Category: Community

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.

Attorney Somnath ‘Raj’ Chatterjee; public defender Neetu Badhan-Smith, both from India, have been appointed by California Governor Jerry Brown on May 22 as Superior Court judges in the state. Also appointed was Bangladeshi American attorney Rubiya Nur.

Chatterjee, 47, will serve in Alameda County Superior Court. The Oakland, Calif., resident has been a partner at Antolin Agarwal and Chatterjee since earlier in 2017. He was a partner at Morrison and Foerster LLP from 2006 to 2017, and served as an associate from 1997 to 2005.

Chatterjee also served as a deputy public defender at the Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office from 1999 to 2000 and was an associate at Sonnenschein, Nath and Rosenthal from 1995 to 1996.
He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Badhan-Smith has served as a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office since 2004. The 40-year-old Los Angeles resident was formerly an attorney at the Southern California Housing Rights Center. Badhan-Smith earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

The Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus lauded the appointments of Chatterjee and Nur, as well as the appointment of Benjamin Reyes to the Superior Court of Contra Costa County. “Governor Brown has selected three outstanding legal minds who will uphold the highest ideals of our judicial system,” said Assembly member Rob Bonta, chair of the API Legislative Caucus. “It’s critical that our judiciary reflects our communities. As the fastest growing population in California, Asian Pacific Islanders have not been represented in appropriate numbers on the bench. This is a step in the right direction,” he said.

Indian American Gurdev Singh Kang, former president of the Sikh Cultural Society; and Pakistani American Faiza Patel, co-director of the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, were among those appointed by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on May 25 as commissioners to the City Commission on Human Rights. LGBTQ activist Carrie Davis was also appointed to the commission.

“It is a great honor to serve as a Commissioner. It is very important that the voices of minorities be heard during this crucial time,” said Kang, in a press statement released by the mayor’s office. Human rights commissioners are appointed by the mayor and identify issues of bias, discrimination, and harassment impacting their communities.

Kang is the former president of the largest Sikh temple in New York City, The Sikh Cultural Society. He served as president from 2012 to 2016, and has been affiliated with the Sikh Cultural Society for over 25 years.

As president, Kang started the Nagar Kirtan program and sports initiatives for youth. He is also a member of the Mayor’s Clergy Advisory Council and a clergy member of 1 Police Plaza. Kang emigrated from Punjab, India, in 1981 and started a deli/grocery business, then moved on to business endeavors ranging from real estate to retail. He has been a member of Community Board 2 in Staten Island since 2006.

“I hope to help prevent discrimination against New Yorkers based on their race and religious beliefs. Every New Yorker has the right to practice his or her own religion without having to face any fear or threat of a violent attack,” said Kang.

Patel serves as co-director of the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, which seeks to ensure that our counterterrorism laws and policies respect human rights norms and fundamental freedoms. She focuses on issues relating to surveillance, including police monitoring of Muslim communities, interception of electronic communications by security agencies, and Islamophobia, and has published seven reports investigating possible racial profiling of Muslims by U.S. intelligence agencies.

De Blasio lauded the achievements of his new appointees. “Spanning LGBTQ rights, national security issues, and leadership in Sikh communities, today’s appointees represent the very best of New York City,” he said in a press statement. “This progressive and extraordinarily qualified group share strong dedication to safeguarding the rights, safety, and dignity of all people in New York City. I am confident this agency will continue to be a robust enforcer of our fundamental civil rights and improve community relations among New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs,” said the mayor

Manishkumar M. Patel is back in Outagamie County after he skipped out on a $750,000 cash bond nearly a decade ago. While that was a sizable bond, it pales in comparison to the whopping $50 million figure set by Outagamie County Court Commissioner Brian Figy.

Patel, 43, formerly of the town of Kaukauna, is accused of spiking his girlfriend’s drink with an abortion-inducing drug. She didn’t ingest the drink but miscarried weeks later. He’s facing charges of attempted homicide, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, placing foreign objects in edibles, possession with intent to deliver prescription drugs, stalking, burglary, possession of burglary tools, and two counts of violating a harassment restraining order.

Manishkumar Patel, 43, is being held on seven felony charges, including first-degree intentional homicide of an unborn child, stalking, burglary, and jumping bail. The Indian American businessman faces 100 years in prison, if convicted on the charges.

Wisconsin has high consequences for harming a fetus. Since 1998, the state has ruled that “the killing of an ‘unborn child’ at any stage of pre-natal development is first-degree intentional homicide,” according to the state’s penal code.

According to court records and media reports, Patel, who is married, began an affair with physician Darshana Patel in 2001. In 2004, the couple had a son. In 2006, Darshana again became pregnant, but miscarried. The following year, she became pregnant again.

Darshana Patel told police she became suspicious when she watched Manishkumar stir a smoothie at an ice cream store and then offered it to her. She noticed a powdery substance on the rim of the cup, and sent it off to a lab for testing.

The substance turned out to be RU-486 – mifepristone – an abortion drug that is only administered by doctors. Darshana faked a stomach ache and did not ingest any of the drug-laced smoothie offered by her boyfriend, but miscarried nonetheless a few weeks later.

The paramour lodged a criminal complaint against her boyfriend in November 2007. Police searching Manishkumar Patel’s home found an envelope containing RU-486 pills. The suspect later told police he had obtained the drugs in India. He admitted to giving Darshana one pill.

Patel told investigators he didn’t need or want any more babies. At the time of his arrest, he owned 14 gas stations, a hotel, and other businesses in Wisconsin, but estimated his net worth at just $400,000.

After his arrest in 2007, friends and family members gathered $750,000 to get the suspect released. Manishkumar Patel fled the country shortly after, and was believed to be hiding in India until last October, when he flew to Toronto, Canada.

Customs and Border Patrol arrested the fugitive on Jan. 19, in Bangor, New York. The CBP said in a statement that they initially let Patel’s car go through when it looked as though there was only a driver in the car. A few hours later, the CBP encountered the same vehicle which now had a passenger – Patel – and became suspicious of an alien smuggling attempt. The name of Patel’s wife is unknown, and it is unclear whether the couple still remains married. Patel’s son by Darshana is now 13.

Socialite Meera Gandhi, founder and CEO of The Giving Back Foundation, hosted a fundraiser at a daylong retreat at her private estate in Hyde Park, New York, July 18. Besides charitable giving, the event included instilling self-care and spiritual enlightenment through meditation and mindfulness among the guests.

The attendees were inspired and enlightened on how to practice mindfulness, happiness, movement, and meditation – all while giving back to charity. Unlike the traditional black-tie and evening-gown gala, Gandhi attempted something new that nurtures the soul and helps individuals to be more proactive within their community while helping others and connecting with them.

New Yorkers from the city and upstate took a break from their daily routine to take in some light yoga, meditation, vibrational music, body movement, chakra healing, and a light vegetarian lunch. The guests included Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a physician and publisher of Desi Talk who is a Padma Shri award winner.

Inga Benson from Integral Yoga, Rishikesh, India and New York City, led a pranayama meditation and a warm-up yoga session while Miriam Belov, founder of Wellness Agenda of Manhattan, spoke about the importance of self-love and chakra healing in daily lives.

British film director, writer, and producer Martha Fiennes flew in from London to be present while Brooklyn-based choreographer Jules Bakshi led a body-love movement session that instilled the values of appreciating and nurturing one’s own body. Los Angeles-based musician and feminist activist Kiran Gandhi of the Madame Gandhi electronic-music project showcased the power of meditation and mindfulness through music with her shaman drumming.

“It’s very important to take time out for ourselves in order to be able to function better in the world. We need to disconnect and recharge so that we can give back to the world in a present and meaningful way,” Gandhi said. The idea behind it is to exchange stories that empowers people, builds communities and hope.

An Indian American doctor in Michigan, 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.

Police are investigating the case to ascertain the cause of his death. The family members of Kumar say they do not suspect anyone and have ruled out the possibility of it being an incident of hate crime.

“We do not know (the reason for his murder). They (The police) are yet to find out,” his father Narendra Kumar, a former president of the influential American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, told the media.

“We do not suspect anything. We do not think it was a hate crime,” said a shocked Kumar. Ramesh was a medical graduate from the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi. When he did not show up for his work, a hospital doctor called his father to enquire about him “This was quite unusual,” the father said.

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

By late night on May 4, the body was identified as that of Ramesh. The police have refrained from making any comments about the incident. Ramesh was a medical graduate from the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi.

An Indian American man, Khandu Patel, 56, father of two children, was shot dead in Whitehaven, Tennessee, last week, after getting caught in crossfire outside America’s Best Value Inn in Whitehaven, Memphis. Patel worked as a housekeeper at the motel, and also was staying there temporarily with his wife and son, reported Fox News 13. Patel was on the second floor balcony, getting ready to take a dinner break when a shootout erupted

Memphis police want to know who killed a motel worker killed in the crossfire of a shootout at a Whitehaven Motel. People at the motel said the scene was horrifying. “I was terrified,” said 8-year-old Amaya Matthews. Matthews and several other children were outside playing Monday around 7:30 p.m. when bullets started flying at Americas Best Value Inn and Suites in Whitehaven.

“He finished his days’ work and was out walking around the property. Next thing you know he hears some gunshots flying around and one caught him in the chest,” said Jay Patel, the victim’s nephew. “He didn’t even make it to the hospital to be saved.” He needed to just make it one more week before he was preparing to move with his family.

“They were ready to shift over to the Southaven area for another job. He was ready to get out of there,” said Jay Patel. “Just trying to put food on the table so he had to take what he had at the time.” For the Patel family the loss is still surreal. Jay remembers his uncle as a hardworking father. Patel said Khandu had worked at Americas Best Value Inn for about eight months.

Chicago IL: The Indo-American Heritage Museum’s Sunday, April 23 presentation of “Unstitched: The Art of Sari Draping” at Ashton Place, 341 75th Street, Willowbrook, IL, was a winner on all counts, judging by the audience reaction.  IAHM, a non-profit educational organization, was established in 2008 and is the only institution of its kind in the country.  The event is among many the museum organizes throughout the Chicago area as part of its efforts to preserve the history of Indian Americans and promote understanding of their diversity, culture and contributions to American life.

Morning cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and music by The Red Line band greeted arrivals and set the tone for the fascinating program that followed.  Following a vandana by Geetanjali Maru of Raag ‘N’ Rock, IAHM Board member Amita Banerji spoke about the museum and its work.  Padma Rangaswamy, also an IAHM Board member called for the community to participate in the upcoming exhibition, Beyond Bollywood:  Indian Americans Shape the Nation, from the Smithsonian Exhibition Traveling Exhibition Service.  The exhibit, which will open in July with support from the Chicago Community Trust, is being co-presented by the Field Museum and IAHM in Chicago.  The Smithsonian exhibition is being augmented with the Chicago chapter of the Indian American story by IAHM.

Dr. Rangaswamy pointed out that IAHM as a grass roots organization welcomes community participation in helping tell the Chicago story.  Community members can send in videos and images for a video portrait of community life that will be showcased at the Field during the exhibition.  They can sign up for a docent training session and guide visitors through the exhibition.  They can volunteer to help with the programs IAHM is organizing during the 5 months the exhibition will be running.  Interested persons can e-mail info@iahmuseum.org or visit www.iahmuseum.org for more information.

After IAHM President Madhoolica Dear’s address and Guest of Honor Indian Consul General Neeta Bhushan’s remarks, renowned textile expert and sari historian Rta Kapur Chishti took over with a kaleidoscopic multimedia presentation of the history, design concepts and varieties of saris from the different regions of India.  Women from the community modeled saris draped in various regional styles, wearing pure silver jewelry from Amrita Kar’s Vintage2Mod jewelry as they walked the runway to music by DJ Kollision.  The event concluded with a lunch buffet from Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine.

Unstitched was sponsored by OROCHEM, Club of Indian Women (CIW), Geetanjali & Abir Maru of Raag ‘N’ Rock Entertainment, EbyN: Events by Nisar, Harp arte Photography, Patel Brothers, Vinni’s Salon and Spa, Wanda Willmore Schlafly of Sunshine Video, Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine, DJ Kollision and The Red Line band. Information about the Indo-American Heritage Museum is at www.iahmuseum.org

Almost exactly two years after escaping into hiding, an Indian man wanted for the 2015 murder of his wife in Maryland, is the newest addition to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The FBI announced April 18, that Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, 26, is now on the list and a reward of up to $100,000 was being offered for information leading to his capture.

Patel had been traveling in the U.S. with his 21-year-old wife and their visa had expired a month before her death. At the time of the murder, both were working the night shift at a donut shop in Hanover, Maryland, owned by a relative of Patel’s.

Just before midnight on April 12, 2015, while customers were in the front of the shop, Patel stabbed his wife, Palak Patel, multiple times in the back of the shop and left by a rear door.

Investigators believe that Palak Patel wanted to return to India but he did not. “The best guess is that he didn’t want her to leave,” Special Agent Jonathan Shaffer, who is investigating the case from the FBI’s Baltimore Division, is quoted saying in the press release. “It’s possible that he thought he would be disgraced by her leaving and going back to India.”

Although the motive remains unclear, and there is no way to know if Patel planned the murder, Shaffer noted that “after the crime, his actions show a very cool and calculated mentality about escaping the scene and fleeing the area.”

After leaving the donut shop, Patel walked across the street to the apartment he shared with his wife, retrieved a few items and some cash, and then hailed a taxi. The cab driver took him to a hotel in New Jersey near Newark Liberty International Airport. “He checked in about 3 a.m. with no bags, just the clothes on his back,” Shaffer said. “He checked out around 10 a.m., and took a hotel shuttle to Newark Penn Station. That’s the last anyone has seen of him.”

After the murder, a customer who entered the shop realized something was wrong when no one came to take his order. He alerted a nearby Anne Arundel County Police Department officer, who discovered Palak Patel’s body. “It was horrific what had been done to this young woman,” Shaffer said.

Realizing that Patel was an international flight risk, local police requested FBI assistance, and several days after the murder, a federal arrest warrant was issued charging Patel with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He has also been charged with his wife’s murder.

“Domestic violence homicides tend to be brutal, and this one certainly was,” said Anne Arundel County Police Department Det. Kelly Harding, who has handled many domestic violence cases during her nearly 20 years in law enforcement. “We almost always are able to find the suspects in these cases, and they are usually full of remorse, asking ‘What have I done?’ They are not taking a taxi cab and crossing state lines to escape.”

nvestigators believe that Patel could be with distant relatives in the U.S. or that he could have fled to Canada. “Or he could have traveled through Canada back to India,” Shaffer said. “Those are among the plausible options we are exploring.”

Shaffer believes the $100,000 reward will help in the capture of Patel. “Somebody out there who either sees the publicity or knows something already but has been reluctant to come forward will be encouraged by that amount of money,” he said. “Whether they do it for the right reasons or just for the money doesn’t really matter. Patel needs to be apprehended.”

If you have information regarding Patel—who should be considered armed and dangerous—contact your local FBI office or the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or on the FBI.gov website.

On April 21st, 2017, Share a Smile Chicago, hosted another very successful annual gala and fundraiser! The event took place at the 9600 Turnberry Trail, Village of Lakewood, IL.

We are humbled by the overwhelming support by the Indian community of Greater Chicago; which has enabled us to not only raise funds to support our various ‘senior’ endeavors, but to also spread further awareness about our cause! Our primary beneficiary is a senior home on the outskirts of Delhi called Sukhdham.

The executive team of the Barrington chapter and the satellite team of the Naperville chapter, worked together to make this fundraiser a big success! There were over 200 attendees!

The evening started with Shreepad Dave playing Indian tunes on the piano during a delectable dinner catered by Rahul Saigal of Cuisine of India. To compliment the dinner, there were sweet and savory cocktails concocted by Aashima Dogra and prepared by Turnberry Club!

We started our program with a diya lighting ceremony by our seniors to a shabad sung by Seema Singh. That was followed by a slide show highlighting SASC’s various causes and endeavors. The MC for the evening Dr Khaira, then introduced our president Vandana Walia. After a short welcome speech, Vandana introduced Sushma Bhanot, the founder of SASC, the executive team and the members of the Naperville chapter.

The entertainment for the evening was NYNY Dueling pianists. They started their dueling with a very successful live basket auction for Share a Smile Chicago. And the grand winner of the 50/50 raffle was Pooja Chatterjee! And then it was an hour and a half of music by NYNY Dueling Pianos, and singing and dancing by all those there!

Thank you Chicago for your support! Your generosity will make a difference in the lives of all the seniors we serve! We look forward to an exciting year of serving and sharing smiles!

Chicago IL: The Consulate General of India in Chicago in collaboration with Ambedkar Association of North America [AANA] celebrated 126th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on 14th April, 2017.

The opening remarks were delivered by Mrs. Neeta Bhushan, Consul General. Consul General addressed the gathering and recalled the mammoth work done by the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in drafting the Constitution of India. She emphasized that the Constitution of India does not discriminate anyone on the basis of religion, creed, sex or any other ground.  It is the duty of every citizen of India, therefore, to uphold the Constitution both in its letter and spirit.

Speakers from Ambedkar Association of North America [AANA] spoke on role of Dr. Ambedkar in National Reconstruction, Ambedkar’s agriculture and economical policies and women empowerment. During cultural programme, the children sang classical Raga & performed the classical dance “Bharat Natyam”. Mr. Mahesh Wasnik introduced the AANA & its activities.

A Book and photo exhibition of photographs on the life and times of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was also organized as part of the celebration.

The celebration was attended by a cross-section of prominent Indian-Americans residing in Chicagoland. Mr OP Meena, Consul, proposed a vote of thanks.

Vikram Chatwal, a New York based hotelier, was awarded a “no-jail” plea deal in a New York court on April 18for attempting to set fire to two dogs near his Soho apartment. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation which means that if he adheres for a year to the penalty imposed by the court, the charge of “aggravated animal cruelty” will be dropped.

When Judge Gerianne Abriano asked the 44-year-old hotelier whether he “attempted to cause serious physical injury to two dogs using an aerosol can and lighter to set fire to them?” Chatwal replied “Yes, your Honor,” the New York Post reported.

“Given the defendant’s mental health history and lack of criminal history and minimal injury to the dogs, we are offering” a no-jail deal, Assistant District Attorney Tanisha Palvia is quoted saying in the Post.

According to media reports, prosecutors took into account Chatwal’s lack of criminal history and the minimal injury caused to the dogs, into account in giving Chatwal a five day community service sentence. The judge also took into account the fact that Chatwal is undergoing mental-health treatment and included in his sentence that he continue the treatment and submit to random drug testing and keep living with his parents. Additionally, his name will be on an animal abuse registry and he cannot own or care for pets for five years.

The incident that got him into trouble took place Oct. 9, 2016, when Chatwal ran down Wooster Street screaming “The dogs must die” as he tried to light the dogs who were on a walk, on fire with an aerosol can and lighter.

“We’re pleased that the DA’s office realized all of the mitigating factors and is offering this disposition,” Arthur Aidala, Chatwal’s attorney is quoted saying in the New York Daily News. “Vikram just needs to hit the reset button on life,” Aidala told reporters outside the courtroom, the Post reported. “This was a horrible 30 seconds of his life that we are going to put behind us,” Aidala said referring to the video of Chatwal during the incident. Chatwal is not barred from continuing to manage his company. He has established several reputed hotels during his career.

Abhishek Gattani, an Indian American, who is the Cuberon CEO and co-founder, entered into a plea deal stemming from his second felony domestic violence charge brought by his wife of 10 years Neha Rastogi who recorded his verbal abuse, threats and physical beatings. The controversial settlement, which Rastogi is not happy with, will likely see Gattani spend less than a month in jail.

Gattani, will, despite the evidence presented against him, also have a felony assault charge reduced to felony accessory after the fact, with an accompanying misdemeanor of “offensive touching,” reported The Daily Beast.

Cuberon, a startup based in Silicon Valley, describes itself as a “customer behavior analytics company that helps product and marketing teams to discover, analyze, and visualize customer behavior that impacts their business metrics.” The felony charge against Gattani may be also expunged from his record, which Rastogi pleaded with a judge overseeing the case, not to do so.

In the recordings by Rastogi, made on May 17, 2016, of 5 minutes and 58 seconds of her life which she submitted to the police, Gattani comes across as an extremely controlling and abusive man, who seems bent on subduing his wife to complete submission to his wishes, despite the fact that Gattani was an extremely competent software professional herself, having worked for Apple, Flip and Cisco.

“No, no, no,” he said in one recording when the pair were discussing software bugs, and he repeatedly calls her bitch. “When did I say that’s a bug? We talked about bugs right? Is it getting very difficult for you to focus? You really do need help. You need me to take another step and come to you. You need help?, adding: “You don’t want to get beaten up? Then control yourself.”

The audio recordings also captures the several beatings Gattani gives to his wife during the course of the conversation, with at least 9 of them being heard. Rastogi reveals in her complaint that she was repeatedly beaten and called worse, including slut and whore.

Gattani had previously been charged with felony assault in November, 2013, after a postal worker reported a woman being assaulted on the street, noted Raw Story. According to the Beast, the officer’s report included witness accounts of Gattani “pushing and pulling [Rastogi] along the sidewalk while punching her with a closed fist in the side and back multiple times.”

That felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor charge at Rastogi’s urging, the Beast notes, Three years later, in May 2016, she recorded audio of her husband’s abuse.

The plea was made at Santa Clara County Superior Court, the same place where judge Aaron Perksy drew national criticism after sentencing Brock Turner to six months in jail for three charges of felony sexual assault. At what was supposed to be Gattani’s sentencing at the courthouse, Rastogi read aloud from an impact statement relating to the plea, reported Raw Story. “‘Misdemeanor—offensive touching’? I didn’t even need to look this one up, as it made me laugh when then I realized that I was laughing at myself, I was the joke here,” she said. “‘Offensive touching!’”

“Please explain me is it offensive touching when a 8 month pregnant woman is beaten and then forced to stand for the entire night by her husband? Is it offensive touching when a mother nursing her six-day old child is slapped on her face by her husband because he thinks she is not latching properly with the child? Is it offensive touching when a women is flung to the floor and repetitively kicked in her belly? Is it offensive touching when a woman is slapped nine times by her husband until she agrees to everything he is saying and then gets hit again for not agreeing with it sooner?” Rastogi continued. “Offensive touching—I call it terrorism,” she said.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Stafford promised he listened “very carefully” to Rastogi’s “powerful statement.” Unfortunately, he was just filling in for fellow Judge Allison Danner.