranjan discussed on the key theme of the event “India: A Prime Investment Destination”. The panel discussed the various historical improvements of the investment climate in India. Dr. Pant covered in detail the new currency, tax and land acquisition reforms. The recent program initiatives of the Indian Government such as Make In India, Skill India, Digital India, Clean India and Smart City etc. were also highlighted by Dr. Pant. He also gave an idea how the GDP growth would be positively impacted by these reforms and program initiatives. ‘

He stated that India’s edge would be as a result of the above reforms, its demographic advantage (in terms of productivity and consumption), and the communication and internet connectivity boom taking place in India. All these factors combine to make India a prime destination for foreign investments.

Dr. Pant also mentioned about huge the investments being made and envisaged by American Companies such as Amazon, Uber, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, IBM and many others. The Panel discussion was followed by an active and enthusiastic question and answer session.

Dr. Ajit Pant introduced and honored Dr. Vemury Murthy, President of the Chicago Medical Society for his many initiatives in India in the field of medicine. Vandana Jhingan, the Republican Congressional Candidate from the 8th District of Illinois was also introduced and honored for her exemplary journalistic services to the local Indo American community.

Dr. Prakasam Tata, in his thank you remarks dwelled on the topic of giving with a philosophical touch and highlighted the Charitable Community work that he had been able to carry out in India with the help of the Rotary Club of Naperville. The event was attended by the following Board members: Dr. Ajit Pant (President), Dr. Prakasam Tata, Kanapathy, Rajiv Khanna, Mrs. Roopla Khanna, Dr. Shekhar Mishra. The event ended with more networking and a gala Cocktail and Dinner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Harbachan Singh, Secretary-General, INOC, USA

The scene was one of celebration and jubilation where over 100 officers, members and supporters of INOC, USA converged at its annual meet in New York on Dec 9, 2017, over the pronouncements and road map chartered out by Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Department of All India Congress Committee on Dec.2, 2017 in New York.

Pitroda also gave official recognition to INOC, USA and established an umbrella Board which would consist of Sam Pitroda as Chairman and George Abraham as Vice Chairman and Dr. Surinder Singh Malhotra as a member.  Mohinder Singh Gilzian was endorsed to continue as the President of INOC, USA until the next Lok Sabha elections in about 15 months’ time after which, elections will take place for the single Indian Overseas Congress entity that will be established and recognized as such.  Also celebrated was the nomination of Harbachan Singh, Secretary-General of INOC, USA as Chair of a 3-member group to revise and update the By-laws of the single entity of the Indian Overseas Congress in USA.

These appointments were welcomed by the audience with a standing ovation and with an arousing and a thunderous applause and expressions of great satisfaction.  Mr. George Abraham thanked everyone for their dedication to the values and principles of the Congress Party and their perseverance to safeguard them often through difficult times. He also called on everyone to work together and hoped transparency, accountability, and fairness would prevail in working with the other group. He also cheered the imminent appointment of Shri Rahul Gandhi as President of AICC.

It may be recalled that the Congress party in the USA has hitherto been served by two splinter organizations one of which was headed by Mr. George Abraham (INOC, USA) and the other by  Shudh Parkash Singh INOC (I). Mohinder Singh Gilzian appealed everyone to work together and make the organization a strong one. He said the record of the Congress party was glorious and holds good hope for the future.

Harbachan Singh, Secretary General of INOC, USA drew attention to its great inherent strength and expressed confidence in the future of the Congress party despite the recent trials and tribulations.  He said the track record was an open book for everyone to see and the experience and professionalism that it is equipped with has no parallel in modern history.

Dr. Surinder Singh Malhotra who had also joined the meeting praised the excellent work of all the senior leaders of this Congress group and encouraged them to follow the goals and policy of the Congress party which were very democratic and secular in nature.

The guest speaker, Dr. George Mathew, Chairman of the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi emphasized the excellent value of the Congress party’s secular system in modern society which had become the new horizon for the international brotherhood to develop modern international networks in trade and peaceful co-existence.

Joy Thomas, a former District Congress Committee President and former head of Consumer Federation of  Kerala felicitated the audience for the great strength that they showed and the tremendous work that they continue to do for the love of the country.  He lauded the outstanding accomplishments of UPA I and UPA II under the stewardship of Soniaji.

The news of Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji becoming the President of A.I.C.C was also received with joy and acclamation.  Speaker after speaker expressed happiness and confidence in his leadership to lead the party on the road to victory.

The long-awaited cake cutting time to celebrate the Birthday of Madam Sonia Gandhi finally arrived and topped all ceremonies of the day. George Abraham in a toast to Soniaji highlighted her passion for pluralism and empathy for the disadvantaged. Quoting her own words which said the following: “ though born in a foreign land, I chose India as my country, I am Indian and shall remain so until my last breath. India is my motherland, dearer to me than my own life”, Abraham thanked the important role she had played in establishing INOC as a vibrant organization here in U.S.  Several speakers recounted her excellent contribution to the development of the party and the establishment of the rule of law.  Toasts were proposed, and sincere wishes for her continued good health and prosperity were expressed by every present.

Tejinder Singh Gill, Malini Shah, Satish Sharma, Sawaran Singh, Jasvir Singh Nawanshr, Jose Jacob, Jaya Sundaram, Devendra Vora, Gautam Sanghavi, Kulbir Singh, Koshy Oommen and Leela Maret also spoke.

Indian American actor Aziz Ansari and Pakistani American actor Kumail Nanjiani have scored nominations for the 23rd annual Critics’ Choice Awards. For both these actors, being the contenders for this prestigious award, which some say is a barometer for predicting the Oscars, is the best way to cap a pretty successful 2017.

Ansari, who has in the past got the critics’ nod for his Netflix comedy series, “Master of None,” is back in the race owing to the second season of the series, which was lapped by the fans. He has been nominated in the ‘Best Actor in a Comedy Series’ category for his role in the Netflix drama.

Nanjiani, a critically acclaimed actor, writer and comedian, recently starred in and co-wrote “The Big Sick” with his wife, Emily V. Gordon. The film, a romantic comedy story, which was released by Amazon Studios/Lionsgate, wowed critics and audiences alike. Nanjiani, also known for his co-starring role as Dinesh in the award-winning HBO comedy series, “Silicon Valley,” has collected multiple nominations, for his work on both “The Big Sick” and “Silicon Valley.”

CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory,” which stars Indian American actor Kunal Nayyar, is competing for the ‘Best Comedy Series’ award. Netflix leads the television honors with 20 nominations, followed by HBO with 15, FX with 13, and ABC with 12.

The Critics’ Choice Awards are bestowed annually by the Broadcast Film Critics Association and Broadcast Television Journalists Association to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement.  The BFCA is the largest film critics’ organization in the U.S. and Canada, representing more than 300 television, radio and online critics.  BTJA is the collective voice of journalists who regularly cover television for TV viewers, radio listeners and online audiences.

The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics’ Choice Awards gala to be held Jan. 11, 2018 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. The awards show will air on The CW Network and will be broadcast live from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

A Pioneer, Change the landscape of Social Services in Chicagoland

An Indian American couple has donated $1 million to Washington’s landmark cultural institution, the Kennedy Center, to create a fund for organizing a series of Indian cultural events for several years.

The money donated by Ranvir Trehan and Adarsh Trehan will be used to organize events on India’s history, traditions, literature, music, dance and culture at the top American institution for performing arts.

“There is a need and desire for sustained India programming at the Kennedy Center for many years to come and I see this as a broad based effort by individuals both in the Indian American community and others interested in Indian culture from foundations and MNCs,” Ranvir Trehan said.

India’s Ambassador to the U.S. Navtej Sarna said the Trehans’ initiative was “the encouragement that we need.”

“The Indian arts are at a very interesting phase… It surprises me constantly because we are all used to a certain vision of Indian culture, but if you now put on a new film or you see a new dance performance, you are always surprised because people are always crossing borders in different directions,” Sarna said.

According to an earlier report by IANS in India-West, Trehan came to the U.S. in 1964 after receiving a BS from BITS. He is chairman of the Trehan Foundation, a philanthropic organization he founded for giving primarily for international development in 2003. It is focused on global poverty, as well as a performing arts center and human services.

Previously, Trehan was vice chairman of Apptis Holdings, Inc. from 2005 to 2011 and was founder and CEO of SETA Corporation from 1987 to 2005, according to the White House.

Trehan was a department head of Information and Communications Systems from 1985 to 1987 and a member of the technical staff from 1969 to 1985 at The MITRE Corporation.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of CARE and a former member of the board of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. He holds an MSE from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the University of Dayton.

By Asian Media USA ©

Chicago IL: The Multi-Ethnic Advisory Task Force [MEATF] of the United States Congressman Honorable Danny Davis [D-7th Dist.] held its glittering Congressional 7th Annual Award Gala with the theme “Congressional  Salute to our Community Heroes” on Sunday October 29, 2017 at the Meadows Convention Center in Rolling Meadows, IL replete with flavorful ethnic extravaganza of music, dances and large culinary ethnic feast. Importantly, this black-tie gala featured Chicago’s most prominent awardees highlighting the commitment of Congressman Davis to recognize individuals who have exemplified excellence and distinction and for those who made significant contributions to society in ameliorating in social, cultural, charitable, intellectual, educational, medicine, academic, public service leadership, business endeavors.

The MEATF 7th Annual Congressional Awards Gala is popularly known as Community Oscars and was organized with red carpet walk for Awardees & Presenters, TV media interviews and a grand ten member Mexican Mariachi Band welcoming the guests during the reception .The Congressional salute gala was joined by a large number of guests representing business, community, civic, religious leaders and some of the most prominent recipients of the awards included  Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle received Woman of the Year award,  Dr. Bharat Barai, Renowned Oncologistreceived Man of the Year award, Edward  M Brotonel received the Veteran of the year, Reza Deghati, National Geographic Photo-Journalist from Paris, France received the International Photographer of the Year award ,and  Dr. Sriram & Dr. Sarada Sonty Lifetime Achievement award, to name a few. The most highlighted award of the evening went to Lagos State Assembly Speaker from Nigeria, Mr Obasa who received Golden Eagle Award and the Danny K Davis Peace Award was presented to Dr. Clyde Rivers, Founder President, iChange Nations, California.

The prominent presenters who introduced the awardees  at the Community Oscars included 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin from Chicago, Mayor of Waukegan Sam Cunningham, Chief of Police, Maywood Valdimer Talley , State Rep Melissa Conyears-Ervin , 16th Ward Committeeman Ms Stephanie Coleman, 20th Ward Committeeman Kevin Bailey, President, International American Friendship Society, Ms. Leontine Horne, Honor Roll Sophomore of Perspective Charter School , Shimya Moorer, Peter Gariepy, Democratic Candidate for Cook County Treasurer,Mrs Santosh Kumar , Executive Director, Metropolitan Asian Family Services, Ms. Padma Mehta, Successful lady entrepreneur, First lady of MEATF and well-known singer of Chicago, Ms. Bushra Jawed, President Bushra Beauty Bar, Mr Sam Ma, Founder American Asian Association, Mr. Phil De Garro, President Buddy Car Wash., Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, FIA Trustee, Begum Chand Jamshad Nasim, MEATF Vice Chair, Assyrian Singing Legend Linda George, Arizona’s Animal Rights Activist Crystal Killian ,Ukraine’s Women Representative Marya Pylpiv and Ms. Galdys Loggin Folorunsho, President, USA Africa Chamber of Commerce, among others.

A grand entry of Congressman Danny Davis set the stage for an evening of fervor and gaiety as he waltzed in with his wife , Ms Vera to the beautiful strains of Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely song ,followed by Dr. Shoba Chokkalingam, Women’s Chair, MEATF taking to the podium with elegance and masterful eloquence in carrying forward the evening gala. Dr. Zenobia Sowell, Gala Czar gave a reflective invocation with Kishor Mehta, Chairman MEATF welcoming the guests. Kishor Mehtadescribed MEATF as an organization committed to bring under one united umbrella the people of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Chairman Mehta expressed his gratitude for Congressman Davis and Dr Vijay Prabhakar for their excellent leadership and said that Congressman Davis has established a unique way of communicating and interacting by setting up advisory task force to address the wide spectrum of ethnic issues and concerns related to public policy.

Congressman Danny K Davis recognized and presented Congressional citations to the International dignitaries who had specially flown down to attend the Gala : Mr A Kriishnamohan, Vice President, National Human Rights Council of India, Captain Arun K Chakrabortty, Kargil War Hero & National Convener, National Human Rights Council of India , and the Member of Parliament From Ghana, Mr. Samuel Nartey George.

Dr. Vijay G Prabhakar, Founder-Chair of the Congressman Davis’s Multi Ethnic  Advisory Task Force presided over the gala presenting at the outset, an in-depth historical overview of the genesis of MEATF and how it has evolved over the last seven years gathering greater momentum and significance. Dr. Vijay G Prabhakar stridently described the awards gala as an enduring symbol of unity and empowerment of the burgeoning ethnic communities and a glorious acknowledgement of the spirit of human triumph manifested in each ethnic community. Dr. Vijay G Prabhakar thanked Mr. Clarence Beal, Dr. Sowell and Gerard Moore and especially thanked Congressman Davis for his unfailing devotion to uplift the ethnic community and the awardees for highlighting their role of significance in shaping the American society.

The elegant evening gala recognizing excellence and distinction was beautifully interspersed with colorful ethnic dance presentations, inspiring acceptance remarks bringing to the forefront the inspiring ideals of the individuals who embodied merit in various fields of human endeavors.The Latin American Singer, MS Samantha Cortez awesome rendition of the popular song : “How Great Thou Art “, got a standing ovation. Hollywood singer and songwriter, Hadiya Nelson Moorer powerful rendition of the American National Anthem in the beginning set the tone for the evening.

The following were the awardees: Light of the Year Award :Deepak Kant Vyas; Physician of The Year Award : Dr Raja Rajan Gopaldas; Outstanding Child of the Year : Master Zohair Ahmed; Outstanding Child of the Year: Master Samuel Yousefzai; Student of the Year :  Miss Nikita Basu;Youth of the Year(F) : Ms. Aishwarya Katiki;  Youth of the Year (M) : Syed  Moiz Ali Community Activist of the Year : Ms Michelle Lura White; Inter Faith Leader of The Year : Mr Sohail Bakhsh; Humanitarian of the Year : Dr Kirit Patari; Filmmaker of the Year :Parthiban Shanmugam; Rising Star of the Year : Rep  Christian L Mitchell;  Journalist of The Year : Isaac Lewis; Organization of the Year : Women Association Forum; Architect of the Year : Raffi Arzoumanian;  Distinguished Leadership Award : Dr Chowdury Jampala; Style Icon (Female) of the Year:Hema Potla; Style Icon (Male) of the Year : Albert Memi; Sportsperson of The Year : Ms. Dorothy Gators;  Digital Marketing Professional Of the Year: Thomas B Varghese;Media Person of the Year : Biju Zachariah; Businessperson of the Year : Dr Chirinjeev Kathuria;  Corporate of the Year: Ram Talluri;  Dentist of the Year : Dr.Amit Kumar; Community Leadership Award : Very Rev Father Bogdan Kalynyuk; Mother of the Year : Mrs Prema Chokkalingam; Father of the Year : Babu Verma;  Community Service Award (M): Sadruddin Noorani; Community Service Award (F): Ms Amy Moy-Ng; ; Entrepreneur of the Year: Iman Bambooyani;    Golden Eagle Award : Michael Strotter; and International Man of the Year : S. V. Anchan , CEO SafeSea Group, New Jersey.

Clarence Beals, Awards Chair  thanked the entire team of MEATF and especially recognized Jerome Athishtam, Nagendar Sripada, Lawrence Pedapatti. Vijender Doma, Daniel Ravury, Colby Smith, Mayra Hinojosa,and Dr Siva Madesan for their tireless efforts as  A-V Logistics, Exhibit, Stage, Souvenir, Food Court & Reception Co- Chairs. The Community Oscars  was elegantly emceed by Dr. Shoba Chokkalingam, Ms. Rani Yousefzai, Ms. Joyce Doma, Ms. Starr Gadson and Ms. Shannon Baksh.  Ms Vandana Jhingan of TV Asia, Parthiban Shanmugam of FB TV, Atlanta, Saurin Thakkar of Desiworld TV and Shirley Kalvakota of Flowers TV, India were the TV anchors that interviewed the Awardees at the Red Carpet and also during the Reception.

Congressman Danny K Davis in his Closing Remarks said that he was overwhelmed by the support of all his constituents especially from the ethnic communities from 24 different countries present at the Gala.  Rep. Davis said that the record turnout at this event has encouraged him and inspired him to continue serving the 7th Congressional district for many more years to come as the 7th Congressional District’s Congressman and he has no plans to retire.  Davis paid a  special tribute to  Dr Vijay Prabhakar, Founder of the Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force  for his visionary and indefatigable efforts in establishing the Task Force and relentlessly nurturing the group to become a formidable force in the Sate of Illinois by showcasing the right persons from different ethnicities to lead.  Today, the MULTI  ETHNIC ADVISORY TASK FORCE has become a movement charged with the goal of promoting, protecting, and empowering minorities under the Chairmanship of Kishor Mehta, he added. Davis said that under Kishor Mehta’s Chairmanship, MEATF is a force to reckon with and is playing a vital role in City, State and Federal arena on all fronts. Davis congratulated all the awardees and the presenters whose contributions were equally impressive, Congressman Davis concluded that he is proud to be associated with this 7 Star Community Oscars which was inclusive of all and truly represented the diversity of America.

The Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Company USA will be celebrating their 10h anniversary on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Edison Hotel Banquet and Conference Center in New Jersey.

Santhigram is a leading provider of authentic Kerala specific ayurveda therapies in 12 locations in the United States, including New Jersey, New York, Texas, Illinois and Wisconsin.

The company is expecting more than 500 people to attend this occasion which will feature a series of programs, including the launch of the Ayurveda training School, Santhigram Herbal products and “Santhigram Foundation.”

The Santhigram Foundation is a charity wing of Santhigram, which advocates and promotes the health, wellness and awareness of the benefits of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) based on “Ayurveda” principles that nurture the human mind, body and spirit and extend the benefit of cost-efficient Ayurveda treatments and medicinal herbs for chronic ailments to low-income patients.

The theme of the celebration is “Celebrating the Spirit of Life and Good Health” and will walk the attendees through various chores involved in daily life and focus on realizing the supreme importance of staying healthy. Distinguished community members and employees will also be honored at the event which will also include dinner and entertainment.

By Asian Media USA ©

Chicago IL: From the moment visitors walked through the Field Museum’s east entrance doors Saturday, October 28 Beyond Bollywood Family Fun Day promised delight. Pre-schoolers and their parents joined Bollywood Groove story teller Ajanta Chakraborty in vigorous movement to enliven the story of “Five Days of Diwali.”  In the Crown Family PlayLab children created sparkly Diyas, clay lamps which brighten the darkest night of the year  when millions of people world-wide celebrate Diwali, the festival of light.  Others tackled Indian board games including Carom and Snakes and Ladders.

Before noon the entire museum resounded with the rhythm of Kalakshetra Drummers as they brought a tradition from Kerala, India to Stanley Field Hall, then led visitors up the South Staircase to the Marae Gallery to tour BEYOND BOLLYWOOD:  INDIAN AMERICANS SHAPE THE NATION. There visitors viewed videos about members of the local Indian American community, and  examined local treasures  displayed with banners from the Smithsonian Traveling exhibition of Beyond Bollywood.

After lunch entranced children flanked by mesmerized adults formed a huge semi-circle in Stanley Field Hall as an Indian classical dance performance upstaged the Field’s famous African elephants and Tyrannosaurus Rex Sue.  Kathak exponent Gauri Jog displayed intricacies of the dance form and the Indian Dance School troupe displayed perfect coordination in group performance.

The Family Day event was organized by Indo-American Heritage Museum Beyond Bollywood Committee Members Amita Banerji and Dorothie Shah with vital cooperation from Field Museum Childhood Learning Center staff, Alyssa Harsha and Eduarda Briseno IAHM Beyond Bollywood Docents Happie Datt, Nita Gangwal, Soumya Patala, Padma Rangaswamy,  Vinkel Thakkar, Padma Rangaswamy, and volunteers Zach Tyler and  Dhruv Mehta assisted in supervising activities and promoting visitor participation.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan will host an exhibition on Indian culture The Namaste Express, in the summer of 2018, media reports here stated. The Namaste Express will be the latest exhibition in an ongoing series of the museum’s exhibitions devoted to world cultures which have already included Ancient Greece, China, Japan and Jazz in NYC, with America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far as their current cultural exploration.

An artifact in the America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Through these exhibitions, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is able to teach children the importance of different cultures around the world and they do this by providing interactive, hands-on activities that the children can participate in, at their will, so they are able to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and its people.

In their upcoming exhibition, The Namaste Express, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan wants to celebrate the beauty and diversity of India’s different cultures and languages along with its history and technological advancements.

The exhibition will be “conceptualized as an interactive train journey through the country. The exhibition layout will allow children and families to make multiple stops at states and cities in India and sample the variety of architectural styles, cultures and environments through colors, shapes, structures and landscapes,” said Lizzy Martin, the Director of Exhibition Development and Museum Planning, at a meet to launch the exhibition, on November 6.

A depiction of an Egyptian spice market in the America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Some of the activities that are already underway include a Rajasthani puppet show, a Bollywood stage, a Chaat Cart (wheeled street cart), rolling rickshaws, a yoga center and a majestic Indian architectural fort, but the Children’s Museum of Manhattan wants more.

“We want families to feel like they are in India, so that is why we are asking members of the Indian American community to help us bring this cultural experience to life,” said Andrew Ackerman, the Executive Director of the museum, speaking at the meet.

“As an Indian American and a mother of two boys, I would love for my kids to learn about India while living in New York,” said Anu Shegal of Culture Tree, who also brought Diwali to the museum this year in their one day special.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan plans to run the scheduled three-month exhibition in the summer of 2018 and depending upon the response, may plan to extend The Namaste Express exhibit for four years, in a much bigger location.

By Asha Tewari

GOPIO-Amsterdam in Netherlands has organised the first Gandhi Peace Walk Europe on October 7th starting from the Peace Palace in The Hague where the International Court of Justice is also located. On October 8th the participants arrived at the gates of the European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium) where they handed over their Gandhi Peace manifesto to the representative of a EU-based think tank that advises the parliament and local MLA’s.

The Peace Walk has been previously organised in The Hague by a local resident Frank Kanhai who is active in sports walks for a couple of years. GOPIO has acknowledged his enthusiasm and decided to uplift the ambition of peace and non-violence promotion by organising a larger audience of 60 dedicated participants who were willing to walk the 162 kilometers in teams during 2 days to Brussels. The Peace manifest was meant to promote Gandhian philosophy of Swaraj, Ahimsa and Satyagraha in the contemporary debates in Europe on Brexit, migration of labor and refugees, and Eastern European political tension combined with international politics.

The EU commissioner for foreign affairs Mrs. Frederica Mogherini recognised this effort by mentioning this in the EU-India Summit in New Delhi and has applauded GOPIO for using this Peace Walk to promote Gandhian values.

On October 28th, GOPIO Netherlands organized an interactive session with a special speaker from India Dr. Suman Khanna Aggarwal in the Humanity House, The Hague. The theme of the session is: Resolving Conflict in Community Relationships through Nonviolence: Creating harmonious relationships in and between communities through   Nonviolence

Dr. Suman Khanna Aggarwal is a Gandhian scholar, peace researcher and Founder President of Shanti Sahyog – a Gandhian NGO & of Shanti Sahyog Center for Peace & Conflict Resolution – a unit of Shanti Sahyog. She has been Associate Professor of Philosophy in Delhi University and has lectured extensively – both in India and abroad and taught courses on Gandhian views in Universities in North America, Japan, Denmark, Middle East and Asia, for instance, in the Universities of John Hopkins, McMaster & Bradford: she also taught in the UK, Scandinavian Universities, and Al Quds University – Palestine/Israel.  She has delivered multiple lectures during the International Days for Nonviolence before.

The Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA) held its first Chhatth festival in New Jersey last week. More than 300 members of the organization and their family members from the Tri-State area came together at the lakeside of Thompson Park in Monroe Township to offer their prayers to the rising and setting sun.

Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival historically native to the Mithila region of Nepal and the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his wife Usha to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to grant certain wishes. Volunteers got together in advance to make prasad for the members attending the Puja. The women kept a fast and despite the cold, devotees stepped into the water to offer the ‘Arag’ to the Sun God.

Keeping the Chhatth festival in New Jersey was a dream come true for everyone as they were already attending it elsewhere for decades, the organizers said in a press release. The organizers said they planned to continue the tradition annually from here on.

An estimated three million adult American handgun owners carry a loaded firearm on a daily basis, and nine million do so on a monthly basis, a study has found. Vast majority cited protection as the primary reason for carrying a firearm.

The study is the first in over 20 years to scrutinise why, how often, and in what manner US adults carry loaded handguns. It also examines how concealed handgun-carrying behaviour differs across states, depending on their laws.

“Carrying firearms in public places can have significant implications for public health and public safety,” said Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, an associate professor at the University of Washington in the US. “An important first step to examining the consequences of firearm carrying at the national level is an accurate measurement of the occurrence of this behaviour and characterisation of those who engage in it,” said Rowhani- Rahbar, lead author at the American Journal of Public Health.

Compared with handgun owners who did not carry, those who did report carrying handguns tended to be younger, and more often male, live in the southern US, have grown up in firearm-owning households, self-identify as politically conservative, and own more than one type of firearm.

Researchers reviewed handgun-carrying behaviour of 1,444 gun owners, using data from a 2015 nationally representative survey designed by Miller and Azrael. “It was important to study handgun carrying because about 90 per cent of all firearm homicides and nonfatal firearm crimes for which the type of firearm is known are committed with a handgun,” said Rowhani-Rahbar.

The study found that 80 per cent of surveyed handgun owners who carried their handgun had a concealed-carry permit, and 66 per cent said they always carried their handguns concealed, compared with 10 per cent who said they always carry their weapons openly.

When comparing handgun-carrying behaviour with corresponding states’ laws, researchers found that proportionally fewer handgun owners carried a concealed handgun if they lived in a state whose laws afforded greater discretion to issuing agencies in the review of concealed- carry applications.

Some owners nevertheless reported carrying a concealed handgun without a permit in states in which doing so was illegal. Rowhani-Rahbar said that more research is needed to comprehensively evaluate the impact of increasingly permissive firearm-carry laws. Future studies should focus on analysing how different concealed-carry laws influence carrying, and characterising illegal carrying behaviour among those who have been denied permits.

In the past 10 years, the share of U.S. adults living without a spouse or partner has climbed to 42%, up from 39% in 2007, when the Census Bureau began collecting detailed data on cohabitation.

Two important demographic trends have influenced this phenomenon. The share of adults who are married has fallen, while the share living with a romantic partner has grown. However, the increase in cohabitation has not been large enough to offset the decline in marriage, giving way to the rise in the number of “unpartnered” Americans.

The share of adults who are unpartnered has increased across the young and middle-aged, but the rise has been most pronounced among young adults. Roughly six-in-ten adults younger than 35 (61%) are now living without a spouse or partner, up from 56% just 10 years ago.

The rise in adults living without a spouse or partner has also occurred against the backdrop of a third important demographic shift: the aging of American adults. Older adults (55 and older) are more likely to have a spouse or partner than younger adults. So it is surprising that the share of adults who are unpartnered has risen even though relatively more Americans are older.

Divorce has likely not contributed to the growing share of unpartnered adults over this short period. Though divorce statistics are complicated, many argue that the divorce rate has generally been stable or falling since the 1980s.

This trend has important implications for the economic well-being of U.S. adults, as research has shown the financial benefits of marriage and cohabitation. The median household income (adjusted for household size) for partnered adults, either married or cohabiting, is $86,000. By contrast, the median household income for unpartnered adults is roughly $61,000. In addition, unpartnered adults are about twice as likely as partnered adults to be living in poverty (17% versus 7%).

The rates of unpartnered Americans vary significantly by key demographics. Men (40%) are less likely than women (43%) to live without a spouse or partner. And adults with at least a bachelor’s degree are significantly less likely to be unpartnered (31%) than less-educated adults (46%). White and Asian adults (37% of each group) are much less likely to be unpartnered than Hispanic (46%) and black (62%) adults.

Over the past decade, the share of adults who are unpartnered has risen more sharply among those who are not employed. In 2007, 46% of working-age adults without a job were not living with a spouse or partner. By 2017 that share had risen to 51%. Among employed working-age adults, the share who were unpartnered increased more modestly since 2007, from 36% to 38%.

This does not imply that lack of employment is a cause of people not having a partner. On one hand, surveys indicate that people say it’s important for men to be economically successful to be good husbands or partners. On the other hand, a large body of economic literature shows that marriage causes husbands to be more successful on the job. It is possible that the lack of a partner provides less of a spur to obtain employment.

A narrow majority (56%) of unpartnered adults are the head of their household. Some 35% are living alone and 22% are living with others in the home (single parents would fall into this category). Nearly three-in-ten (28%) are living with a parent or grandparent, reflecting the fact that unpartnered adults are disproportionately young. An additional 16% have some other relationship to the head of the household (for example, a sibling or roommate).

A cornea-donation campaign started by an Indian Catholic priest four years ago has evolved into the world’s largest eye-donation program.

Hundreds of thousands of donors have joined the program across five nations.

On World Sight Day on Oct. 12, tens of thousands of people — including youth, archbishops, bishops, priests and nuns — in 250 cities in the U.S., China, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal took part in a “blind walk” program.

They were blindfolded in order to increase awareness about the importance of eye donation.

Visually impaired people with white canes led the symbolic walks.

Claretian Father George Kannanthanam began the movement in 2013 to promote donations of corneas for transplantation to restore sight.

In the past four years, the movement has spread to hundreds of voluntary organizations, dioceses and religious movements in the five countries.

Some 600 people took part in the blind walk in New Delhi led by 100 visually challenged people.

The program was jointly organized by Delhi Archdiocese, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), the Holy Family Hospital and the Catholic Health Association of India.

Alphons Kannanthanam, India’s federal tourism minister, asked people to follow the example of neighboring Sri Lanka where after a person’s death the government becomes the custodian of their eyes.

“Why not think of this practice here,” he said.

“In that way we can give many people a chance to see this beautiful world.”

Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi, who took part in the blind walk, told ucanews.com that eyes are the greatest gift that can be given to any human being and it costs nothing.

“We have been trying to spread his message to as many people as possible through parishes and other institutions,” he said.

Delhi Archdiocese, based in in the national capital, has adopted 2017 as the Year of Sight to promote eye donations and awareness across all of its parishes and schools.

Father Kannanthanam said India has some 15 million blind people, about 40 percent of the world’s total.

The objective of the blind walk was not only to motivate people to donate their eyes, but also to create “vision ambassadors” to serve as links between families of deceased people and India’s eye bank.

By Asian Media USA ©

Chicago IL: Suzy’s Place hosted its formal inauguration of its service facility at 6425 N Rockwell Street, Chicago, IL, located in the diverse Rogers Park neighborhood last month. The event was attended by esteemed government officials – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Secretary of State Jesse White, and Alderman Carrie Austin. Also in attendance were its partners- Kate Lawler from Swedish Covenant Hospital, Lillian Cartwright from The Chicago Battered Network, Syed Nizami from US Bank and Eugene Williams from (NOBEL) – National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

Co-Founders Arshia Hasnain and Shahida Khan welcomed a room full of over 150 attendees and explained to them the importance of working together to help make a positive impact in the lives of women and children who are subjected to domestic violence. Together we can make our Chicago community safer and productive.

Suzy’s Place is a 501c3 nonprofit organization registered in the state of Illinois. Suzy’s Place provide emergency and transitional housing, emotional support, and a diversified continuum of services focused on safety, empowerment, and self-sufficiency. Through community partnerships, Suzy’s Place raises awareness, provides services, and educates community about domestic violence issues. Now with our service facility almost complete we will be providing weekly classes to not only empower the women in our shelter but to all the women in the neighborhood. The classes we offer will help to strengthen the body, mind and soul. Our yoga, art, dance, music and self-esteem therapy classes will benefit every woman.

Suzy’s Place is a startup and needs all your support. We know how hard it is to run a shelter and we have accepted the challenge. But we really need your help. Please donate generously by going to our website at www.suzysplace.org and press the donate button. You can also visit us on Facebook and follow our activities on social media at https://www.facebook.com/Suzys-Place-232412787223842/

More than 500 supporters in the fields of business, arts, philanthropy and medicine attended the annual SKN Hope Gala on Friday, at the Marigold Hotel in Somerset, New Jersey, which focused its efforts to raise funds for South Asian children with special needs this year.

“We could not be more humbled by the love and generosity of the community,” said founder Dr. Naveen Mehrotra. “SKN’s goal is to educate the South Asian community about the various diseases that plague our loved ones, and this year, we wanted to shed light on how parents cope with their children with special needs.”

The major beneficiary of this year’s fundraiser will be the Special Needs Community Outreach Program for Empowerment (SCOPE).

Guest of Honor Juhi Chawla, a renowned Indian actress, humanitarian and former Miss India, spoke at the event and served as the show stopper for international fashion designer to the stars, Joy Mitra, who debuted a special collection he created just for the cause.

The fashion show spotlighted special needs children, who walked the ramp with their mothers, followed by an intimate Q&A between host Mini Mathur and the fathers.

“What an amazing opportunity for my son! I am so proud of him every day, and walking the ramp, dressed up so fabulously, allowed him to know that we love him just as he is,” said Radha Lath, mother of Aditya Lath, a child with special needs.

“Parents of special needs children have an unbelievable level of grit and determination, as they face daily life issues, and we are honored to be shedding light on some of their challenges at the SKN Foundation Gala,” said Sonalika Ahuja of Beyond Media, the woman who executed the event for the second year in a row.

The Yashpal and Urmilesh Arya India Studies Library was dedicated at Stony Brook University.  The library is located in theBishembarnath and Sheela Mattoo Center for India Studies. Its naming recognizes the gift of $250,000 by Drs. Yashpal andUrmilesh Arya to the Center’s endowment campaign, which has been matched by the Simons Match Fund. The Aryas’ donation will allow for the expansion of the library’s services and initiatives, including special collections and online courses, to make the library’s resources more widely available.

The dedication ceremony drew a large gathering of Stony Brook faculty, staff, students and administrators, and members of the Indian American community. Dr. Yashpal Arya, flanked by Dr. Urmilesh Arya, described the library’s dedication as “one of the happiest days of our lives.” He told the audience of his family’s history of philanthropy, both in India and in the United States.  “I am proud to stand here today to continue this family tradition of perpetuating further education with the help of Stony Brook University through its forward thinking, visionary policy making, and the Mattoo Center for India Studies for its strong resolve and relentless pursuit that led to the creation of this library.” Dr. Arya thanked the Stony Brook administration for their “enlightened support” for the Center. He also thanked Professors S.N. and Kamal K. Sridhar, whom he described as the Center’s “Pitamaha” and “Matamaha” (grandparents).

“You make your living by earning. You make your life by giving,” Dr. Arya told the audience.

Dr. Nirmal K. Mattoo, Chair of the Center’s executive committee, praised the Aryas for their involvement “in philanthropy on a large scale.”  He noted their long-time “commitment to the Center’s vision.”

Dean Sacha Kopp dedicated the library, and thanked attendees for their “participation in the decades-long effort to create the Center for India Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.” “A public university” Dean Kopp explained, “has the responsibility not only to serve the public through education but to give back to the public in the form of knowledge and sharing and fostering community and culture.” A library is a “gathering of community” and the “lifeblood” of a campus. “As I reflect on ‘community,’ I see it here today.”

Professor S.N. Sridhar, founding Director of the Mattoo Center, described the vital functions of the India Studies library.  It features a collection of more than 13,000 works, including major reference works, such as the Critical Edition of theMahabharata and the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, and special collections on Indian languages donated by noted research scholars. The library’s resources are used by Stony Brook students, faculty, and visiting scholars and researchers from around the world. The Mattoo Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a Gala on October 29th at Leonard’s in Great Neck.

Pratham, one of the largest educational nonprofits in India that provides quality education to underprivileged children, hosted its annual New York Tri-State Gala on September 15, at the Cipriani Wall Street.

The event, which was attended by approximately 600 influential leaders from the business and Indian-American communities, raised over $3.8 million for Pratham’s innovative, award-winning educational programs targeted at the underprivileged in India.

Established in the slums of Mumbai in 1995, Pratham is now one of India’s largest non-governmental education organizations, having affected the lives of more than 50 million underprivileged children in the past two decades.

Guests were entertained by writer, comedian and Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj, who delivered a rousing 20-minute set. Born to an immigrant family, Minaj talked about his upbringing and stressed the importance of “giving kids an opportunity.”

Mangala Mehar, a Pratham vocational program graduate, shared the impact the organization has made on her life. Today, the 22-year-old is a senior housekeeper at a Maldives resort, earning enough to pay her father’s medical bills and send her younger brother to college.

“I had always dreamed of becoming a successful and independent woman. The Pratham course gave me something far greater than the skills to get a job at a fancy hotel. Pratham gave me the motivation and self-confidence to keep moving ahead,” said Mehar before receiving a standing ovation.

The evening honored Ajay Piramal, Chairman of The Piramal Group and the Pratham Education Foundation, who is stepping down from the latter position after a decade of service. In that time, the organization experienced tremendous growth, tripling in size to its current $36 million.

“This has been a very satisfying journey for me where I have learned a lot. I am most grateful to Pratham for this,” said Piramal. “We can look ahead with a lot of optimism,” he added as he reflected on how, in 22 years, Pratham has gone from a single program in a Mumbai slum to one of the most influential forces in India’s education sector.

In her speech, Pratham CEO Dr. Rukmini Banerji described the next frontier for Pratham: exploring an edtech approach to accelerating children’s learning of foundational literacy and numeracy. She praised the significant support Pratham has received from Google and a family-based trust to experiment with digital learning and determine the optimum solution for educating India’s 100 million children who are functionally illiterate.

Chapter President and PNC executive Gagan Singh attributed the evening’s success to the gala committee, staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly over many months, and to donors who have remained loyal to the organization year after year. “In the end,” he concluded, “what is also really important to recognize is that we have an amazing organization in Pratham led by truly passionate and inspiring leaders, which makes it easy for all of us to tell the story.”

Established in the slums of Mumbai in 1995, Pratham is now one of India’s largest non-governmental education organizations, having affected the lives of more than 50 million underprivileged children in the past two decades. To achieve its mission of “every child in school and learning well,” Pratham develops practical solutions to address gaps in the education system and works in collaboration with India’s governments, communities, educators and industry to increase learning outcomes and influence education policy.

This year, Event Guru Inc. will be team up with Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF), an organization committed to eradicating curable blindness in India, for Diwali at Times Square, according to a press release issued here. SEF (https://www.giftofvision.org/) aims to reach out to the underprivileged communities in India and provides them with quality eye care free of cost by building operationally self-sufficient super specialty eye care hospitals across the country.

“Diwali is the harbinger of hope and all things good, which is why charitable works are encouraged during this time of the year. To fulfill the most important tenets of Diwali, we are pledging to support Sankara Eye Foundation and I urge everyone to donate and spread the light of sight,” said Neeta Bhasin, the founder of Event Guru Inc.

The objective for Diwali at Times Square this year is to stand up with Sankara Eye Foundation’s work by raising awareness and formulating fundraising opportunities on visual impairment, which affects about 55 million people.

SEF has, to this date performed over 1.6 million, free eye surgeries for the needy and is urging everyone to donate and gift the light of sight this year during Diwali at Times Square, which is on October 7.

“Sankara Eye Foundation, is very happy to partner with Event Guru Inc., for ‘Diwali at Times Square.’ This partnership will help SEF bring light into the lives of many more visually handicapped people. On the occasion of this grand ‘Festival of Lights’ let us light many many lamps and spread love – Jyot se jyot jalate chalo, Prem ki Ganga bahate chalo,” said Murali Krishnamurthy, the founder and CEO of Sankara Eye Foundation.

A $25,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons involved in the murder of Indian American software engineer Sasikala Narra and her six-year-old son, Anish, who were found dead in their Maple Shade, New Jersey, apartment on March 23.

Narra, 38, and Anish were found slain in the bedroom of their home by Narra’s husband, Hanumantha Rao. Both mother and son had been stabbed multiple times, Joel Bewley, spokesman for the Burlington County, New Jersey Prosecutor’s Office, told India-West.

“We’re hoping that this reward would be an incentive for someone to come forward with information,” said Bewley, noting that the investigation was “very active and ongoing.” Police have been going door to door in the community where Narra and her husband Hanumantha Rao lived with their son, passing out flyers offering the reward printed in Hindi, Telugu, Spanish, and English.

Bewley thanked the Indian Cultural Center in Evesham, New Jersey, for helping to translate the flyers into Hindi and Telugu.

Rao found the bodies of his wife and son on the evening of the murder, and called 911. He told dispatchers he did not know what had happened, as he had just returned home after “happy hour” after work with some of his co-workers from Cognizant.

Questioned by detectives, Rao said he could not remember whether he had used his key to get into the apartment, a key question in the case which would determine whether there was breaking and entering into the apartment.

In the 911 call released by Maple Shade police, an unidentified woman’s voice can be heard in the background. When the 911 dispatcher asked Rao if he could perform CPR on his wife and child, the woman screamed: “No you can’t. Their throats are slit.”

She can also be heard on the recording telling Rao: “Don’t go back in there.”

Rao was believed to have been having an affair with Deepa Ajit, who also works at Cognizant’s office in India. Narra had allegedly confronted her husband about Ajit: Rao allegedly told his wife there was no harm in an extramarital affair.

Bewley told India-West he could not state whether Rao and Ajit were under investigation. He also could not state whether there was any new information on how Rao entered the apartment that night or whether Ajit was in the U.S. at the time, saying the release of such information would compromise the integrity of the investigation.

Both Rao and Ajit were questioned by police after Sasikala and Anish’s bodies were found. The Telugu Association of North America raised funds to have their bodies returned to Vijayawada for the final rites.

Rao did not attend the funeral of his wife and son, though his passport had not been confiscated (see earlier India-West story here).

By Ajay Ghosh

The Ramesh Kumar Foundation has planned a silent auction, which is going live starting September 2nd, 2017and the winners will be announced on September 23, 2017, announced the Board of Directors of Dr. Ramesh Kumar Foundation.

Dr. Ramesh Kumar Foundation has also planned a first ever “Giving On The Green: A Charity Golf Outing,” to raise funds for the many noble causes the Foundation is planning to undertake in the coming months/years. Several of physicians and community leaders are expected to participate at the Golf event on September 23^rd at the Saginaw Country Club, Saginaw, MI.

All proceeds from this event will go towards eliminating the barriers of financial burden on individuals and families in need of medical treatment and also advocating for programs of medical research and education.

The silent auction items include Diamond Jewelry, Rolex watch, art collection, five-star hotel get away packages, football, basketball jerseys and many others, which have been donated/discounted to the Foundation by friends and well-wishers of Ramesh.

The Dr. Ramesh Kumar Foundation was created in honor of the urology resident at Henry Ford Hospital to continue his generosity, according to a Detroit News report. Soon after the death of Dr. Ramesh Kumar, friends and family of Michigan-based Indian American physician Dr. Ramesh Kumar, had set up a foundation in his name to help make medical treatment more affordable for people in financial need. Dr. Kumar was known for his largesse, once paying for the surgery of a woman he didn’t know, friends said, according to the report.

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

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

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

A YouCaring crowdfunding page has been set up to raise funds for the foundation. “Our family has been overwhelmed by the love and support and kind words we have received over the last several days,” Kumar’s sister Sarada Das, who serves as the foundation president and a board member, wrote in a post on the crowdfunding page.

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

The Ramesh Kumar Foundation, a tax-exempt organization with 501(c) (3) status, Tax ID number # 82-1463499, 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.

One can bid for one or more items and can re-bid as many times as you would like. Bids will be updated every few days. One must be logged in order to bid.  You can register on the website and then go to the auction page to bid. Once you login, you can bid for more than one item and can also re-bid. PLEASE VISIT: https://drrameshkumarfoundation.org/auction/

By Asian Media USA ©

Chicago IL: August 27^th, 2017, there was a musical evening featuring globally acclaimed artist and vocalist Humera Channa, organized to benefit Sonia Shah Organization. Key friends and supporters of Sonia Shah Organization (SSO) gathered at Deerfield Illinois for a memorable evening to support the mission. Iram Shah gave the progress on school in Pakistan and Sonia Shah scholarship program here in U.S. The board members Dr. Saira Alvi, Zahir Lavji and friends provided their perspective followed by a speech of Pakistan Councel General Faisal Trimizi.

Late Sonia Shah who at the tender age of 17 started the organization to educate and empower underprivileged girls in rural Pakistan and USA. Although Sonia died suddenly in a car accident in 2012, her dream lives on through dedication of her mom, Iram Shah, extended family, and a dedicated team of volunteers and friends who continue to run the Chicago-based nonprofit organization.

“Sonia was a gift who kept giving and tonight I want to share what we have achieved with your generosity and support,”. We have come a long way. Giving progress report of the school”, Imran said. We have now capacity children in the SSO School. Our filtration plant continues to provide clean drinking water to the village. “While other Schools in area repeatedly are being bombed and destroyed across Pakistan by Islamic militants, SSO school in Kangra village has thrived in the remote due to dedicated volunteer work”. All the money raised helps SSO to continue its life-changing work on behalf of “young girls in Pakistan who otherwise would never have gone to school, young adult women who had given up on higher education, and mature women learning skills to be economically independent,” Iram said.

Additionally, all three major projects started in 2015 are accomplished or well under way to be completed to include: Installed on the roof of Sonia Shah Memorial School, Solar panels, which provides uninterrupted electricity and security at night.” A vocational center for women, “where we are teaching women skills that can give them economic independence,” opened in June and “to our surprise 40 women registered the first day in 1st. year. Today we have a wait list of 100 women.” Since 2015, SSO’s distributes two scholarships to the recipient female students, who start college in Chicago area each fall. “This scholarship is going to help them have a new life,” Iram said.

This scholarship has made what I thought were impossible dreams a reality. “It is just a whole new experience for me. It gives me hope that I can ensure financial status for my family”, said one of the recipients.

But the journey is not done; we have many mountains to climb together. “Many [students] come to school without a proper breakfast and appear chronically malnourished. Some of these kids don’t even have shoes. We want to provide school nutritious meals, uniforms and medical check-ups and expand the Sonia Shah Scholarship program. It is a journey of hope and promise. “Please join us.”

At the conclusions of the successful fund raiser, cultural program started by one and only Versatile Diva – Humera Channa, icon of Pakistan is blessed with a soulful voice, elegant personality and immaculate vocal delivery with precision. With nearly three decades long music career, Humera Channa is one of the most refined female vocalists Pakistan has produced to date. In addition to being a great musician, Channa is a polished and down-to-earth personality. If one analysis the languages in which she has sung in, one is astonished to realize that she has sung in almost every language spoken in Pakistan. However some of the languages in which her songs became significantly popular include Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Pashto, Saraiki, Marwari, Thai and Bengali. This is a rare feat for any Pakistani vocalist. According to an estimate, to date, she has lent voice to over 5000 songs.

She has made her country proud in India, UAE, Bangladesh (SAARC Leaders Conference), Canada, UK, rest of Europe and many other countries around the globe as a true ambassador of peace and serenity.

Humera Channa gave an amazing entertainment with her team of musicians and kept the guests engaged and entertained till late at night. Humera Channa is a unique artist who has won most awards after madam Noor Jehan from Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, to 4 times winner of Nigaar Award. Now Sonia Shah Organization preparing for their annual gala on September 16th at Logan Square Auditorium.

By Asian Media USA ©

Chicago IL: The Consulate General of India organized 4^th edition of “Kala-Utsav” the Annual Cultural Festival on August 26, 2017, at Yellow Box, Naperville with 19 different Indian Cultural Organizations to promote the rich heritage of Indian Art and Culture in the US Mid-west. The event provided a platform for over 200 renowned as well as new Indian artists, from across the US Midwest to showcase their talents through various performances.

Hon’ble Cogressman from 8^th District of Illinois Raja Krishmoorthi was Chief  Guest and Mr. Juan Ochoa, Special Advisor to Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emmanuel and Board of Director of MPEA [Metropolitan Exposition Authority] was the Special Guest on the occasion. The festival was inaugurated by Consul General of India, Ms. Neeta Bhushan, by lighting of the lamp as per the traditional Indian customs. The Chief Guest, Special Guest, prominent community leaders and volunteers participated in the lighting of the lamp. This was followed by the Indian and the US National Anthems.

Nearly 700 people comprising of the Indian-American Diaspora hailing from different parts of US Midwest, including many US nationals and different ethnic groups attended the event.

In her inaugural address, Consul General Ms. Neeta Bhushan underlined the ancient, rich and diverse culture of India. She added that the objective of the annual ‘Kala-Utsav’ festival, which was launched by the consulate in August 2014, is not only to encourage and showcase the extraordinary talents in the Indian-American community but also to reiterate and celebrate India’s unity in diversity.

During his address, Hon’ble Congressmnan Raja Krishmoorthi also appreciated the efforts of Consulate in providing a platform for showcasing India’s various folks and classical dance forms as well rich musical tradition through the local talents.

The function started with a stunning performance of “ChendaMelam” by the Chicago Kalashetra which is the best –known and most popular kshetram vadyam (temple percussion) genre followed by a sequence of captivating dance performances representing the classical, folk and modern dance forms of India from different dance schools.

The classical dance segment included Kathak performances presented by Anila Sinha Foundation,  Bharatnatyam performance presented by Natya Dance School, Kuchupudi by Nrityamala Dance Academy, Odissi dance presented by Utkalaa Dance Group, Adardhnareshwar by Rina Rockers, Jugalbani and Bharatnatyam by Yakshagana from Indiana.

The folk dance segment was quite large. There were 6 folk dance representing six States of India. The Bengali Folk Dance presented by Jhankaar Dance, Shingari Dance School presented Kerala Folk Dance, Rhythms & Grace Dance Studio presented Rajasthani folk dance, the Assam Association of Greater Chicago presented Assam’s Folk dance and high energy Punjabi folk dance “Gidda” by Bollywood Dance Academy. The performance of “Garba”, Gujrati   folk dance, by MAFS Seniors Dance Group enthralled the audience.

The kids from Bolly Dance Fit and Fun creative kids also participated and performed in the festival.

There were four presentations under the Contemporary/Fusion dance category in which over twenty five artists participated. The presentation ‘Rain , Drought & Flood’ by Soorya Dance School captured the hearts of the audience.  “Bollywood Dance ” was presented by Bollywood Rhythm and Rhythm of Kerala by Team Ghunguru. Mythilli Dance Academy attempted to keep the flame of vibrancy in the heart by presenting “ Parai Drum Dance”.  Lakshmi Parmeswaran and Ms. Tanvi Bhatt ably anchored the event as emcee and kept the audience engaged. Mr OP Meena, Consul [HOC], proposed a vote of thanks.

By Rajender Dichpally

A delegation of The Indian National Overseas Congress along with prominent community leaders met the new Indian Consul General of New York His Excellency Sandeep Chakravorty in his office at the Indian Consulate in Manhattan on August 22nd. The delegation was led by President Mr. Shudh Parkash Singh. The delegation  discussed issues relating to the Indian American Community like issues with emergency visa, delays in services etc. Many other issues were bought to the notice of the Consul General.

Rajender Dichpally General Secretary of INOC informed media that the Consul General told delegation he wants to make the consulate more inviting and more open for the Indian Community. Mr. Chakaravorty plans to bring all Indian organizations under one mobile umbrella  app of the consulate where everyone can post their events and share the information.

Shudh Parkash Singh raised the issue of issuing passport and visas to Indians including the Sikhs & Punjabis taking political asylum.  Consul General replied it is a policy decision of government of India and not under his control.

Shudh informed CG that he has taken up the issue of NRI’s property rights with the Chief Minister of Punjab and asked for protection of NRI property in cases where they were being duped by relatives in India.

Rajendar Dichpally spoke on how the Organization has taken active part in supporting candidates who are friendly with the Indian community and also wished and hoped that the Community will have more its own candidates running for office in the near future. Dr.Rajender Jinna spoke of the conventions that were organized by Telugu associations to highlight the cultural, social and business seminars. Mr.Ravi Chopra and Phuman Singh spoke on the need to have a 24 hours help line that can guide the community during emergencies. The Consul General said that this facility is already being implemented under his tenure. Any one can write to the consulate on at the email –helpline@indiacgny.org and they will get a reply within 24 hours.

Kalathil Varghese Vice President  pointed out issues relating to OCI cards and new Adhaar card rule.

Quddus Mohammed from Hyderabad Cultural Association asked for an event in the Indian Consulate to show case the Hyderabadi Culture which the Indian Consul General agreed immediately.

We found the new CG have new creative ideas. He’s very open minded and considerate man, stated Shudh Singh after the meeting. Our community here can expect a lot of good coming out of our consulate in coming days, Shudh further added. The meeting ended with the delegation fully satisfied with Consul General and his deputy for accepting all their proposals.

The Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA), an umbrella coalition of progressive organizations across the United States and various coalition partners held protests in four cities across the US on July 16th, to draw attention to the growing mob rule against minorities in India and the policies of the government that are emboldening such forces.

These protests are similar to the “Not In My Name” protests that have been held across various cities in India. What: “Not In My Name” protest against mob lynchings, hate speech and the anti-minority policies of the government of India

The rally in Washington DC, hosted by Indian American Muslim Council at the Dupont Circle, Washington DC was held on July 16, 2017. The same day, the event in San Diego, CA hosted by Indian American Muslim Council iIn front of USS Midway Museum was held. The rally in San Jose, CA hosted by Multi-faith Voices for Peace & Justice, Alliance for Justice and Accountability, and other faith and community based organizations was held. The rally in New York, hosted by South Asia Solidarity  Initiative at the New York University, was followed by a gathering at Washington Square Park in the Big Apple.

While Neha Arora, of Madison, Mississippi, who was selected as the “Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi” in 2016, did not win the “Distinguished Young Women of America 2017” pageant, she did walk away with two honors at the 60th annual event that combines the chance to win college scholarships and life skill lessons for high-school girls.

Arora was among eight finalists who were granted a scholarship of $2,500 at the event, held in Mobile, Ala., June 29-July 1, which saw Skye Borg, of District of Columbia, emerge as the winner. During the program, the contestants competed in talent, fitness and self-expression rounds. For her creative answer, Arora also won the self-expression round and a $1,000 scholarship. Arora’s question was, “What is the most vital issue facing young women today?”

“I spoke about the importance of women getting involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for my answer,” Arora was quoted as saying by jacksonfreepress.com. “I talked about how my mom completed medical school in Russia and came to America alone to work in the medical field, which is something that sets a great example for women looking to enter STEM fields. I think today’s society doesn’t encourage women enough to enter those fields, and I think women should have more opportunities available to them and seek them out.”

Arora’s mother, Namita Arora, is a psychiatrist at Warren Yazoo Behavioral Health in Yazoo City, and her father, Sumesh Arora, is the state energy officer for the Mississippi Development Authority, according to the website. Her parents were both born in India and immigrated to the United States.

Arora told jacksonfreepress.com that her mother’s example inspired her to become a physician herself and motivated her to attend Emory University this fall. From there, she plans on continuing her education at medical school to study pediatrics.

“I was lucky to be able to go to a high school that gave me opportunities to engage in research and pursue a career in STEM fields,” she said. “However, a lot of women don’t get that kind of opportunity, and that kind of interest isn’t as likely to develop. I think women shouldn’t be intimidated to go into these kinds of often male-dominated fields, and I think being around the many capable and talented women involved in the Distinguished Young Women program is a great way for women to discover opportunities and pursue the career they want.”

Vegetarian Vision, an organization that was founded in 1992, and is planning the International Vegetarian Convention scheduled to be held Sept. 9 and 10, held a kick-off event July 14, at the Indian Consulate in New York City, to brief media and other stakeholders on the ongoing plans. The Convention will be held at Penn Plaza opposite Penn Station, in the heart of Manhattan.

A lamp-lighting ceremony was held at the kick-off. The chairman and founder of Vegetarian Vision, H. K. Shah gave the history of the organization and its vision of the future. Among the numerous media that attended the kickoff were mainstream publications like Village Voice, Manhattan Digest, Broadway World, Times Square Chronicles, Nation’s Restaurant News, Veg News, and Bella Magazine.

Chandra Mehta, the president of Vegetarian Vision, spoke of the benefits of plant-based diets on human health and the effects on the global environment and global warming. She appealed to the community to attend the convention to make it a success.

“We are expecting several speakers, holding yoga and meditation sessions, a children’s program and entertainment,” H.K. Shah told Desi Talk. Twenty five vegan doctors are expected to attend, he said. “This is an international event and attracts everyone from Koreans and Chinese to Jewish people and Italians,” Shah said.

Nitin Vyas, the event coordinator for the Convention, said more than 70 vendors are expected to set up stalls at the Convention. The International Vegetarian Convention takes on added importance for organizers as it is the 25th anniversary of The Vegetarian Vision which was established in New York City, has its office in Hoboken, N.J.

The Vegetarian Vision was formed to spread the word about the benefits of the vegetarian diet and serve as a resource network and a think-tank for vegetarians worldwide. “Through a dedicated committee of volunteer members the organization serves all existing and aspiring vegetarians and vegetarian associations. It is a non-partisan, apolitical group that serves anyone regardless of race, color or national origin,” according to its Facebook site.

From just 40 members at the time it was founded, Vegetarian Vision now has grown to more than 1,000 members, many patrons, and hundreds of life-members. It is particularly active in the tri-state area. It’s first major event was held in 1996, the International Vegetarian Food Festival, which took place at the Coliseum in New York City, attended by close to 17,000 people. In 1998, a similar Food Festival was held at New York Armory with repeat performance. Similar events were organized utilizing speakers, exhibits and Vegetarian Cruises. Shah said he expects around 25,000 people will make their way to this year’s event.

The religious leaders endorsed the agenda of working together to fight child sexual abuse, trafficking and sexual exploitation. Spiritual leaders from across different faiths and beliefs have joined Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation to forge the motto of ‘Surakshit Bachpan, Surakshit Bharat’ (Safe Childhood, Safe India).

The leaders joined a roundtable hosted by the organisation led by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi to fight violence against children and pledged support to work towards freedom of children.

These faith leaders included Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Secretary General Mohammad Salim Engineer, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Secretary Syed Aziz, Arya Yuva Kendra head Anil Arya, Church of North India General Secretary Alwan Masih, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of India’s Director Nilakshi Rajkhowa, Nizamuddin Dargah head Ajmal Nizami, anf Sant Nirankari Mission General Secretary C.L. Gulati.

Also present at the conference were Anglican Church of India’s Archbishop Samuel P. Prakash, Brahma Kumaris’ Bhramkumar Sushant, Vishwa Jagrati Mission Director Ram Mahesh Mishra and Sadhvi Jaya Bharti, Swami Vishwanand, and among others.

The religious prelates endorsed the agenda of working to eradicate child sexual abuse, trafficking, sexual exploitation and other forms of violence against children to create a safe and fear free India for children today and tomorrow.

“Violence against children is a very important issue in this country. We will support you, the cause and the campaigns wherever you will go,” said Engineer said during the discussion.

“Be assured of our support to the campaign, the Church supports you as the cause is a very noble one”, said Archbishop Prakash.

Satyarthi said faith communities are the largest and most organised civil institutions in the society as they claim the allegiance of billions of believers and bridge the divide of race, class and nationality and their influence can contribute effectively to ending violence against children.

“This roundtable seeks to bring all faiths’ leaders together under the same roof who will commit to supporting the cause of ending violence against children and mobilising their followers to join and pledge for this cause.

“Children are always the worst victims of all forms of violence. Sexual abuse is among the gravest and is growing at an alarming rate,” he said. Satyarthi further added that this is a crime, an evil and the “reflection of societal sickness hidden beneath the widespread silence of social taboo. It is the moral obligation of all faith leaders to help break this silence. Protecting God’s children, I believe, is the most powerful act of worship,” he said.

“Ambassadors of Hope” is a feature-length film documenting India’s child laborers. Children in several parts of India are subject to torturous work conditions in mines, factories or farms  to support their families. Despite the country’s “Right to Education Act,” the promise of free compulsory education remains an unrealized dream because India’s child laborers are the backbone of the economic engine that runs the heavily populated South Asian country.

Now, there may be hope. A new generation of empowered students, nestled in  Silicon Valley, home to high-tech innovation and development, want to turn that unrealized dream into a reality. “I refuse to accept that children should be forced into slave labor. I refuse to accept that we cannot do anything about it. Every child matters,” Kailash Satyarthi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for his efforts to end child labor, declared.

Now, Indian American students like Gurbaaz Singh and Anjali Bajaj, who were only 14 when they, through their innovative acts, brought about big changes in those children’s lives. Bajaj traveled to India to start teaching disadvantaged children to read and write English, so they would have a better chance of freeing themselves from a life of poverty.

Singh, who started a sports academy in India, so some of the country’s poorest children, many of whom work to support their families, could do something that most American children take for granted, play. Some of the students even provided training to the teachers.

Singh and Bajaj are just two of the inspirational teenagers featured in filmmaker Vera Anderson’s “Ambassadors of Hope,” a feature-length film documenting India’s massive child labor work force.

The documentary by the San Francisco Bay Area, Calif.-based filmmaker follows a group of Indian American children, who, through the Home of Hope charity, are trying to make a difference in the lives of these underage workers who are being robbed of their childhood and their right to an education.

“It’s about how young people look at problems, how they are transformed by problems and how they can contribute to solve a problem,” Anderson, whose credits include “The View” on ABC and “Today in New York” on WNBC, told India-West. “And I think that’s what we want to inspire our audience to see that what a different world it would be if we all showed some responsibility for our neighbor, and that neighbor could be thousands of miles away, especially children.”

Children in the U.S., too, Anderson said, suffer from problems, like drug addiction, alcoholism, which are prevalent in poor areas. “But in India,” she said, “poverty is greater so obstacles are greater, but these kids surviving on the streets are smart.”

Explaining Gurbaz’s commitment to social causes, Anderson stated that after a young girl was killed in a car accident, he fought to get stop lights in that community. Gurbaaz, now 17, has been a part of Home of Hope for five years now. He told India-West that during every trip to India, he’d wonder how he could help these children, and when he got an opportunity, he grabbed it.

“I feel pretty happy with the progress I have made but I feel there is still a lot to be done,” said Gurbaz, who is now actively recruiting volunteers for his mission. “I want to make as much difference as possible,” he said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Asian Media USA ©

Chicago IL: Hina Trivedi serves Chicago Indo-US Lions Club (President), GOPIO Chicago (Former President), Federations of Indian Associations (Former President) and many more organization.

Renowned Chicago based social activist  Miss Hina Trivedi received Melwin Jones Fellow award from Lions Club International foundation president for Dedicated Humanitarian services. Melvin jones Fellow award is very prestigious award at International level. She is also being appointed as a host committee member for 100 years

completion of Lions club international foundation celebration convection which is going to be held at Chicago from 29th June to 4th July.

She recently also got Exemplary Community Service Award for outstanding and dedicated service to the general welfare of the Asian American community in the state of Illinois  from Asian American Coalition Of Chicago at 16th Annual Asian American Festival hosted by The Asian American Community. Lion Hina Trivedi received many Honors and Awards in past.

Lion Hina Trivedi serves the Asian community with their needs by being a translator as she is multilingual in 7 different languages. She help community people for Green Card interviews, Voter registration, Medicare, Medicaid, and gives many legal and social services. She always believe in helping Senior citizens by guiding them towards medical, federal, social security benefits

Ms Trivedi tried to spread awareness in 2nd and 3rd Generation Indians living in USA towards their native country India through social-economic and other prospective programs so they can build strong future relationships between both the countries. She also raised issues nonresident Indians facie during their visit to India. She also attended Pravasi Haryana Divas 2017 held at Guru Gram on the personal invitation of Chief Minister Mr. Manoharlal Khattar. She was also invited to Vibrant Gujarat 2017 and also attended the republic day parade on 26th January at New Delhi as a Special Guest during her Delhi visit.

She went to Sushma Swaraj’s residence to meet her and greeted her for speedy and healthy recovery. She visited various cities and villages of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana to spread awareness about Swatchh Bharat Abhiyaan and helped poor children with food and clothes. She was accompanied by her team and many volunteers from across India

Nexus SOCIAL ADULT DAY CARE  Center, a company dedicated to providing non-medical services to Medicaid recipients who qualify for managed long term care program, was inaugurated in Floral Park, NY on June 8^th this year.  NEXUS is dedicated to serving a diverse community of  Southeast Asian  and Caribbean communities have kick-started our campaign and the results have been astounding.

This Grand Opening Event was attended by more than 120 seniors, HOME CARE AGENCIES, and community leaders from the metropolitan area.

A special guest attendee was Senior Advisor of Nassau County Comptroller Hon. Dilip Chauhan. In his speech Chauhan stated that it was a need for the community to have Social Adult Day Center in this area, “I am delighted to have a senior center for our elders where they can have health education, checkups, exercise programs and other activities.  Mr. Chauhan also presented  Citation on behalf of Nassau County Comptroller Hon. George Maragos on the occasion of Grand Opening.

Owner of Nexus Senor Center  Gurdeep  Singh stated that he is very excited about the opportunity to provide the  senior community with such services and he is grateful for everyone support. Also he thanked Nassau County Comptroller Hon. George Maragos as well as Senior Advisor Dilip Chauhan for their support. There were traditional Bhangra Dance, Bollywood dance and many more entertaining program with delicious food.

Aicon Gallery is presenting Cuckoonebulopolis: (Flora and) Fauna, the first major New York solo exhibition by Baroda-based artist Surendran Nair. The exhibition is a collection of paintings and drawings inspired by The Birds, a play by the Greek playwright Aristophanes. In the play, a man convinces birds to establish their new city in the clouds, later named Cloud Cuckoo Land, which translates to Cuckoonebulopis. At the heart of Nair’s work is the notion of this nebulous utopia – he reflects on the strange, ironic, and sometimes improbable possibilities that humans dream of when designing a utopia.

The cycle of works, Cuckoonebulopolis, has grown immensely since early 2000, when Nair first took on the project. He draws and paints his imagined actors from The Birds, dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, taking on the identity of various birds (flamingos, owls, sparrows and pelicans, to name a few). His loose, long, and whimsical titles hint at his initially lighthearted and humorous approach; however, as he realized the nuances between the “cuckoo” birds and their utopia, Nair clarified their relationship to the clouds with his unique iconography, drawing from traditional performing arts, history and mythology, and the real and imaginary.

The works, however, are not in any way meant as arguments against or in favor of any particular manifestation of utopian desires. Nair’s interest in utopia stops at the very basic threshold, where and when it makes one compelled to imagine something other than what is already in existence. It is not the proposal for an alternative future that interests him, but the critical engagement with the present. This idea is then employed as a backdrop, a theatrical device, to sharpen the contours of Nair’s images whilst they are at play, to accentuate the tenor of whatever they may address.

“Nair regards painting as no less interactive a medium than the installation or the digital interface: a coded yet inviting communication around which artist and viewer choreograph a productive dialogue. The act of painting is, for Nair, an offering of metaphors to his viewers: metaphors from which they can gauge the curve of the artist’s imagination while also staging their own imaginative departures. Accordingly, the emphasis shifts between the artistic imagination and the viewerly one, from one painting to another. The artist indicates that some of his works are programmed in a relatively open-ended fashion; they function as scripts, around which viewers can improvise their own performances: some of Nair’s paintings dedicated to the figure of the actor, such as I Beg Your Pardon: The Scorpion Act II – an actor meditating on a character of an imaginary play (Cuckoonebulopolis, 2002), function in this manner.”

Surendran Nair studied Painting at the College of Fine Arts in Kerala and completed a post diploma in Printmaking at the University of Baroda in India. He has had several solo shows of his work apart from participating in prominent group exhibitions. Recent solo exhibitions include Spatial Arrangements of Colors, Lines, Forms and Desires, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, India (2015), Surendran Nair: Drawings, Print and Watercolours (1970s-1990s), Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi, India (2015), Neti Neti, Frey Norris Gallery, San Francisco, CA, U.S. (2010), and The Bad Behaviour of Singularities, presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India (2006).

Prominent group exhibitions include Whorled Explorations curated by Jitish Kallat, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Kochi, India (2015), Looking Glass: The Existence of Difference, Twenty Indian Contemporary Artists presented by Religare Arts Initiative, New Delhi in collaboration with American Centre; British Council; Goethe-Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi, India (2010), Anxious, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India (2008), Horn Please: Narratives in Indian Contemporary Art, Kunnst Museum, Bern, Switzerland, Edge of Desire: Recent Art In India, Asia Society Museum, New York (2005), Capital and Karma – Recent Positions in Indian Art, Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna, Austria (2002), and The 1st Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan (1999).

The exhibition will run from June 29 – August 5, 2017, with the press preview on Thursday, June 29th, 2017, 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Gallery on 35 Great Jones St., New York NY 10012.

The American Muslim Council hosted their 6th Annual Grand Interfaith Ramadan Dinner or Iftar at the Royal Albert Palace in Edison, NJ on Thursday, June 15th, 2017 with theme, “Standing United for Humanity.” Various Faith Clergy Members spoke on the topic of “Standing United For Humanity'”, the theme of the Interfaith Ramadan Iftar event.

American Muslims from across New Jersey and around the world have been observing the holy month of Ramadan where they fast from dawn to sunset in an effort to reconnect spiritually and to be grateful for their many blessings. It is a time to better one’s character, to ask for forgiveness, to be more compassionate through acts of kindness and charity. The breaking of the fast at sunset is called the Iftar. The Annual Interfaith Ramadan Iftar to be held on June 15th, 2017 will bring over 700 people together from diverse faith communities across New Jersey to celebrate the blessed month of Ramadan with New Jersey Muslim leaders.

“American Muslims are part of the fabric of American society,” said American Muslim Council Founder & Chairman, Sam Khan.   “The purpose of this Iftar is for our community to break bread with our various faith communities during the month of Ramadan so we can come together to honor those who share our values of community service and work for the good of humanity.”

The event was attended by numerous elected officials. Confirmed representatives including Senator Linda Greenstein, Senator Samuel Thompson, Senator Raymond Lesniak, Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin, Mayor John McCormac, Mayor Thomas Lankey, Mayor Brad Cohen, Freeholder Assad Akhter, Freeholder Brian Levine and others.

There were representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation who will be speaking at the event. The keynote speaker was Dr. Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, the Imam of Masjid Waarith ud Deen of Irvington, NJ., and Essma Bengabsia, President of the Muslim Network.

The American Muslim Council presented awards to some individuals and organizations including  Dr. Ali Chaudry, Senator Raymond Lesniak, Make the Road NJ, NJ Muslim Lawyer Association, Muslim League of Voters, and the New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.

The American Muslim Council recognized the American Muslim Action Network, the NJ Muslim Voter Project, Masjid-E-Ali and Action Together NJ, for their service to the community. There was a prayer and a moment of silence observed for all victims of hate at the event.

The MCs were Azra Baig, a South Brunswick Board of Education Member and Community Activist, and Ahmed Al-Shebab, Board member of CAIR National and CAIR-NJ. The American Muslim Council is a New Jersey-based organization that promotes Muslim civic participation in the United States of America. The Mission of American Muslim Council is to organize the American Muslim Community in mainstream public affairs, civic engagement, party politics and community outreach.

This year, the nation is commemorating the fifth anniversary of the tragic August 5, 2012 shooting in the Oak Creek, Wisconsin Gurdwara (Sikh house of worship). The Sikh Coalition has encouraged all to join the many cities organizing National Day of Seva (selfless community service) events across the country.

“As we honor the six Sikh community members who lost their lives and continue to pray for those who were critically injured, we recognize that preventing and combatting hate must remain our top priority,” a statement issued here said.

On August 5, 2017 the Coalition will hold its annual National Day of Seva to commemorate the lives lost and pay tribute to the Oak Creek community that is forever impacted. These National Day of Seva events are an opportunity to show the Oak Creek community and the American public that your sangat stands in solidarity with communities impacted by hate. It’s also a chance to build interfaith bridges with other community partners, educate neighbors about Sikhism through media work, and pay tribute to the innocent lives needlessly taken on August 5, 2012.

“This year, we’re expecting enormous turnout across the country in our shared effort to make sure that no American forgets what happened in Oak Creek,” said Executive Director, Sapreet Kaur.  “Hate in America is on the rise and impacts so many communities, but we have an opportunity to stand up and lead out in pushing back on this problem.”

Umar Shah recognized by European Commission for story on church helping disabled in restive Kashmir. Freelance Indian journalist and regular ucanews.com contributor Umar Manzoor Shah has won a European Commission 2017 Lorenzo Natali Media Prize.

Shah, who won the prize in the Asia Pacific amateur category, was recognized for his story “Church in Kashmir offers hope to people with disabilities,” a story reported for ucanews.com from conflict-torn Jammu and Kashmir state on church efforts to help people with disabilities.

The Kashmir native said his experiences whilst growing up during the conflicts in India’s only Muslim majority state resulted in an early interest in journalism, and that he has been collaborating with radio and local TV stations since he was 15 years old. Shah, who was born in 1986 in Srinagar, the state capital, graduated in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2009 at the University of Kashmir and has since been pursuing a career as a freelance journalist.

Writing for several press outlets such as ucanews.com, Inter Press Service and the Doha Centre for Media Freedom, his stories cover mostly social issues in war-conflicted areas, giving a voice to affected populations.

His stories focus on giving a voice to those from deprived parts of society, such as mental illness among the people living in conflict zones like Kashmir, stories related to poor women and disabled children, and farmers struggling for survival. Shah collected his prize at the awards ceremony in Brussels on June 7.

Consulate General of India, in Association with 100 Community Organizations, will Host 3rd Edition of International Yoga Day in Chicago

Consulate General of India in Chicago, in collaboration with the City of Naperville, is all set to host 3rd edition of International Yoga Day on 24th June, 2017 (Saturday) at Naperville Yard, 1603 Legacy Circle, Naperville, IL 60563.

City of Naperville issued a Proclamation and declared June 24th 2017 as International Yoga Day in the City of Naperville. Mr. Steve Chirico, Naperville Mayor will be Chief Guest at the International Yoga Day, which will be attended by dignitaries, elected officials, and community leaders from different walks of life.

Neeta Bhushan, Consul General of India in Chicago said that the program will commence at 10:00 am and end at 1200 noon, followed by a community festival and an array of cultural activities till 05:00 pm. Apart from the demonstration of common asanas (postures) under Common Yoga Protocol, breathing techniques, Meditation Workshop, etc., the Program will include a number of activities relating to yoga.

The event is free for all. However, as the space is limited, those interested in attending the event and knowing more about it are cordially requested to visit Facebook.com/IndiaInChicago. Participants are requested to bring their own yoga mats.

Ms. Bhushan said that about 2,500 guest, 100 community organizations, yoga and spiritual centers, business establishments, etc. will grace the occasion. She called upon Indian-Americans and all the nationalities to attend the event in large numbers in order to make it a resounding success.

For any given medical problem, it seems, there’s a research team trying to use stem cells to find a solution. In clinical trials to treat everything from diabetes to macular degeneration to ALS, researchers are injecting the cells in efforts to cure patients.

But in one study expected to launch later this year, scientists hope to use stem cells in a new, highly controversial way — to reverse death.

The idea of the trial, run by Philadelphia-based Bioquark, is to inject stem cells into the spinal cords of people who have been declared clinically brain-dead. The subjects will also receive an injected protein blend, electrical nerve stimulation, and laser therapy directed at the brain.

The Philadelphia-based company along with an Indian orthopedic surgeon has said it will start a new type of stem cell therapy that claims it can bring people back from the dead. Bioquark, led by chief executive Ira Pastor, said it will begin conducting trials of the therapy later in the year in an undisclosed country in Latin America, according to a New York Post report.

Pastor and Indian orthopedic surgeon Himanshu Bansal had initially hoped to run tests in India in 2016 but the Indian Council of Medical Research pulled the plug on their plans and asked them to take the trials elsewhere, the Post reported.

Most countries officially declare someone dead when there is irreversible loss of brain function. The Bioquark therapy boasts it can reboot the brain. The company said it will begin testing on humans, with no plans to experiment on animals. Scientists plan to examine individuals aged between 15 and 65 who have been declared brain dead from a traumatic brain injury, the report noted, citing a published study.

The three-stage process starts with harvesting stem cells from the patient’s own blood before injecting them back into their body. Next, the patient is given a dose of peptides injected into their spinal cord. The final step is a 15-day course of laser and median nerve stimulation while monitoring the patient with MRI scans. Bansal practices in New Delhi.

By Asian Media USA ©

Chicago IL: Telugu Association of Greater Chicago (TAGC) celebrated its annual Summer Picnic on June 4th, 2016 at Buss woods Forest Preserve in Elk Grove Village. More than 950 adults and kids attended the event. TAGC conducted many fun-filled games for men, women and kids (with different age groups) where everyone participated in the games enthusiastically. Games included Musical chairs, Throw ball, Tug-of-war, and etc. The winners were awarded with prizes.

The attendees were served with a variety of delicious foods by means of on-site cooking of foods such as dosas, bajjis, grilled BBQ chicken, corn and many more dishes that were enjoyed by everyone. TAGC Board and volunteers also cooked some special food items on site. On-site cooking, mainly by TAGC BODs, was one of the main attractions during the event. Lunch server to all the guests was by a local Indian Restaurant, Indian Café, and all the guests appreciated volunteers who prepared delicious Bagara rice, chicken curry, and potato curry on-site. Watermelon and buttermilk were served after the lunch.

TAGC conducted a charity Walkathon and awarded the winners with prizes in categories ranging from family, seniors, men, women, and teens. TAGC donated the funds raised from the Walkathon and ice cream sales to Akshaya Vidya foundation who runs schools in slum areas in Telugu States.

TAGC also conducted food competitions and the judges evaluated the food taste and quality to decide the winners which were awarded with prizes. Telangana Chakinalu won first prize and Ravva laddu won the second place prize.

The picnic brought a great familial touch to the outing and park. It was a great summertime picnic event where everyone enjoyed like it was an extended family and friend’s get-together. Everyone pitched in for various activities from food preparations to organizing games.

TAGC President, Ramachandra R Ade, thanked the picnic event core committee members and volunteers for their hard work and dedication in making this event very successful. He appreciated the picnic coordinators Ramu Billakanti, Ranga Lenkala, Food committee chair Uma Avadutha and co-chair Vijay Beeram, Community service member Vani Yetrintala, Sports committee chair Samptagiri Sangem, Youth chair Sai Gongati, all Bods and other committee members and volunteers.

The Architectural League of New York awarded its President’s Medal to His Highness the Aga Khan on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, on May 18, at the Metropolitan Club.

The President’s Medal is The Architectural League’s highest honor and is bestowed, at the discretion of the League’s President and Board of Directors, on individuals to recognize an extraordinary body of work in architecture, urbanism, art, or design, according to a press release.

Aga Khan was honored, in the words of the Medal’s citation “for the extraordinary work of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the recognition, scholarship, and investment it has catalyzed and supported, which has raised the quality of urban and rural environments around the world.” It continues: “His Highness has demonstrated the capacity for architecture to be encompassing and inclusive, through his probing search to conceive anew the nature of cultural identity and continuity, his openness to innovation and experimentation, and his unwavering commitment to pluralism as a foundational principle of human community. By acknowledging not only the complexity and imperfection of the world we have created, but also its potential, His Highness the Aga Khan has set a magnificent example of stewardship and hope.”

The Medal was presented to Aga Khan at a dinner at the Metropolitan Club by League President Billie Tsien. Humanities scholar Homi K. Bhabha, city planner Amanda M. Burden, and architect Diébédo Francis Kéré celebrated the recipient with remarks.

Homi K. Bhabha remarked that: “Pluralistic inquiry is the living link between the good society and public space; and architecture is the arc of this ancient and intimate connection.” He continued: “The aspiration of the Aga Khan Award, as I understand it, is to build structures and systems that enable dialogue, collaboration, and affiliation amongst communities—national, regional and diasporic—who live side by side.”

In her presentation of the Medal, Billie Tsien said: “The Aga Khan Award has been a bridge connecting the world to the beauty and power of work done to serve Muslim populations.” She continued: “This award helps to elevate the quality of architecture, planning and landscape design by shedding light on exemplary work. And most importantly it affirms the power of architecture to create and to sustain a humane and beautiful world for all people. All people, all cultures, all faiths look to beauty as a profound source of both solace and joy.”

In accepting the medal, Aga Khan remarked, “in thinking about the way societies live in the developing world, in the industrialized world, I came to a very simple conclusion: what is the art form that has the most important impact on every society, in every part of the world? And the answer is quite simply, architecture. It’s a very important evening in my life because it’s a recognition of an art form that which I believe needs global recognition, needs global attention, needs the best brains that we can mobilize, to improve the human habitat for decades and decades ahead. Thank you for this wonderful award,” he concluded.

The dinner’s 330 guests included family of Aga Khan: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Prince Hussain Aga Khan, and Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan.Recent recipients of The Architectural League’s President’s Medal include Michael R. Bloomberg, Henry N. Cobb, Richard Serra, Renzo Piano, Amanda Burden, Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Hugh Hardy, Richard Meier, Ada Louise Huxtable, Robert A.M. Stern, Kenneth Frampton, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, and Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown.

Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, became Imam in 1957 at the age of 20. The Aga Khan provides spiritual guidance to a community of 15 million living in some 25 countries, mainly in South and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as in North America.

A California judge has issued an arrest warrant for the founder of Bikram yoga, who’s been ordered to hand over proceeds from his global fitness business to satisfy a $6.8 million judgment won by a former legal adviser.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Edward Moreton issued the warrant Wednesday for Bikram Choudhury and set bail at $8 million. No lawyers appeared for Choudhury, who claimed last year he was nearly bankrupt.

The award was won by Minakshi “Micki” Jafa-Bodden, who claimed Choudhury fired her when she refused to help him cover up a rape allegation. Her attorney, Carla Minnard, says they’ve tracked luxury vehicles and other property that Choudhury moved out of state and have court orders in Nevada and Florida preventing him from moving property out of warehouses there.

The guru, who had no attorney representing him in court May 24, first traveled to India, after leaving the U.S., and then Thailand and Japan before heading to Mexico, where he was served court papers in May, Minnard said. “He is currently in Acapulco conducting teacher training classes,” she said. “Our intent is to have him arrested before he leaves Mexico.”

Minnard has said they have tracked luxury vehicles and other property that Choudhury moved out of state, and have court orders in Nevada and Florida preventing him from moving property from warehouses, according to the report. The warrant reportedly allows authorities to arrest Choudhury if he returns to the U.S. or, possibly, in Mexico.

Choudhury, 69, has built an empire around Bikram yoga, a rigorous, 90-minute routine performed in a room that can reach more than 100 degrees. The ‘hot yoga’ technique is taught at more than 650 studios worldwide and has drawn devoted followers, according to the AP report. He has claimed that he is nearly bankrupt and that his business is no longer thriving.

Choudhury was one of the pioneers of yoga in the U.S., setting up shop in Beverly Hills in the 1970s. His client list included top celebrities like Madonna, Andy Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow and Goldie Hawn. His yoga studios are franchised worldwide.