Category: Community

Chicago IL: After celebrating Mother’s Day & Father’s Day, now was the turn to celebrate & showcase the talent of our young, budding artists, with dedicated Youth of Hari Om Mandir, who put up a grand show of cultural performances.

A Gala Evening of Music, Dance, Fun and Entertainment was organized by the Hari Om Mandir on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at Lake Park high school east campus, 600 Medinah Rd, Roselle, IL. The entire program was put together by the children ranging from 7 to 17 years of age. MC’s Tushar Sharma and Divya Maheshwari led the program from start to finish in a very professional way. They handled the whole show with great finesse…making sure the items were lined up in a manner that presented a true Variety Show….a colorful Rainbow of performances.

The Program started with the traditional lighting of the Diya and offering prayers to Ganesh Ji by the temple Priest, Pt Dinesh Kumar. Once, the ball was set rolling, there was no looking back….from Classical Bharatanatyam to Bollywood Dances, from Punjabi Folk to Modern Hip Hop, from Vocal Singing to Instrumental Music……the kids had sooooo much to offer!!!!

Each and every performance was of a high class standard and clearly showed the amount of practice & the long hours these kids had spent in preparation. Kudos to the Parents who had worked equally hard to encourage the kids, bring them for rehearsals, arrange for the costumes etc. etc. The Children & their Parents left no stone unturned to exhibit their Energy and Love for the rich Cultural Heritage of India.

As the rocking, young MC’s of the evening, walked up the stage, the whole atmosphere was charged with energy and was abuzz with excitement. They kept the audiences glued to their seats with their crisp comments and witty jokes. The chemistry between Tushar & Divya was very pleasing, as they had a sweet interaction on “Girls being the Best” and “Boys being the Best”, alongside the Indian & the American comparisons on foods, traditions, practices etc.

As the evening progressed, extra-ordinary talent was exhibited amongst huge applause and appreciation. Srikar Gangadharni, played and sang the old classic “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” on the piano. The special highlight of this rendering was that this 8yr old kid had learnt this Bhajan from his Grandfather in India thru Skype!!! Thanks to Technology! Another memorable performance was the recitation of the Nursery Rhyme, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” by Shriya Lakshminarasimhan who presented this in various Indian Languages….from North to South… and portrayed the theme of Unity in Diversity. The whole auditorium echoed with laughter and clapping, as people rose to give her a standing ovation!!!!

After the Dinner Intermission, the program advanced to a grand finale with a Fashion Show put up by all the participants and their proud parents. Young kids and teenagers, very elegantly walked the stage and posed for pictures. Mr. Satpal Salwan, Chairman Board of Trustees thanked everyone for their hard work and congratulated the Youth for putting up a great show.

The President of the Executive Board, Vipan Wadhera also expressed great hope in the Youth, who are the bright future of our Nation. On this occasion, he presented a Plaque to the Youth Co-coordinator, Tushar Sharma, honoring him for his services and attachment to the Hari Om Mandir, since he was a 3yr old kid! He has truly carried forward the baton of our rich cultural heritage, and as he advances into the next phase of his life for college studies, HOM wishes him good luck and a bright future. The program concluded with the National Anthem and the awards ceremony.

Chicago IL: Punjabi American Organization (PAO) organized their 12th annual event, Teeyan Da Mela held on Sunday – July 24, 2016 at Waterford Banquet, 933 S Riverside Dr, Elmhurst, IL. Dedicated to Bibi Jaswant Kaur Dhaliwal, mother of Sardar Dhaliwal from Milwaukee, the much awaited event was showcased for “Ladies only” where even very bashful timid ladies have opportunity to come forward and show their hidden talents. Teeyan is an honorable word in Punjabi Culture which gives a great reorganization and respect to women as mother, daughter, and daughter-in-law.

Teeyan is the dance festival of Punjabis, celebrated by women in the month of Sawan. One sees the finest Giddha performances as a part of the festival celebrations. The festival continues from the 3rd lunar day in the month of Sawan till the full moon day. Punjabi Americans Organization aims to promote unity and progress and preservation of age old rich culture and tradition of Punjab.

Under the leadership of Naiha Walia, President of PAO, who the youngest woman President of any such organization in Midwest Area,  the banquet hall was crowded with over 500 attendees composed of ladies and children dressed in multicolored Indian time-honored clothes. The organizing Committee welcomed the audience and thanked all the sponsors for their generous donations. The event started with the traditional open Dholki, where the audience was invited on to the stage to participate in group singing of Punjabi traditional opening “Saun da mahina” songs.

This was followed by dynamic MC and Punjabi singer, Deepika Singh who took the stage. She is from Van cure Canada, Actor, Singer and excellent Master of Ceremony. Cultural vibrant Dance Punjabney Shaukeen Kudiye was performed by Noor, Amneet, Seerat, Shubreet, Jasmine and Aman. Next, singers from Midwest region Mrs. Pooja Dhaliwal, sing song “Saanu Ik Pal Chain Na Aavey” entertained the crowd by their on stage talent. Followed by Pooja Dhaliwal there was Dance by Saroj Berry and Dhol Play, and Two Songs by Sabrina Sappal. Sabrina Sapal she is young tenanted girl came to entertainment to Chicago. She rising star among youngster

This year PAO introduced ‘Mrs. Punjaban contest determined by individual personality, beauty and talent. Total 7 contestant participate for Mrs. Punjaban Contest. Jeewan Dhami, Gurjit Kaur, Navneet Kaur, Prabh Khiara, Satinder Kaur, Simran Kaur and Jas. First (winner) Mrs. Panjaban name is Prabh Khaira and Second winner (runner up) is Simran kaur. Prabh Khaira won the crown of Mrs. Punjaban.

Fashion show was chorerographed by Naiha Walia and Sim Multani. Models walked the ramp with a mixed blend of custom designed outfits and dresses which had Swaroski work, hand embroidery, detailed thread work, crystal stone patterns, gotta patti by elite designers of GetEthic.com. Beautiful and budding models namely Avneet Singh, Gurneet Singh, Mehar Parmar, Karen, Hundal, Jazmin Diaz, Hannah Singh, Aman Natt, Jasmine Kaur, Seerat Kaur, Simran Walia, Simran Khanna, Samar Kaur sparkled with their amazing catwalk and attitude on ramp. Fashion show displayed outfits such as stunning suits, spectacular sarees, splendid lehengas, trousseau collection and heavy pure silk gorgeous bridal wear as the showstopper worn by none other than Miss Illinois.

Organizers decorated the event hall with Punjabi pupates, saris, and other traditional Punjabi dresses as well as with colorful clothes, flowers, and garlands. It appeared like a rainbow spread across everywhere in the event hall. The upcoming event for Punjabi American Organization will be Diwali Night in October 2016.

A horrific tragedy struck an Indian family returning home after watching July 4th fireworks when a pick-up truck crashed head-on into their sedan trapping them in a deadly fire that killed three of them, left one fighting for her life, yet miraculously left an 11-month old baby almost unscathed, thanks to firefighters.

Chandan Gavai, 38, of Middle Island, was declared dead in hospital after the crash in Yaphank around 10:45 p.m. His father Kamalnayan Gavai, 74, and mother Archana Gavai, 60, were killed instantly in the crash. His wife, Manisha Surwade, 32, is fighting for her life at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue as of July 11, with critical burns and head injuries, Suffolk police told Desi Talk. But the infant, identified as “Baby Ibhan,” who only had minor injuries is at Stony Brook University Hospital. Yaphank firefighters rescued the baby from the burning vehicle when they heard cries from inside the car, news reports said. The elder Gavai’s were visiting from India according to the police.

The crash that took place in front of 275 Yaphank-Middle Island Road in Yaphank, in Suffolk County on New York’s Long Island, also killed Gustave Geyer, 25, the driver of the 1990 Chevrolet truck, who according to police was driving recklessly. He hit the 2014 Nissan Altima head-on in a no-passing zone.

Suffolk County Seventh Squad detectives are continuing their investigation into the incident “It’s still an active investigation,” an officer who said he could not comment on the case, told Desi Talk. He also said he could not put a timeframe on Geyer’s autopsy results that might indicate his blood-alcohol level.

Manish Sandbhor, a family friend of the Gavais, told Newsday, the Indian family was returning after watching July 4 fireworks. He also said that Surwade, who was “fighting for her life” was a “very strong person.” He described Chandan Gavai as a close friend and an “easy going” man, with whom he had been on many adventures organized by Surwade, such as indoor sky diving in New Hampshire where Sandbhor lives. “We had really good memories,” Sandbhor told the newspaper.

Chandan Gavai, a graduate of University of Mumbai according to LinkedIn, was a senior programmer and analyst at Broadbridge Financial Services of Edgewood, N.Y., since July 2011. He had worked at several IT companies in Masachusettes as a software engineer since 2007. Surwade studied at the University of Pune, according to her LinkedIn profile.

A July 6 CBS News New York report quoting unnamed sources said Geyer had a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit. But police refused to confirm that to Desi Talk. “That information was not generated from our office,” the spokesperson for Suffolk County Police Department said. Geyer’s body has been taken to the medical examiner’s office but no results have been made public yet.

Police said they received several 911 calls about the accident, and many of the callers said Geyer was driving “erratically,” CBSNews reported, adding that investigators believe he was returning from a party when he crashed into the Gavais’ vehicle.

The India Society of Stony Brook has set up a GoFundMe page “To Help Baby Ibhan Gavai.” Dutt Tarigoppula, president of the India Society, said on the site, “In the midst of this tragedy we need to come together and raise as much money as possible to help secure baby Ibhan’s future.”

“Many of you in the community have already begun helping by providing residence and food for the grieving family,” he said. Meanwhile, members of the Gavai family are arriving from India to conduct the funeral, according to media reports.

Chandan Gavai’s Facebook page and GoFundMe site saw an outpouring of sympathy and memories. An old friend, Shauna Brettschneider, said on Facebook that she was feeling heartbroken. “I will miss you buddy… RIP,” she said. “We are praying for her (Manisha) with every breath we take..” said a friend, Renu Punjabi, on the GoFundMe page.

The ATA Convention hosted by American Telugu Association [ATA] was marked by breathtaking spectacle drawing record-breaking attendance inundating the sprawling convention center with vibrant Telugu fervor at the silver jubilee festivities held on a grand mega scale showcasing the rich Telugu cultural heritage and its burgeoning Telugu constituency in America at the 3-day ATA Convention held on July 1-3, 2016 at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

The Rosemont city wore a colorful Telugu look as unprecedented number of attendees preliminarily estimated at 10,000 thronged the convention center to experience ostentatious showcasing of rich Telugu culture through music, dance, pageantry surpassed only by dazzling fashion shows, contemporary cinematic music and colorful epic dance presentations eclipsed by celebrities, large contingent of political leaders, Telugu icons and eminent personalities overwhelmed only by the presence of Tollywood movie stars.

Convener Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai praised the unwavering dedication and hard work of the entire ATA chairs & co-chairs that truly brought such phenomenal results. Convention Director K.K. Reddy characterized it as a magnificent journey of 25 years culminated in such an extraordinary convention and added this as a symbol of triumph of the towering Telugu spirit. ATA President Sudhakar Perkari lauded the remarkable ATA team work that brought about this splendid outcome. ATA Founder/President Hanumanth Reddy expressed the gleeful joy at the presence of such huge masses of Telugu people under one roof and added is a shining testament to innate culture of Telugu people; while Convention Co-Convener Krishna Mushyam saluted the rallying spirit of Telugu fellowship in such magnitude.

The convention was set in motion with a grand gala banquet on Friday July 1st with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating the 3-day celebrations paying rich accolades to the Telugu culture in their remarks as ecstatic gala attendees rendered prolonged applause. Governor Bruce Rauner issued a proclamation declaring July 2nd and 3rd 2016 as American Telugu Association Day in the state of Illinois. Governor Rauner commended the Telugu community for keeping up the great cultural heritage and added if he gets an opportunity he would love to visit India. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in his address inspired the families to stay rooted in Telugu culture while appreciating the other languages and cultures. Venkaiah Naidu stressed on the ripe climate in India ideal for global investments. Dinkar Karumuri exhaustively introduced Governor Rauner and described him as an outstanding champion of the Indian American community and added his presence at ATA gala is a shining testimony of his steadfast goodwill to the Telugu community.

With the invocation dance, the gala banquet in its splendor showcased the outstanding success stories of Telugu people in the United States who were applauded for their valuable contribution to the societies both in India and America. Some of the prominent attendees include Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India, Democratic Nominee for U.S.Congress Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Prominent MP Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Deputy Telangana Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider, GMR Chairman Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao ATA Benefactors Dr. Prem Reddy and Dr. Paila Malla Reddy joined by a large contingent of MPs and MLAs from A.P and Telangana state represented by all political parties including TRS, YSRCP, TDP and Congress. Other Prominent Leaders from USA include Maryland Delegate Aruna Miller, Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally, Ex-Nasscom chair BV Mohan Reddy.

On Saturday July 2nd, the ATA Convention set the stage on fire with a huge 100-group dance troupe presenting an epic inaugural dance presentation ‘Jyothi Prajwalana’ that evoked applause and standing ovation. Key note address by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was stirring as he inspired Telugus in America to instill and nurture Telugu language to the succeeding generations. Venkaiah Naidu said that the most successful people in North America are Indians and added half of them are Telugu’s. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti presented Illinois Governor’s proclamation to ATA leaders. Rasamayi Balakrshinan Troupe provided an upbeat ‘Dhoom Dham’ Telangana traditional dance and musical presentation. Youth forum was inaugurated by ATA founder Hanumanth Reddy, convener Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai and Director K.K. Reddy. Re-enactment of ‘Bahubali’ movie with its huge cast held the audience in rapt attention. TV hosted event ‘SYEATA’ had youth performing colorful cultural and western presentations.

Kuchipudi dance by Padmaja Reddy displayed wide swath of emotions. Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Telangana Member of Parliament applauded the sense of unity of Telugu people showcased at the convention. Iftekhar Shareef, Reception Chair introduced Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Telangana MP and the Telangana MPs and MLAs giving an eloquent summation of their role in continuously steering the newly-formed 29th Indian state towards the trajectory of success. Earlier, Swami Chidatmananda spoke. Kamala Chimata, Convention Coordinator who presented the overview said the convention is replete with exhaustive schedule of close-fitting events meaningfully designed for the families.

On Sunday July 3rd, the convention drew wall-to-wall crowds to witness the spectacular fashion show, contemporary dance presentations and grand musical show presented by Mani Sharma and group that send the crowds ecstatic at every song belted out. In the afternoon, heated debates with political leaders participated by TRS, YSRCP, TDP & Congress party reached a fierce pitch battle between the party leaders held by Chalma Reddy and moderated by renowned TV host Venkata Krishna and managed by Vikram Kattamreddy. Some of the politicians participated in the Political Forum include Telangana Dy CM Kadiam Srihari, L. Ramana, Pedireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Jithender Reddy, Madhu Yashki, Keshav Rao, Roja, Ambati Rambabu, Srikanth Reddy, Malla Reddy and others.

The evening segment began with youth-centric dance and musical presentations. ATA felicitated their past presidents, its board and trustees. Chandrasekhar Reddy lauded the undying commitment of over 60 committees; while K.K.Reddy expressed jubilation having such a fine contingent of committed teams.

Some of the Tollywood movie actors who attended the convention included Actors Kajol Agarwal, Jagapathi Babu, Nani Babu Ghanta, Rashi Khana, Bhanu Sree, Lavanya Tripathi, Rashmi Gautam, Jyothi, Ramya Sree Neeliya,Rachna Mourya.

Some of the prominent political elected leaders who attended included Ganta Srinivas Rao, Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Dr. Venugopala Chary, Ambati Rambabu, Roja and Jatinder Reddy.

The Youth committee organized Lake Michigan dinner cruise for youth 16 and above and 200 Youth participated. The business forum included workshops by CEO’s and Entrepreneurs who presented workshops about doing business in India and the US. The Women’s Forum workshops were designed to empower and motivate women.

Health and wellness seminars focused on preventive health screening and medical advice from leading medical experts, Matrimonial services were provided to parents of prospective brides and grooms. Seminars for Senior Citizens were organized to educate seniors about Government benefits, health Insurance options and navigation and dealing with the loss of a partner as they grow older in America. Yoga and meditation sessions were conducted throughout the day and many attendees took advantage learning and practicing these relaxation techniques. Vendor’s booths carried mouth-watering Telugu delicacies, jewelry, fashion apparels and accessories and real estate companies promoted their housing projects in India. Convention attendees were treated a great shopping experience and were able to support participating vendors. Painstaking efforts were made to serve authentic native Telugu cuisine for record number of guests.

The leaders of the American Telugu Association and the Convention team received glowing accolades for their remarkable dedication in securing runaway success of the silver jubilee convention. The convention drew to a grand conclusion with high decibel musical concert rendered by well-known Tollywood music director Mani Sharma along with a team of singers and musicians belting out exciting tunes until the wee hours past midnight which served as a grand finale to a memorable Telugu convention.

“Another area of international concern involves Indian call centers, which like their Jamaican counterparts, continue to be the source of various imposter frauds that have reached consumers throughout the English-speaking world,” Lois C. Greisman, associate director, Division of Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, said.

According to reports, Greisman said this in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee said certain types of scams are more likely to impact older Americans, such as prize promotion and lottery schemes and imposter schemes purporting to provide technical support to “fix” non-existent computer problems. Listing the various areas of concerns, Greisman listed fraud calls originating from India as one of them.

“In addition to our enforcement cases, the FTC has organized three stakeholder meetings, including two in India, to develop a coordinated and multi-pronged approach to this threat,” she said.

Indian call centers continue to be the source of various frauds, the U.S. government told lawmakers on June 29, and said American officials were training Indian law enforcement agencies to act against the fraudsters.

The most recent event, held in May in Washington, DC, included representatives from several major technology companies; the U.S., Canadian and UK law enforcement; the Indian call center industry group, and Indian government officials, Greisman said.

“One result of this collaboration is a four-city law enforcement training in India this summer, in which the FTC is participating, aimed at developing Indian law enforcement’s capacity to arrest and prosecute the India-based individuals who perpetrate these frauds,” she said.

The FTC will also continue to develop cross-border initiatives with our sister enforcement agencies in Canada and the United Kingdom, Greisman told lawmakers.

Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said criminals have found deceptive ways to “set the hook” on a particular victim and then return for more. One study found that seniors who had been scammed out of just $20 ended up losing an additional $2,000 in other scams over the next five years.

“But the most devastating impact of these crimes goes beyond seniors’ bank accounts. Victims of financial exploitation can experience loss of independence, deteriorated health and psychological distress—all of which diminish the quality of life,” Grassley said.

“In my home state of Iowa, we’re hearing more and more about sweetheart scams, where fraudsters cultivate a romantic relationship with a lonely elder—typically online—and then convince the senior to part with his or her hard earned money,” he said.

The Justice Department would strenuously pursue hate crimes and prosecute them, Vanita Gupta, chief of the Civil Rights Division, promised while delivering the keynote address at the Hindu American Foundation’s Inaugural Policy Conference event in Washington, DC on June 20.

Gupta, an Indian American holding top position at the Obama administration was responding to the recent massacre in Orlando where 49 people were killed in a club frequented by LGBTQ people, by a man who claimed to be driven by extremist Islamic ideology.

“Our conversation comes at a trying time.  Just eight days ago, we suffered a horrific terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida.  And as we continue to pray for the victims and their families, I want to assure you that – as the Attorney General said many times this past week – the Department of Justice continues to use every resource at its disposal to investigate this appalling attack,” she told the audience.

While lauding the The Hindu American Foundation’s motto – “promoting dignity, mutual respect and pluralism” – represents the very best traditions of people from many different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds around the country, Gupta said, “whether we worship another faith or whether we consider ourselves non-religious, in this country, our laws protect the rights of all people to live free from violence, discrimination and harassment.  The First Amendment of the Constitution lists religious freedom as the first right.  And today, in the 21st century, with people of many different beliefs calling America home – the values of diversity and pluralism continue to define our national identity.  In my own life – as the daughter of Indian immigrants, as the wife of a Vietnamese refugee and as a longtime civil rights lawyer – I have seen the profound power of our laws to advance America’s promise of equal protection, equal justice and equal opportunity for all.”

The FBI and different government agencies continue to lead a range of enforcement efforts in the area of religious discrimination, she said. “To further improve our efforts to combat hate violence, along with our U.S. Attorney partners and the FBI, last year we organized a series of regional hate crimes trainings – in Mississippi, California, Oregon, Kansas and Florida.  These sessions helped to train local and federal law enforcement in how to recognize, investigate and prove hate crimes.  They helped to educate communities and engage them in the process of ensuring public safety.  And they helped to encourage better hate crime reporting and data collection.”

Gupta urged the members of the group to “ask the tough questions, to tackle the hard issues and to confront the real challenges that exploit differences in our communities.  In so doing, you will help bring our country closer to its founding promise of a land that protects all people.  You will advance the values that define us as a nation.  And day-by-day, you will shape America into a more just and more free union.”

New York City, N.Y.  – June 27, 2016 – With the theme “Strengthening Connections between India and Indian Diaspora through Business,” GOPIO International, Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (www.gopio.net), is held its 27th Anniversary Celebrations and GOPIO Biennial Convention 2016 in New York, USA at the Marriott LaGuardia Hotel with evening banquet held at World’s Fair Marina on June 24-25, 2016. Over 200 delegates from 20 countries participated. GOPIO’s New York Area Coordinator Lal Motwani served as the Convener along with Dr.  Asha Samant, Kenny Desai, Shelly Nichani, Nohar singh and Jayant Baxi as Co-Conveners.

The convention was inaugurated at the World’s Fair Marina on June 24th evening by welcome remarks by Convention Convener Lal Motwani and by GOPIO President Niraj Baxi and at a welcome dinner. The chief Guest was Guyana Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses V. Nagamootoo, a freedom fighter for Guyana. PM Nagamootto invited the Indian Diaspora community to consider Guyana as a destination for investment and business and spoke on many incentives Guyana could offer. India’s Consul General in New York Ambassador Riva Das Ganguly Das representing Govt. of India, delivered the inaugural address in which she noted the role played by GOPIO in launching and building a worldwide movement as a united force for the Indian Diaspora. The evening program ended with classical and semi-classical dances performed by students of Pandit Satya Narayana Charka.

On Saturday June 25, a full day GOPIO conference was held at the New York LaGuardia Marriott Hotel from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There were 9 sessions to deliberate on the Global Indian Diaspora; evaluate GOPIO’s progress in 27 years; network, exchange ideas, and connect with PIO/NRI delegates from around the world. The conference, organized by Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, Conference Committee and Founder President, GOPIO International, consisted of an inaugural plenary session with keynote speaker Raj Jaswa, former President of TiE Silicon Valley and director and trustee of TiE International, Serial technology entrepreneur, and an Adjunct Professor at several Universities in India. This was followed by two track conference sessions, (1) Business and Technology ventures and opportunities and (2) Social, Political, Gender and Health challenges.

The conference ended with a concluding presentations session from the Session Chairs, namely, Prakash Shah, Dr. Rajeev Mehta, Nitin Shah, Dr. Neerja Arun Gupta, Viresh Sharma, Sudha Parekh, Dr. Asha Samant, Jagdish Lodhia and Ram Gadhavi. Several resolutions were presented by a committee headed by Dr. Rajeev Mehta. Resolutions for the conference session were added to these, and will be sent to Govt. of Indian and other government agencies.

The 27th Anniversary celebrations concluded with a Grand Finale Banquet and Recognition of Businesses and Entrepreneurs with Social Responsibility at the World’s Fair Marina. The honorees were Lord Diljit Rana of Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK), Raj Jaswa of Silicon Valley and TV Asia Chairman H.R. Shah. Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja were honored with Media Awards for their contribution and support of the community.

The Chief Guest was Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, KNH, OBE, known as Viv Richards, a former West Indian cricketer, regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He was joined in the evening by Antigua & Barmuda Minister Trade, Industry, Commerce, Sports and National Festivals Mr. E.P. Chet Greene. The banquet ended with a Bolliwood performances put together by Dharmatma Saran of India Festival Committee and Anita Bhat of Miss India-CT.

With gratitude, GOPIO acknowledged support of Platinum sponsors Embassy National Bank, State Bank of India, Labidco Port Services Ltd; Gold sponsors Dr. Asha Samant and Kenny Desai; and Silver sponsors Bank of Baroda, Adani North America, S.S. White Technologies Inc. and Dr. Praveen Chopra.

Resolutions passed at the GOPIO Convention in New York (USA) on June 25, 2016, included: 1. Voting rights for Indian citizens living outside India; 2. Rajya Sabha seats for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs); 3. Pro-active Role for Indian Missions to Reach Out and Help Indian Citizens Needing Emergency Assistance; 4. Engaging NRIs/PIOs for Educational, Health and Social Causes; 5. Protection of Real Estate and Business Investments as well as Inherited assets;  6. Discriminative Admission Fee Rates for PIOs and OCI Card Holders; 7. Taxing of NRIs/PIOs Social Security Benefits in India; 8. Expand Know India Program; 9. Set Up for Involvement with Ministries of Commerce, Science and Technology, Power, Rural Development, Tourism; 10. Set up NRI Ministry or NRI Coordination Office with all state governments.

San Jose, CA: Omar Golamrabbi, a juvenile charged in the killing of his parents here, has been cleared of murder and was released from police custody on June 24th, reports here say. “Santa Clara County prosecutors dismissed murder charges Friday against the younger of two brothers accused in the shooting deaths of their parents at their San Jose home in April,” wrote San Francisco Chronicle.

The decision means Omar Golamrabbi, 17, is expected to leave the Santa Clara Jail where he had been held since the April slayings off his parents, Shamima Rabbi, 57, and her husband, Golam Rabbi, 59. Prosecutors had decided to charge him as an adult before they reversed course and dropped the charges. The Bangladeshi American couple was found dead on April 24 by relatives who had been trying to reach them for several days.

Public defender Sajid Khan, is reported to have said, Omar had been released because prosecutors said they had an “insufficiency of evidence” of his involvement in the murders. “He was present at the time, but we believe he was just a witness to the scene,” said Khan. Omar Golamrabbi  has been taken to a group home, according to Khan. His social worker will determine whether he can live with other family members.

After the killings, the two brothers allegedly went to an anime cartoon convention, according to court documents. On the floor near the bodies were at least two handwritten notes in black marker pen. One chillingly read: “Sorry, my first kill was clumsy.” The other note read: “I can’t be like you, telling a lie.” Omar Golamrabbi was initially suspected of writing the notes.

Upon his arrest April 27, Hasib Golamrabbi — who initially could not be found for three days — told police he had shot his father multiple times, but added that a stranger had come into the house and forced him to do it. Hasib told police that the stranger had killed his mother.

As per reports, Omar Golamrabbi told police that his brother had murdered both his father and mother and then told him to check the garage — where the bodies were found — to make sure blood was not seeping out.

Hasib Golamrabbi is being held in Santa Clara County Jail without bail. His next court appearance has been scheduled for July 13. Documents filed in court indicate that Hasib Golamrabbi has previously been identified as having psychological issues.

“We are grateful and excited that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has dismissed the murder charges against Omar,” the public defender’s office said in a written statement. “We are thankful to Deputy District Attorney Matt Braker for examining the evidence in this case with an open mind and for exercising his discretion to dismiss.

After spending 16 years in prison for the killing of his former high school girlfriend, a man at the center of popular podcast “Serial” has been granted a new trial. Retired Baltimore Circuit Judge Martin Welch ruled June 30 that Adnan Syed, 35, deserved a new trial because his lawyer didn’t challenge testimony in the case that became the focus of the podcast, which captivated millions of listeners around the world.

The Pakistani American was convicted in 2000 of murdering Hae Min Lee a year earlier and burying her in a shallow grave in a park in northwest Baltimore. He was sentenced to life in prison.

During a post-conviction hearing in early February, Syed’s attorneys argued he deserved a retrial on the grounds that his original attorney, Cristina Gutierrez, did not contact Asia McClain Chapman, an alibi witness who said she saw Syed at the Woodlawn library about the same time prosecutors say Lee was murdered.

Additionally, Syed’s current attorneys argued cell tower data linking Syed’s phone to the burial site on the day of Lee’s murder was misleading because it was presented to jurors without a cover sheet warning that incoming call data was unreliable.

In Welch’s order, he disagreed that Gutierrez erred when she failed to contact Chapman, or that prosecutors breached their duty by withholding exculpatory evidence. But Welch did agree that Syed’s attorney provided “ineffective assistance for the failure to cross-examine the state’s cell tower expert about the reliability of cell tower location evidence” that placed him near the burial site.

The state had argued that because Syed didn’t raise the issue of his trial attorney’s failure to cross-examine the state’s cell tower expert in a prior proceeding, he waived his right to make it an issue now. But the judge ruled that Syed didn’t “intelligently or knowingly” waive his right to raise the issue, noting that he never completed his high school degree.

“Requiring a layman who lacks a complete high school education to understand the intricacies of cellular network design and the legal ramifications of trial counsel’s failures to challenge the evidence would be inconsistent with the spirit of the Sixth Amendment,” the judge wrote.

The judge said the attorney’s performance “fell below the standard of reasonable professional judgment” when she failed to confront the state’s expert about the reliability of the cell tower evidence.

At a news conference, Brown said he “fully expects” the state to appeal the judge’s decision. But he said he and the rest of the defense team have “dug our heels in” and remain determined to fight on Adnan Syed’s behalf, including requesting that Syed be released from jail while he awaits retrial. “This is obviously an incredible victory,” he said. “We know the state is not going to give up, and we’re ready.”

The Tamil Entrepreneurs Forum (Tefcon) at FeTNA’s annual conference this July 4 weekend in New Jersey promises to be very exciting with 25 top executives as speakers including Arvind Swamy, the actor-entrepreneur. Speaking to the media, the NJ based Nagappan,  who is Chief Information Officer with Pershing, BNY Mellon, says that Tefcon has been part of FeTNA’s annual celebration for some time, but this year the scale is a lot bigger.  There will be keynote addresses, panel discussion and inspiring TEF talks –  taking the stage will be at least eight successful women.

The presenters at the July 2 full-day session inside Patriots Theatre at the War Memorial, Trenton, will not be confined to tech fields. Inspiring speakers include ‘Dosa Man’ Thiru Kumar who started with a tiny food cart in Manhattan and has been featured widely in international media, and Hemalatha Annamalai, who makes battery operated motorcycles at low cost and her firm may turn out to be India’s future Tesla.

At the Tefcon some startups will make a pitch to investors, who would include Arvind Swamy, N. Chandra of TCS, and Jet Blue’s Eash Sundaram.  So Tefcon also acts as an incubator. Fittingly, the conference theme is Link Learn Lead.

About the stereotypical image of Tamils being the service class in India, Nagappan says the community had great entrepreneur zeal before the British rule. Then, being educated, they got into government jobs and became complacent.  But after Independence, thing have been changing again. In Silicon Valley, many Tamils hold top technology positions today.

FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America) convention is expecting about 2,000 attendees. Performers will include Carnatic singer T.M. Krishna, playback singer Vijay Prakash, and Super Singer title winners Hari Priya and Jesica Jude

Namboori Sridatta, 25, and P. Naresh, 24,  are reported to have drowned in two separate incidents in the U.S., according to information from their families.

Namboori Sridatta, who was working with Tata Consultancy Services in Arizona, drowned while picnicking with friends at a waterfall. According to his family in Vanasthalipuram in Hyderabad, the incident took place June 19, but they received the information late June 20. Sridatta, who was with friends, slipped and fell down into the water. Rescue workers recovered his body.

The youth had come to the U.S. five years ago and, after his education at Arizona University, got a job at TCS. “He was to come home next month, but yesterday we got this shocking news,” said Sridatta’s father, N.V.M. Swamy, a private employee. The family has appealed to the Indian government to ensure that the body is brought home early.

In another incident, P. Naresh, 24, a student in California, drowned in a river during a picnic. The incident occurred at Livermore River Park June 19. According to information that reached his family in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, he was on a picnic with his friends on a boat when he slipped and fell into the water. His body was recovered during a search operation launched by the local police.

Naresh was a second-year student studying for his M.S. His death shattered the dreams of his poor family in Bandipalem village. His father, Purnaiah, a small farmer, said he had telephoned him recently to inform him that he will be doing a part-time job and will send money home starting next month. Naresh’s family has urged the Indian government to make arrangements to bring the body back home.

Nethinaidu Veluchamy and his wife Parameswari Veluchamy, the principal shareholders of First Mutual Bancorp of Illinois Inc., a holding company for Mutual Bank, allegedly hid cash and assets from creditors intentionally, after defaulting on $40 million in personal and corporate loans, according to an indictment returned in federal court in Chicago on June 22.

As per reports, in June 2009, the couple defaulted on personal and corporate loans totaling $40 million. The following month Mutual Bank was shut down by federal regulators. Prior to the shutdown and continuing until at least November 2015, the couple hid millions of dollars in assets by allegedly falsifying documents, moving money into domestic and foreign bank accounts, and directing employees to destroy financial records. The indictment says the couple also transferred cash to their two adult children, with nearly $8.5 million going to one and more than $10.1 million to the other.

The 12-count indictment was returned last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Each count of bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The indictment charges Pethinaidu Veluchamy, 70, with four counts of bank fraud, two counts of destroying records to obstruct a bankruptcy proceeding, two counts of making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding, and one count of making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport.

Parameswari Veluchamy, 65, is charged with four counts of bank fraud, two counts of destroying records to obstruct a bankruptcy proceeding, one count of making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding, and one count of making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport.

According to the charges, Pethinaidu Veluchamy caused his relatives to obtain legal judgments against him for loans for which he knew he was not personally liable so that he could later assert those liens as superior to a bank creditor’s anticipated judgments.

In a 2011 deposition in a separate court case, Pethinaidu Veluchamy fraudulently claimed that certain funds transferred to his adult children represented indemnity obligations for their investments in First Mutual Bancorp. He produced a document to support this claim, but when questioned about the timing of the creation of the document, he claimed the computer he had used to create it crashed in a snowstorm.

Imran Yousuf, a former US Marine sergeant of Indian origin, has been hailed as a hero for saving scores of lives at the Orlando night club when a terrorist went on a rampage killing 49 people.

When Yousuf, who was working as a bouncer at the Pulse night club catering to the gay community in Orlando, Florida, heard the first gunshots his military experience fighting in Afghanistan kicked in, according to media reports. As everyone in the packed night club froze in fear, he jumped up and at personal risk opened a back door allowing many people to escape.

He told CBS News television that as panicked people streamed to the back of the hall, “I’m screaming ‘Open the door! Open the door!’ And no one is moving because they are scared. There was only one choice,” he added in the interview. “Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open that latch a we got everyone that we can out of there.”

Yousuf – whose mother and grandmother are Hindus – risked his life because he could have drawn the attention of Omar Mateen, who had sworn loyalty to the Islamic State and was carrying out the attack, considered the worst mass shooting in US history.
Yousuf said his quick action saved 60 to 70 lives . CBS reported that he cried as he said, “I wish I could have saved more to be honest. There are a lot of people that are dead”

And Yousuf has been modest, brushing off the praises as a hero. Marine Corps Times newspaper reported on its web site that Yousuf posted on his Facebook page, “There are a lot of people naming me a hero and as a former Marine and Afghan veteran I honestly believe I reacted by instinct. … While it might seem that my actions are heroic I decided that the others around me needed to be saved as well and so I just reacted.”
Yousuf had left the Marine Corps just last month. His family emigrated from Guyana, where his ancestors had gone from India.

Imran Yousuf graduated from Niskayuna High School – near Schenectady, New York – in 2010 and immediately joined the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Times reported that Yousuf served as an engineer equipment electrical systems technician in the Marine Corps from June 2010 to May 2016, according to service officials. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. He was last assigned to 3rd Marine Logistics Group. His military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Korean Defense Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Forty civil rights organizations, along with the Sikh Coalition, jointly sent a letter to law enforcement officials June 1, demanding justice for an Indian national and a Pakistani national who were accused of terrorism and arrested at gunpoint while riding a Greyhound bus in Amarillo, Texas.

On Feb. 21, Daljeet Singh from India, and his friend, Mohammed Chotri from Pakistan, were on board a Greyhound bus and speaking in Punjabi. According to the Sikh Coalition, a woman on the bus reported to police that the two men were “acting weird,” speaking Arabic, and discussing a bomb.

Two other passengers detained Singh and Chotri in their seats until police came and arrested them at gunpoint. Singh and Chotri were interrogated at length, and taken to jail. Both men were released the following day, with no charges filed against them.

“Mr. Singh’s turban was removed in violation of his religious rights and not returned to him until the next evening after he was released from detention,” wrote the organizations, in a letter sent to Potter County, Texas Sheriff Brian Thomas and Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley.

“Mug shots of him without his turban were taken and widely distributed to the local media, causing him shame and grief. For a Sikh, the forced removal of a turban is akin to a strip search,” wrote the organizations. “To add insult to injury, Mr. Singh was even accused by a deputy of pretending to not know how to speak English, when in fact he is from India and recently applied for asylum in the United States.”

“Mr. Singh believes that he and Mr. Chotri were profiled because of their skin color and language abilities, and in the case of Mr. Singh, also because of his turban,” said the Sikh Coalition.

“The undersigned groups believe strongly that no one should be subject to discriminatory treatment and policing on the basis of their religion, ethnicity, or English language skills. This humiliating and offensive encounter could have been avoided if the officers were properly trained in diversity and nondiscrimination; had summoned an interpreter to the scene immediately so that the two Punjabi speakers could explain themselves; or more thoroughly investigated the basis for the terrorism allegation, including rigorously questioning the passenger who filed the false police report,” wrote the organizations in their letter to Thomas and Brumley, adding: “All of us have the right to live in America free from profiling and law enforcement abuse.”

The organizations asked to review the anti-profiling policies of the Sheriff’s Department, and requested that the county require each officer to undergo diversity training. The group also asked the county to provide translation services, and to investigate future incidents of discriminatory behavior.

“I still cannot believe that this happened to me in America,” Daljeet Singh told local press after the incident. “The only crime I committed was wearing a turban, having a beard, and speaking in a different language to another brown man on the bus.”

“What happened to these two men is unconscionable. We intend to work closely with local authorities on their training procedures and response protocols to ensure that history isn’t repeated,” said Sikh Coalition policy director Arjun Singh.

“The steady stream of xenophobic rhetoric from politicians in Texas has contributed to a climate in which innocent people are targeted for discrimination, racial profiling and police overreach,” said Rebecca L. Robertson, legal and policy director at the ACLU of Texas.

“In a state as diverse as our own, it’s unacceptable that anyone could be arrested, searched, interrogated and forced to spend the night in jail for speaking Punjabi on a Greyhound bus. And, in a state as deeply religious as Texas, we should demand that police respect all faith traditions,” she said.

Davinder Singh, 47, a Sikh gas station owner was shot to death in Newark, New Jersey, by an unidentified assailant on May 30. The fact that there was no apparent sign of robbery or confrontation, family suspects the killing to be of hate crime.

The incident was being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, news reports said. But at press time the motive of the crime was not established, not the identity of the attacker.

ABC New York reported that Singh, 47, was shot at the Power Gas Station on West Market Street sometime before 4:25 p.m. May 30. Police said Singh of Iselin, was found unresponsive at the gas station and taken to a University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 4:45 p.m.

The report quoted Singh’s son Jatinder Singh as saying that he thought his father, who had moved to the United States from India 25 years ago, may have been targeted because he was Sikh and wore a turban. “There was no robbery, no struggle, no confrontation,” he said. “I don’t know what else it could be other than a hate crime,” he was quoted as saying.

He said that his father had been robbed before but had always fought back. “My dad came out to get some fresh air and the male came up to my dad, pointed a gun and shot him point-blank,” he said.

Detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force were quoted by ABC saying that an investigation was on but not confirming if the case was being investigated as a hate crime.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York has declared that the Union Carbide Corporation was not responsible for cleaning up the mess created by the 1984 Bhopal tragedy in India, which had killed approximately 10,000 people and injured about 600,000.

Thirty years after methyl isocyanate leaked out of the Bhopal plant, aquifers as far as 3.5 kilometers away are still contaminated with toxic wastes. Owners and occupants of land near the Bhopal plant are suing UCC – which was bought by Dow Chemical in 2001 – for causing injuries resulting from hazardous contaminants attributed to the plant’s inadequate waste management system. Residents living near the now-shuttered site have suffered from a variety of illnesses from drinking contaminated water, and a huge number of babies have been born with birth defects. EarthRights and the plaintiffs want UCC to clean up the toxic wastes from the site; UCC has said it is not responsible.

The plaintiffs – through EarthRights International, a non-profit organization representing thousands of Bhopal victims – have stated that UCC provided the design of waste contamination pits necessary to store hydrochloric acid, a by-product of the methyl isocyanate manufacturing process. Hydrochloric acid is the primary source of groundwater contamination emanating from the Bhopal factory.

Judge Robert Katzmann on May 24 upheld a 2014 ruling by New York District Court Judge John Keenan, which found that the Union Carbide Corporation – UCC – had turned over the day-to-day responsibilities of managing the pesticides plant to Union Carbide India Limited – UCIL — which owned and operated the facility. UCC, however, owned 51 percent of UCIL’s stock.

Keenan has ruled in favor of UCC on three previous occasions. In 2014, Keenan ruled that UCC had supplied a design to UCIL which would use non-porous clay to line the waste contamination pits. UCIL instead used a cheaper, thin polyurethane.

In his decision on the case – known as Sahu vs. Union Carbide Corp, named for the chief plaintiff Jagarnath Sahu – Katzmann quoted from Keenan’s 2012 ruling, which noted: “Even after undertaking “a discovery expedition worthy of Vasco de Gama, it is clear from the undisputed facts that UCIL, and not UCC, designed and built the actual waste disposal system.”

Katzmann also found that testimony from two witnesses – Jurgen Exner and Ian von Lindern – was not substantive enough to support EarthRight’s contention of UCC’s involvement in designing and making the waste contamination pits.

Critically, Katzmann also upheld that Lucas John Couvaras, a plant manager at the Bhopal site at the time of the gas leak, could not be deposed. In a statement introduced in court, Couvaras claimed that he worked for UCC.

UCC however, claimed that Couvaras was a contractor employed by UCIL. Couvaras’s deposition is key to the case, as his testimony stating that he was an employee of the Union Carbide Corporation would be sufficient to establish UCC’s responsibility for the industrial disaster.

A former school teacher and colleagues of Indian American Mainak Sarkar have expressed shock and sadness over news of the researcher fatally shooting his wife and a University of California-Los Angeles professor before turning the gun on himself.

Sarkar, 38, fatally shot engineering professor William Klug, 39, in his office at UCLA on June 1. Klug had refused to give him a passing grade. Before killing Klug, he killed his wife, Ashley Hasti, who was found dead in Brooklyn Park, in Minnesota.

Sarkar passed his ICSE exam from St. Michael’s School in Durgapur town of West Bengal’s Burdwan district, before passing Class 11 and 12 from another school. Lily Chowdhury, a biology teacher at St. Michael’s, described the news of the shootout as “very shocking.”

“He was a very brilliant student, meritorious student, I should say. He was one of the toppers of the class. He was the pride of our school,” said Chowdhury. She remembers Sarkar as “very well behaved.”

Some Indian researchers in the U.S. said they were “discomfited” that Sarkar, who was an IIT Kharagpur graduate, could commit such a heinous crime. Researcher Sohini Ray, who was in “lockdown” for around two hours along with her lab mates in a UCLA building, said taking someone’s life was not justifiable.

“It’s a very sad affair. We do not know what transpired internally but taking someone’s life is not justifiable and whether the person had tried to solve the problem through another method before taking the drastic step is not clear. Not just as a Bengali but as an Indian, I feel sad,” Ray told a local TV channel.

Sarkar had written the names of Klug and his wife in a note, titled “Kill List,” that police found while searching his residence. The third person Sarkar intended to kill was another professor at UCLA. However, the faculty member was off-campus June 1.

IIT-Kharagpur director Partha Pratim Chakrabarti June 2 expressed grief at the “senseless loss of life.” “We are extremely sad at this senseless loss of life and our hearts go out to the families who lost their loved ones,” Chakrabarti said when asked about the development. Shubham Goel, an economics major at University of California, Los Angeles, was in class with fellow students when all hell appeared to break loose June 1.

Indian Institute of Technology graduate and former UCLA doctoral student, Sarkar, 38, shot to death his professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, William Klug, 39, in a small room in Engineering Building 4 on South Campus. His killing spree however, had begun earlier, in Minnesota, where the body of a medical student he married in 2011 was found.

“What actually happened on our campus was very different from what we were led to believe (through the alerts and rumors),” Goel recalls. But the terror was etched in their memories and even into the day after the horrific incident, students were afraid to go back to campus, he said.

Gupta indicated that the competitive academic environment at UCLA could be difficult, and recalled his own experience. “A few years ago, some student thought I had taken his work. I hadn’t but he made a big deal about it. UCLA is a pressure cooker in that sense,” Gupta said.

“There’s been no racializing of the incident,” said Gupta. The main conversation among students is focused around issues of mental health, and the academic pressure to excel, he said rather than the shooter’s ethnicity. “There is also a lot of discussion going on about gun policies,” he added. Chief of LAPD Charlie Beck told reporters Sarkar had two semi-automatic weapons legally purchased.

Details given by the police and media reports about Sarkar’s background, as well as his Web entries, reveal that after IIT he did his Masters at Stanford University and got his doctorate from UCLA in 2013. A professor at IIT-Kharagpur’s aerospace department said he recalled that Sarkar, “a brilliant student,” was from Kolkata, according to The Hindustan Times. “He remained busy with studies and did not talk or socialize much.” The newspaper also reported that he had worked for Infosys in Bangalore before coming to the U.S.

Phani Guthula, an Indian American engineer, who had sued after he fell nearly 40 feet through a glass ceiling at Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, has settled for $7.25 million. According to his attorneys, earlier this month with the defendants, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the security company, AlliedBarton Security Services.

Guthula says a guard at the Rodin Museum in 2012 told him he could step on the glass to inspect lighting fixtures before he fell. His attorneys say he was hospitalized for over a month with injuries including femur, hip, pelvic and rib fractures. “It was the most terrifying moment of his life,” Guthula’s attorney Larry Bendesky told the media. “It’s a more terrifying moment than most of us would ever be able to come to grips with.”

As per the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Rodin Museum had completed a $9 million renovation. Guthula, then 27 and working as an engineer for ICF International, was conducting an energy audit of the building, which had applied for an energy rebate with Peco.

While conducting the audit, an AlliedBarton security guard gave Guthula access to the museum’s attic area, the lawsuit said. Guthula was required to inspect light fixtures located above a glass-paneled surface, and the guard told him he could step onto the glass. He soon plummeted to the museum floor.

Guthula’s lawsuit had accused the museum and its security company of not protecting him. In a court filing, AlliedBarton said its security guard had never been properly warned about the safety risks by the museum.

Guthula’s attorneys said he was hospitalized for over a month with injuries including femur, hip, pelvic and rib fractures. Guthula has partially recovered, but walks slowly, and suffers from a lack of energy and an inability to concentrate at times.

Guthula’s attorneys say the settlement brought some sense of closure to their client, but the effects of his injuries will likely linger the rest of his life. “He’s doing the very best he can do. He is living every day fighting through it, putting his best foot forward, and working towards living a normal life,” said Bendesky.

Queens, NY: Jackson Heights in the Queens Borough in New York has come to be recognized as the hub of multi-culturalism. But for Indian Americans, it’s their prime center, where one will find dozens of Indian businesses flourish with the active support of the influential Indian American community.

Recognizing the presence of these diverse groups, representing peoples from around the world, showcasing different cultures, a stretch of road in New York’s Jackson Heights, was officially co-named “Diversity Plaza.”

“Diversity Plaza has truly become a neighborhood gathering point for Jackson Heights and Elmhurst residents,” said New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst). The plaza serves as a town square, concert stage, festival space and cafe year round. There is always something exciting taking place there,” Dromm said at the co-naming ceremony.

Others who were present at the event included U.S. Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), N.Y.C. Public Advocate Letitia James (D-NYC), Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (D-Queens), N.Y. State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Queens), the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), the Friends of Diversity Plaza, SUKHI New York, and the Neighborhood Plaza Partnership, among others.

“We are very excited about the co-naming ceremony and the designation of our special public space as, officially, Diversity Plaza,” said Shekar Krishnan, Chair of Friends of Diversity Plaza. “As the gateway to Jackson Heights, it is a reflection of the incredible cultural vibrancy and diversity of our neighborhood,” he said.

“I’m proud to see my vision of Diversity Plaza as the capital of the living United Nations in New York City became real,” said Agha Saleh, founder of SUKHI, a nonprofit for South Asian community in New York. “SUKHI’s inclusive team of diversity lead by two women, Shazia Kausar and Fatima Baryab, and their dedicated work with Council Member Dromm at 37th Road during the past four years made this plaza famous around the world,” Saleh said.

In a statement Mayor Bill de Blasio noted that Diversity Plaza has been a mainstay of Jackson Heights – ‎one of the most diverse neighborhoods in one of the most diverse cities on earth – for years. “We are proud to stand with Council Member Dromm and the people of Queens to formally recognize the importance of this plaza for the folks here — who speak over 150 languages,” the mayor said.

The name “Diversity Plaza” was coined by Dromm’s former chief of staff Will Sweeney who lives in Jackson Heights. The co-naming ceremony coincided with World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, designated by the United Nations in 2002. A special performance by Calpulli Mexican Dance Company followed Dromm’s remarks and the unveiling of the official “Diversity Plaza” street sign.

NEW YORK CITY, NY: With an aim to strengthen ties with the local Indian community in Connecticut, a high level delegation led by Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das would be visiting Hartford, Connecticut (CT) on June 3rd, 2016 for an Outreach Program.

The delegation will comprise of representatives from nationalized Indian banks, Air India, India Tourism Office, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), United States India Business Council (USIBC), Make my Trip and Cox and Kings Global Services (CKGS).

During the visit, the delegation would be meeting the Honorable Governor of Connecticut Dannel Malloy, the Honorable Mayor of Hartford, Luke Bronin, local chambers of commerce, business communities and the Indian-American communities.

The delegation will address the Indian Community at a reception in the evening, starting at 7pm, at the Comfort Inn & Suites. The Consulate and the accompanying delegation members from the chambers of commerce, banks and tourism office will address any queries related to steps taken to improve consular services, passport, visa and banking services, business environment and economic reforms. This platform will provide a great opportunity for the community to interact with the Consulate and its partner stakeholders.

New Jersey: Thiruvalluvar Tamil School in Edison celebrated its 6th Annual Day with much fanfare on May 15. Dr. Palanisamy Sundaram, a renowned pediatrician and the founder of New Jersey Tamil Sangam (NJTS), a longtime promoter of Tamil language and supporter of New Jersey Tamil community, presided over the function. Current office bearers of New Jersey Tamil Sangam, Mrs. Usha Krishnakumar, President and Kalyan Muthusamy, Vice President, in their speech, heartily applauded the eagerness of students in learning the Tamil language and encouraged them.

Founded in 2010, Thiruvalluvar Tamil School, a nonprofit organization, has continually provided Tamil education to hundreds of Tamil families that live in New Jersey and has been a champion and bulwark of Tamil culture and traditions. While the school began with 12 volunteers and 65 students, its strength has grown over 500%, and today, more than 325 students are taught to speak, read, and write Tamil language with the help of 60 teachers. The students are grouped at various grade levels based on their age and caliber.

The annual day festivities at Thiruvalluvar school is an occasion for celebrating the Tamil language, promoting the arts, the culture and the heritage of the Tamil people, and showcasing the various talents of the Tamil school students.

On Sunday at 2 PM, the annual day celebrations began with a moving rendition of Tamizhthai vazhtthu (Praise of Mother Tamil) by select students in the J.P. Stevens high school auditorium, Edison. Volunteer teacher, Mrs. Sathya Paul welcomed the guests and spoke about the achievements of the school.Senthilnathan Muthusamy, Treasurer introduced the chief guest, Dr. Palanisamy Sundaram. Commending his long service to Tamil language and Tamil people living in New Jersey, Mrs. Shanthi Thangaraj, Principal, awarded a plaque to the chief guest while Lakshmikanthan Sundararajan, Vice Principal, honored him on stage with a ponnaadai (meaning, gold cloth).

Volunteer teachers, Sridhar Kumaravelu, Mrs. Srilakshmi Premkumar, Karuppaiah Ganesan and Mrs. Senthilnayaki Selvakumar compèred the event. Over 300 students, between the ages of 3 and 15, performed in various programs on stage while more than 500 people in the auditorium, clapped, whistled and whooped in joy cheering them up.

East Hanover, New Jersey – GOPIO International has elected to reach out Indian Diaspora Community through its chapters. New Jersey has a large Indian Diaspora Community and there is only one chapter, GOPIO Central Jersey based in Edison serving the New Jersey Indian community.

According to GOPIO Vice President Ram Gadhavi, GOPIO has plans to expand in other areas of New Jersey. With that objective, GOPIO officially launched inaugurated a second chapter GOPIO-North Jersey on Sunday, May 22nd at the Fairbridge Hotel, East Hanover, New Jersey. Chapter President Dhiraj Solanki welcomed guests and said that the chapter will reach out Indian Diaspora (NRI/PIO) community and involve youth and young professionals in the chapter activities.

The chapter was inaugurated in the presence of many dignitaries and community leaders Th3e chief guest was India’s Deputy Consul General in New York Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapara who welcomed the formation of new chapter and promised to work closely with the new chapter on issues of Indian community in North Jersey.

“The consulate has improved the response and turnaround time for visa, passport and OCI cards services, because of feedback from GOPIO Chapters and GOPIO International,” said Dr. Mohapatra. “When GOPIO brings any matter to us, we look at it and work on it right away,” said Dr. Mohapatra. “With a population 1.8 million NRIs/PIOs in the Northeast Region, the consulate can provide better service only with the help of organizait6ons such as GOPIO,” Dr. Mohapatra added.

New Jersey Assemblyman from district 33 Raj Mukherji praised GOPIO for the services provided to 380k Indian Diaspora community residing in New Jersey. Mukherji called upon the community to be pro-active in the political process. Former Deputy Speaker of New Jersey State Assembly Upendra Chivukula who is currently the Commissioner on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities said that when GOPIO recognizes a person, Govt. of India notices it and the recipients are likely candidates for receiving Pravasi Bharatiya Samman. Chivukula congratulated the organizers for opening a chapter in North Jersey.

GOPIO-Founder President Dr. Thomas Abraham said that unlike other India association, GOPIO chapters will be involved in civic affairs and service to the local communities. GOPIO motto is “Think Globally and Act Locally.”

Community leader and TV Asia Chairman H.R. Shah, GOPIO Vice President Ram Gadhavi and GOPIO International Coordinator for North America Dr. Rajeev Mehta and GOPIO Coordinator for Tri-State New York area Lal Motwani were also present at the inauguration ceremony. GOPIO Silicon Valley President Ashok Bhatt, GOPIO-Central Jersey President Dinesh Mittal and GOPIO-CT President Shelly Nichani showed their support by attending the inauguration ceremony. GOPIO-North Jersey Vice President Rajul Shah served as the MC while the chapter Secretary Ahi Adukia gave the vote of thanks. For more information on GOPIO-North Jersey Chapter, contact its president Dhiraj Solanki at  973-714-5249, dnsolanki@hotmail.com or Vice President Rajul shah at 908-327-0605, rajulpshah@aol.com.

Attached Photo: GOPIO-North Jersey Chapter is inaugurated in the presence of dignitaries and GOPIO officials with lighting of the lamp. From l. to. r.: Dinesh Mittal, Lal Motwani, Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, H.R. Shah, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Raj Mukherji, Dr. Rajeev Mehta, Dr. Thomas Abraham and Shelly Nichani

With record numbers of people requiring life-saving assistance and funding drastically short of meeting those needs, leaders today concluded the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul endorsing five responsibilities to improve aid delivery, support refugees, uphold international law, increase financing and prevent the crises generating the largest migration flows in 70 years.

The two-day Summit brought together 55 Heads of State and Government and other officials from 173 countries in Istanbul, Turkey from May 23-24, 2016. Hundreds of representatives from the private sector and thousands from civil society also attended, marking a diverse range of actors discussing new ways to alleviate suffering, including by addressing the social, economic and other inequities that could ignite simmering tensions into violent conflict.

“This unique Summit has set us on a new course,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in closing remarks. “It is not an end point, but a turning point”. Governments, people affected by crisis, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the United Nations had come together to support the Agenda for Humanity and its five core responsibilities. “Implementing this Agenda is a necessity if we are to enable people to live in dignity and prosperity,” he declared.

Indeed, he said, humanitarian and development partners had agreed on a new way of working to reduce the need for humanitarian action, while aid agencies and donor Governments had committed to a “Grand Bargain” that placed resources in the hands of those who needed them. Governments had committed to do more to prevent conflict, uphold international law and live up to the promise of the United Nations Charter.

Ban said he would report to the General Assembly in September on the Summit’s achievements and propose ways to advance the commitments. To be sure, the people enduring conflict today and those working to alleviate their suffering were the true humanitarian heroes. “The World Humanitarian Summit must deliver for you,” he said.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey, said that, given the commitments participants had made during the two days, strong action, rather than empty words, must now follow. Indeed, no country could remain indifferent to the stark differences among countries, where one could be wealthy while millions of people lived in poverty in a neighbouring State. “We must share our moral, political and financial obligations and act swiftly,” he said. “Any day that we wait causes the deaths of hundreds and the suffering of thousands.” With that in mind, he expressed hope that the Summit would open the door to a more peaceful world.

In addition, the Summit featured seven high-level leaders’ round table discussions in which Heads of State and Government and representatives of civil society, the private sector, philanthropy and the United Nations announced commitments to improve humanitarian responses. In three of those round tables held today, discussions focused around broad themes titled: “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity”, “Natural Disaster and Climate Change — Managing Risks and Crises Differently” and “Women and Girls — Catalysing Action to Achieve Gender Equity”.

Throughout, participants decried that civilians were being indiscriminately killed in armed conflict, that the Geneva Conventions were being routinely ignored, that women and girls continued to suffer sexual abuse in emergency settings and that some 218 million people every year were impacted by natural hazards. Indeed, participants said, the Secretary-General’s core commitments were a collective promise to never overstep the limits of humanity.

Fifteen special sessions were held, in which participants outlined individual pledges to help those affected by disasters and conflict. Seven of the special sessions were held today, covering themes of humanitarian principles, protection of journalists, humanitarian intervention, young people, business, risk analysis and efforts to place people at the centre of humanitarian action. Speakers announced commitments to better engage a range of stakeholders in the search for pragmatic solutions to complex dilemmas. The eight special sessions held on Monday, 23 May, covered religious engagement, migrants, persons with disabilities, education, Islamic social finance, global health, regional action, and a global alliance for urban crises.

The plenary sessions, which was held alongside the other events, closed with an interactive panel moderated by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and featuring discussion with Maria Verónica Bastias, Regional Coordinator for the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Reduction; Butch Meily, President of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation; Françoise Sivignon, President of Médecins du Monde; and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Foreign Minister of Turkey. The Summit’s closing ceremony featured performances by the Kenya State House Girls Performance Group, Syrian Boys Choir and the Adiyaman Temporary Housing Facility Performance Group, as well as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, United Nations Millennium Development Goals Envoy for Africa.

Two top American immigration-related advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking transparency into the lottery process of H-1B work visas, the most sought after for IT professionals, particularly those from India.

The lawsuit has been filed by the American Immigration Council and American Immigration Lawyers Association against the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services seeking information about the government’s administration of the H-1B lottery.

The two advocacy group alleged that USCIS has never been forthcoming in describing the selection process, a statement said. “When petitions are submitted to USCIS in April, it’s as if they disappear into a ‘black box’,” said Melissa Crow, legal director of the American Immigration Council.

“This suit is intended to pry open that box and let the American public and those most directly affected see how the lottery system works from start to finish, and to learn whether the system is operating fairly and all the numbers are being used as the law provides,” Crow said.

“Despite the Obama Administration’s public commitment to the values of transparency and accountability, frankly, our attempts to see into this process have been resisted,” said AILA executive director Benjamin Johnson.

“Instead of responding to our requests for information about how the lottery is conducted, how cap-subject petitions are processed and how the numbers are estimated and tracked, USCIS has kept the process entirely opaque,” he alleged.

“This litigation is intended to shine a necessary light on an important process in America’s business immigration system,” Johnson said.

German government has honored missioner Sister Hermanelde Pulm for her five-decade-long work for the poor in India with the prestigious ‘Bundesverdienstkreuz’, Germany’s Cross of the Order of Merit.

Michael Siebert, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mumbai, on behalf of German Federal President Joachim Gauck, conferred the award to Sister Pulm in a ceremony held in Mumbai on May 23.

Sister Pulm, 79, is a a member of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit in Mumbai. She has been working in India since 1963 through her engagement at the Holy Spirit Hospital in Andheri, Mumbai.

The hospital caters for the medical needs of Indians of all religions, especially the poorer sections of society. With this honour, Germany acknowledges her decades-long, outstanding efforts in serving Indians in need.

Siebert said the nun has “spread a very positive image of Germany in India amongst so many, but without ever stepping into the limelight. You have helped, physically and spiritually, so many babies, children, mothers, fathers, uncles and aunties in the pediatric ward.”

He lauded the nun’s efforts to build “what was then called the ‘jungle hospital’ by many in Andheri” and said her “part is huge in making it into today’s Holy Spirit Hospital.”

The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was instituted in 1951. It is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the Nation.

The Order of Merit may be awarded to Germans as well as foreigners for achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm and for all kinds of outstanding services to the nation in the field of social, charitable or philanthropic work.

Chicago IL: Dada J.P. Vaswani, or “Dada” as he is lovingly known, belies his age of 97, in his address to the devotees in Chicago last week, spoke of forgiveness. “The only way to forgive completely is to forget. You cannot forgive if you continue to hold the feelings of the past. The past is over, Dada said. Move on with only love in your heart. Your mind will be at peace,” he said.

His message is of love, forgiveness and bringing God back into our daily lives. He talked of respecting all forms of life, be they of animals, insects or of plants. The 21st century, Dada said, should be the century for protecting Animal Rights. Killing animals for food is inhumane. “Let us not make our stomachs graveyards for animals,” he said.

Dada emphasized the need for having humor in our daily lives. “People have forgotten to smile and laugh,” he said, and added, “You are not fully dressed till you wear a smile on your face.” Dada told us to stop complaining and start thanking. Be thankful to God. More good things are happening than bad things in our lives. Focus on the good things.

Dada underscored the need to bringing God back into our daily life. “Everything you do, do it as if you are doing it for God. Remember God as many times a day as possible and in all that you do. Make God your partner in your daily life, be it your business or your personal life. Loneliness can be overcome if you believe that you are not alone, that God is always with you every moment of the day,” he said.

Pujya Dada was brought to the banquet hall by his personal cardiologist, Dr. Ramesh Chhablani from the home of Dada’s host family, Dr. Gopal and Neetu Lalmalani. It was an evening of enlightenment with a spellbound audience and a spiritual Master at the beautiful banquet hall of the Oakbrook Marriott, Chicago, IL. The evening began with devotional music by two renowned singers of Chicago: Pramila Bhatia, a well known disciple of the famous Purshotamdas Jalota, a singer at the Chinmaya Mission Center of Chicago; and Anil Sharma, a talented professional singer whom the Chicago community has had the privilege of hearing for many years. The bhajan singing primed the audience to a religious mood and focus on the arrival of the highlight of the evening, Dada J.P. Vaswani.

Dada is the head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission based in Pune, India. The Mission has centers all over the world. The goals of the mission are to serve the needy and less fortunate people. It has Cardiac and Eye hospitals where free surgeries are done for the poor. Dada has written over 150 books with very leading titles, some of which are available on Amazon. The details and activities of the Sadhu Vaswani Center of Chicago, under the leadership of Prakash Jotwani, can be seen on its website www.svc-chicago.org.

Chicago IL: In the presence of over 1,000 devotees, dozens of prominent community leaders, generous sponsors, committee members, super donors and volunteers, Umiya Mataji Sanstha Chicago Midwest (UMSCM) celebrated a historic event, honoring and celebrating arrival of Umiya Mataji Jyoti Rath (Chariot) arriving from Macon, Georgia to Chicago, at Itasca Temple, 21W Irving Park Rd, Itasca, Illinois on May 1. The striking Rath representing the temple on the wheel, made this momentous voyage from the Umiya Mataji Temple, a kuladevi of Kadva Patidar Patel.

The event progressed with the exhibit of Jyoti Rath in front of Itasca Temple. Shree Ganesh Stuti was performed followed by Grand Parade (Shobhayatra) of the Rath in perimeter of the Temple. All the devotees followed the Rath with a great gusto by dancing and singing devotional songs.

After this Shubh Yatra, indoor gathering started with welcome speech by M.C. Devendra Patel with Deep ceremony performed by Lalbhai Babu ‘Marsha’, Sitarambhai, Bhailalbhai, Kantibhai (KS), Kantibhai (Kapoor), Mafatbhai (Patel Bros.)  and others. Khodabhai (Ken) Patel introduced first Home ‘Padhramni’ host Shree Lalbhai Patel.  Dr. Paresh Patel encouraged everyone to join in this project.

KK and Andy Patel successfully managed a fundraising auction program. Members showed their devotedness towards Shree Umiya Mataji by opening their pockets and making financial pledges. Event was followed by Garba and Lunch. At the conclusion, The Rath was taken to the house of the Hiraben & Lalbhai Patel, host of the 1 1st Padharamni’. At their house located at 5225 W Fargo Ave, Skokie, IL. As a result of overwhelming devotion, as of May 14 Rath has already performed ‘Padharamni’ in 41 different homes of the devotees in Chicagoland.

Umiya Mataji Sanstha Chicago or UMSCM is a not for Profit, 501 3 (c), organization was establish in 2016. With a objective to build a first ever Temple of Mataji along with great Community center. The main purpose of the association is to provide a platform for Cultural, Educational, Social, Religious and spiritual needs of Kadva Patidar Samaj. Anyone interested in Jyoti Rath Padhramni at their home or place of business may contact Raju Bhai at 773-716-8459 or Piyush 630-290-9891.

Chicago, IL: Indian Community Outreach and The City of Naperville will be hosting the second grand India Day Parade and Celebration on August 14, 2016 (Sunday) to mark the 70th anniversary of India’s independence. Several thousand people from Chicago and the suburbs are expected to attend the parade and event to be held in downtown Naperville.

The India Day Parade will serve as a showcase of India’s rich and diverse culture, with more than 100 floats organized by Indian cultural, local business and political organizations. Spectators will be treated to a rich variety of Indian cuisine, ethnic arts, apparel, and jewelry. This event has the distinction of being the 2nd India Day Parade backed by any city in Midwest America.

The event is being organized by the Indian Community Outreach Organization (ICO) in association with the City of Naperville. The ICO is a non-partisan and a not for profit organization whose mission is to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and contributions of Indian Americans while promoting their integration in the growth of Naperville. Its chairman Krishna Bansal has been appointed by, and reports to the Mayor of Naperville.

Bansal said he and his team are excited to have the ICO organize this pioneering event. “Indian Americans are now a significant part of Naperville’s population in both numbers and impact,” he said. The community, which saw a dramatic growth since the nineties, now comprises over 10 percent of the suburb’s total population. Moreover, with the recent influx of information technology workers and other professionals from India, over 70 percent are first generation immigrants.

Viral Shah, board member and treasurer of ICO described several South Asian community leaders, restaurants, businesses and cultural organizations have come forward to support the event. While Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico and Consul General of India in Chicago, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, will be chief guests, Sunidhi Chauhan, Indian’s sensational singer will be the Parade Marshal.

Chirag Jani, board member of ICO and lead of event logistics explained that parade will begin in Downtown Naperville at 5:00 PM and end at Knoch Park, 724 S West St, Naperville, IL 60540 where the celebration will kick off. The final route details are being worked out with the City of Naperville. While providing outline of the event, he emphasized this to be an excellent opportunity for local businesses and groups to partner, participate and gain visibility.

The parade may be seen as a symbol of the rapid growth of the Indian American community in the Chicago suburbs. Among the other dignitaries attending are the state and local elected representatives and prominent leaders of the Naperville community.

The hip and happening Bollywood singing sensation, Sunidhi Chauhan, with several big hit under her belt, will present a number of soulful melodies on August 14, 2016, at 5.00 PM, and capture the hearts of music lovers of Chicago. She will be supported by a state-of-the art orchestra. It is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her fans considering the fact that the entry to the concert will be FREE. Additional information about the parade and celebration including applications to participate in the parade and celebrations as well as sponsorship is available on our web site www.napervilleindian.com. We encourage everyone to visit and review our website.

Harendra Singh’s lenders have demanded that the town pay more than $14.6 million after Singh defaulted on loans guaranteed by the town of Oyster Bay, according to media reports. The town of Oyster Bay on Long Island, NY has been facing a lot of heat after the Harendra Singh’s indictment last year and the troubles only seems to be growing as Oyster Bay’s credit rating has dropped to junk status after a decade of deficits, weak fiscal management and growing debt.

The Recovery – In three separate letters dated Feb. 26, representatives with the lending company wrote, “Phoenix Life hereby demands payment from the Town of Oyster Bay.” In one of the letters, the attorney and the chief investment forofficer subsidiaries of Connecticut-based The Phoenix Companies demanded payment of $9.1 million for money loaned to SRB Concession Inc., which runs Tobay Beach, and $5.4 million for money loaned to S.R.B. Convention & Catering Corp. which runs the Woodlands catering hall at the town golf course. In 2014, the town board extended the concessions agreements with the Singh companies to 2065 and 2070. Singh sold his shares in the companies to outside investors, but his wife Ruby retains controlling ownership.

Singh on Sept. 9 was charged in federal court with 13 felony counts including bribing an Oyster Bay official to obtain $20 million in loan guarantees. He has pleaded not guilty. A spokesperson for the town says it is not responsible for repaying the loans and has questioned the legality of the guarantees, but legal experts disagree.

A town spokesperson told News 12 that Oyster Bay officials are currently in settlement negotiations with the lender and new investors. The goal is to avoid a lawsuit and “amicably resolve all issues.” Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto said Wednesday, May 18, that “a lot has occurred” since the letters were sent and referred questions to the town’s outside legal counsel, Jonathan Pickhardt, at Manhattan-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. “Phoenix was in discussion before and after the date of these notices with the investors at the SRB entities,” Pickhardt said. “There certainly have been no legal claims that have been filed, seeking to have any court involvement in this. It continues to be the town’s position that these amendments were not properly authorized, they’re not enforceable,” he said.

The GOPIO-Upper New York Chapter held its eight Annual Dinner and Dance celebrating the arrival of Indian Indentured Laborers to Guyana on April 30, 2016. This well organized event that drew a capacity audience was held at the Starlite Pavillion, Richmond Hill, Queens, New York. The program was coordinated and emceed by Jhairam Persaud, President of the GOPIO-Upper New York Chapter, who was ably assisted by members of the Chapter’s executives.

After introductions and welcome by GOPIO Upper New York President Jhairam Persaud, GOPIO Tri-state Coordinator Lal Motwani delivered greetings on behalf of GOPIO International. In attendance were also Representatives from the Queens Borough President’s Office and the Office of the District’s Congressman, the Honorable Gregory Meeks. Four members of the Chapter received Congressional Certificates of Appreciation at this event. Those members were Netram Rambudhan, Miss Patsy Leopold, Gurdatt Jagnanan, and Premenauth Singh.

The featured speaker for the evening was Author, Novelist and Professor of English and Asian Studies, Marina Budhos, who was introduced by Dr. Jaigobin Shivcharran.  Her speech on “Immigration -Then and Now” was a compelling presentation and resonated very well with the audience. Her use of slides engaged the audience and kept everyone focused throughout her presentation.

The GOPIO UNY Community Service Award this year went to Cultural and Artistic Director of the Rajkumari Cultural Center, Pritha Singh, who was introduced by Premenauth Singh and the award was presented by GOPIO UNY President, Jhairam Persaud. Gurdatt Jagnanan concluded the event with appreciation and thanks to presenters and attendees.

Picture Caption: From left  to right: Mahendra Sawh, Dev Chedda, Dr. Jaigobin Shivcharran, Savi Narain, Ann Lutchmidat, Patsy Leopold, Gurdatt Jagnanan, Pritha Singh, Tony  Roopnarain,  Premnauth Singh, Jhairam Persaud, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Keynote speaker Marina Budhos,  Lal Motwani and Netram Rambudhan

Dr. Narendra K. Nagareddy, a 57-year-old psychiatrist from Atlanta, GA has been indicted on three counts of murder. As per reports, the drugs prescribed by Nagareddy had killed Cheryl Pennington, 47, and a 49-year-old father named David Robinson. Audrey Austin had died, less than a week after the 29-year-old mother of two left the rehab.

The substances – powerful, addictive pain medications – were allegedly prescribed by Narendra K. Nagareddy, reportedly known for his willingness to prescribe pills to nearly anyone who wanted them. Last week, the doctor was arrested for their deaths.

A Clay County grand jury indicted Nagareddy, known in the media widely as “Dr. Death,” on three counts of murder, and 59 additional counts of unauthorized distribution of pain prescriptions, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Nagareddy has denied the allegations from the outset, according to news reports. Nagareddy is accused in court documents of giving refillable painkiller prescriptions, taboo in the medical community because patients can fill the prescriptions prematurely.

“Unequivocally, we will be ready to defend this matter,” Steve Frey, Nagareddy’s attorney, told the Journal-Constitution after the indictment. “He is innocent of all of these charges.” It’s the latest development in a years-long investigation into Nagareddy’s medical practice.

A probation officer was among the first to flag Nagareddy after she noticed that three people in her caseload who had died were patients of the doctor, according to an AJC investigation. She reported the pattern to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which worked with local law enforcement to build a case that led to Nagareddy’s initial arrest in January.

He was charged with violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act by allegedly prescribing medications that had no legitimate purpose. Nagareddy was later released on a $100,000 bond, the Journal-Constitution reported. One month after his January arrest, the Georgia Composite Medical Board voted to suspend Nagareddy’s license.

New York: The Consulate of India in association with the Tagore Society of New York organized an event at the Consulate to celebrate the 155th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on May 7. The event was attended by a large number of enthusiastic crowds owed by the life and times of one of the greatest sons of India.

The evening began with the singing of Indian national anthem composed by the great Rabindranath Tagore followed by presentation of other Tagore songs by members of Tagore Society of New York. Consul General Ambassador (Mrs.) Riva Ganguly Das during her address recollected some of her personal involvements surrounding Tagore during her postings as a diplomat in various countries and noted how Tagore’s ideology was recognized and the affection people have for him around the world. The program featured ‘Glimpses of Rabindra Sangeet’, a presentation by members of Tagore Society.

The program efficiently compered by Renee Lobo, community activist and TV journalist and New York City Commission on Human Rights had variety of singers devoted to Rabindranath Tagore and ended with a dinner.

Washington, DC: Sachin Dev Pavithran, an Indian-American has been reappointed by US President Barack Obama as a Member of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, a key independent government agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities.

Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally-funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. “These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and talent to their new roles and I am proud to have them serve in this Administration. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come,” Obama said in a statement yesterday.

Pavithran was first appointed to Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board in 2012 and has served as Chair since 2015. He is Programme Director of Utah Assistive Technology Programme at Utah State University’s Centre for Persons with Disabilities, a position he has held since 2011.

He has served in a variety roles at the Centre since 2002, including Programme Coordinator and Disability Policy Analyst. He has more than 15 years of experience as a consultant in developing, testing, and training users of assistive technology and accessible websites.

He serves on the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs National Board, the Research and Development Committee of the National Federation of the Blind, and the National Multicultural Council of the Association of University Centres for Disabilities.

In 2016, Mr Pavithran was selected as one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers for his accomplishments in using technology to improve government operations.

The couple Sunitha Guntipally and Venkat Guntipally, Pratap “Bob” Kondamoori and Sandhya Ramireddi, allegedly used three California corporations to orchestrate the improper submission of more than 100 H-1B specialty-occupation work visa applications, said the statement from the US Attorney’s Office Northern District of California.

In a 33-count indictment filed last weekend, all the four are charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, false statements, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering and aiding and abetting these offences.

The defendants submitted to the government, or caused to be submitted, H-1B visa application materials stating that the foreign workers named in the applications would be placed at specific companies in the US, the statement read. However, those companies either did not exist or never intended to receive the foreign workers named in the defendants’ applications.

The indictment alleges that through their ownership, direction and control of two companies — DS Soft Tech and Equinett — the Guntipallys generated net profits of about $3.3 million and gross profits of approximately $17 million from 2010-2014.

According to the indictment, the husband-wife team founded and owned DS Soft Tech and Equinett where Venkat served as president and Sunitha as vice president of both the firms.

Kondamoori from Nevada is alleged to be the founder and owner of SISL Networks and Kondamoori’s sister, Ramireddi from Pleasanton, is alleged to have been the human resources manager and operations manager of all three companies. In addition, Kondamoori, Sunitha Guntipally and Ramireddi are charged in connection with alleged efforts to conceal the defendants’ conduct.

Manjit Singh, president of Agilious, a software technology consulting firm he founded in 2013, has been appointed by President Obama to his Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on May 12th.

Singh is the co-founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, a national Sikh American advocacy organization.  He served as a member of the board of directors of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and also as a member-at-large on the board of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.  He has an M.S. from the State University of New York at Albany and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Bombay, India.

“These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their important roles,” President Obama is quoted saying in a White House press release.  “I look forward to working with them.”

Singh has been active in the Washington D.C. metro area Sikh American community since early 1993. Post 9/11, he was instrumental in parlaying SALDEF’s relationships in D.C. to develop and create training videos to educate and inform law enforcement on Sikh Americans. Singh has also appeared in print and on broadcast media including CNN, Fox News, Voice of America, BBC, Al Jazeera, NPR, Washington Post, Washington Times, New York Times, among others, according to his bio on the SALDEF website.

Washington, DC: Revathi Balakrishnan, an Indian-American woman elementary teacher at Patsy Sommer Elementary School in Texas was honored by US President Barack Obama at the White House for her excellent work in the field of education. Revathi Balakrishnan, described as a gifted teacher was also named 2016 ‘Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year’.

“It is not work for me. It is actually a passion,” said 53-year-old Austin-based Balakrishnan who has taught in the district’s talented and gifted programs for nine years. Currently teaching math classes in third through fifth grade at Sommer, Balakrishnan, who was honored last week, will now represent Texas in the ‘National Teacher of the Year’ competition.

“I’m an Indian-American, so I think the Indian community is feeling a lot of pride and joy,” Balakrishnan said, adding that about 30 per cent of the students at ‘Sommer Elementary’ are Asian or Indian.

“I feel proud to represent those and I can convince a lot of younger generation Indian kids to turn to teaching for a career. So I feel I can actually have some impact on that,” she said. Balakrishnan has taught at ‘Sommer Elementary’ for six years before teaching at Forest North Elementary for three years.

Originally from Chennai, Ms Balakrishnan was a systems analyst with Liberty Mutual, managing databases and programming for about 12 years before becoming a teacher. Terming her style of teaching as “no nonsense”, Ms Balakrishnan, who earned her economics degree from University of Madras, attributes her success in the field of education to her love of teaching.

She said the excitement of teaching, learning with students and the opportunity to shape students who are the “leaders of tomorrow” drives her. “Not one day is the same, which is what I like. I don’t like structure. I just go with the flow and I love what happens,” Ms Balakrishnan said.

The ‘National Teacher of the Year Program’ identifies exceptional teachers in the country, recognizes their effective work in the classroom, engages them in a year of professional learning, amplifies their voices and empowers them to participate in policy discussions at the state and national levels.

Ajinka Kelkar, a 20-year-old resident of South Brunswick in the state of New Jersey, who allegedly sought to take a revenge on a man who was dating his ex-girlfriend, accidentally targeted the wrong house and caused $10,000 in damage to vehicles parked in the driveway.

According to police, Kelkar damaged five vehicles parked outside a house on Friendship Road in South Brunswick. He was arrested within a few hours after the incident on May 8 after he was seen damaging the vehicles on home surveillance camera. He was charged with trespassing, vandalism and third-degree criminal mischief. He posted $10,000 bail and was released, police said. If convicted, Kelkar faces up to five years in prison.

According to Tapintonet.com, the family members of the house targeted head some hissing air noise around midnight outside, and came out to check. They found that tires of some of the cars, including guests at home, were slahed and one car had obscenities scratched in to its door and fender and called police.

Officers and family members reviewed the home surveillance tape and found that the suspect moments earlier damaging the vehicle in their driveway. Police recognized the image in the videotape at Kelkar. The report said that police went to Kelkar’s residence but were told by his parents he was not home. Later, officers on surveillance outside his home found that Kelkar was inside his home at 6:30am and took him into custody.

“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 had received Nobel Prize in 2014 for his humanitarian efforts in freeing young children from slavery and bonded labor, declared during a keynote address at the TiE 2016 conference held at the Santa Clara Convention Center May 6 and 7.

Prior to his address, a video presentation had showed to the audience, Satyarthi’s efforts in freeing a total of 85,755 children from slave labor in India. Most of them had been forced into making handmade carpets in North India. In his quest for freeing the children, Satyarthi has had his legs broken, his left shoulder and head bashed, his house ransacked….and yet he continues to march on undeterred.

Satyarthi recounted his first violent confrontation when he and few aides descended upon an illegal brothel where young kidnapped girls were being trained to be used for prostitution. Satyarthi had gone to rescue just one girl at the behest of her father, but they ended up rescuing a total of 36 young girls. This became his first documented case of his liberation of children. “How can slavery and civilization co-exist?” Satyarthi asked rhetorically. “Child slavery has to be recognized,” he stated emphatically. After graduating with a degree in electrical engineering, the activist gave up a lucrative career in Madhya Pradesh and moved to Delhi “because I was passionate about the cause of freeing enslaved children,” he stated.

The Indus Entrepreneurs held its 24th annual global conference at the Santa Clara Convention Center May 6 through May 7 with some of the world’s brightest minds convening to share their stories and provide advice for up-and-coming entrepreneurs looking to disrupt the market and make a name for their companies. A laundry list of panel discussions on several tracks was bookended by keynote speeches on each of the two days at TiEcon 2016, the theme for which was “Dream. Change. Inspire.” TiE has a global network of 61 chapters located in most major North American, Asian and European countries and cities, with more than 11,500 members across 18 countries.

A young man of Indo-Caribbean origin was attacked by several youth in Astoria, Queens, N.Y., last week, shouting “ISIS, ISIS” and punching and beating him. Police are describing it as a bias crime, according to news reports.

Though the 19-year old victim’s name was not revealed by police, Gothamist newspaper reported his father’s name as Ray Bisram, who told media his son was “traumatized” by the attack. The youth who attacked him were carrying a metal pipe which they threatened to use on him, and a baseball bat.

Bisram told Univision TV, “Right now, he’s kind of traumatized, because, you know, a guy punching him and another guy running with a bat and a iron pipe scream out, you know, racist words and stuff toward him, he’s pretty traumatized because he’s thinking what if they would have hit me with that pipe.”

A little after 1 pm, in broad daylight on April 27, the victim was walking on 10th Street in Astoria, when he noticed three tens aged 17-19, following him. One of them shouted to him calling him an “Arab” and punched him in the fact twice when he turned around. They brandished the metal pipe and baseball bat at him. Luckily, the victim was able to sidestep the metal pipe swung at him.

A neighbor, Ron Garcia was on the street when he saw the attack taking place. “They pushed him up there and that’s when they went to take the swing on the pipe with him,” Garcia is quoted saying in the report “He averted it, like he moved out away and midway to me, and when he made his way to me, that’s when they ran up the block.”

The NYPD has put out a description of the attackers — one male, aged 17-19 years-old, short black close cut hair, approximately 5’6″ tall, 160 lbs, last seen wearing a dark colored two tone sweater with vertical lines, black pants and black sneakers. Another male, 17-19 years-old, approximately 5’9″ tall, 180 lbs., chin strap beard and short black hair, last seen wearing a black jacket, black t-shirt, dark colored blue jeans and black sneakers. The third suspect is around 18-years-old, approximately 5’9″ tall, black hair and a beard, last seen wearing a black hooded sweat jacket with white horizontal stripes, black jeans, grey t-shirt and grey sneakers. Police want anyone with information to call NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also go to the Crime Stoppers website or text their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are confidential.

Long Island, NY: Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s visit to the Tri-State region last week has attracted thousands of his followers to listen the wisdom words that are known to have transformed the lives of people around the world through meditation.

On Friday, April 29th, thousands attended the talk in Hindi at the Amityville Meditation Center on Long Island, by Sant Rajinder Singh Ji , Head of Science of Spirituality (SoS)/Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission. Earlier on Wednesday, the spiritual Master inaugurated  the Science of Spirituality New Jersey Meditation Center in Perth Amboy, home to large Spanish and Hindi speaking communities. The center hosts a library, an office, rooms for children and young adults, a book store, and a large kitchen, and of course, a meditation hall.

Acknowledging the multicultural and diverse makeup of the community, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj said the path of Sant Mat brings together people of all faiths, all cultures, and all walks of life. The unifying thread among all, he said, is our humanity and our search for God. Having a center is a great blessing as it offers the opportunity to come together, sit together, share, and focus on what is truly important in life – our relationship with God.

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s discourse in the tristate on Sunday, May 1 was on “Meditation to Access Spiritual Realms” followed by initiation. To date, Science of Spirituality/Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission has 2059 centers in 54 countries around the world. On Monday, May 2, he gave his second address at the widely respected institution, sponsored by theUNSRC SaluS Well Being Network Club in collaboration with Science of Spirituality. Appropriate to the occasion, his topic was, “Meditation as Medication for the Soul,” based on his book by the same name. The Reverend Susana Bastarrica, president, UNSRC SaluS Well Being Network, and Mr. Vijay Nambiar, Special Advisor on Myanmar to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon introduced the spiritual Master.

The spiritual Master spoke to an attentive audience about the benefits of meditation, emphasizing that relaxation, stress relief, better concentration, and improved relationships are byproducts of meditation, not its sole purpose. The prime purpose of stilling the body and stilling the mind in meditation is to experience God within ourselves, he told the audience. For more information about the weekend program, please go to www.sos.org/event/nynj.

Gujarat Day and Maharashtra Day, which fall on May 1, were observed through colorful dances and music On the iconic Times Square May 1. On May 1, the Indian states, Maharashtra and Gujarat celebrate thier formation day. It was on this day in 1960 that two states were carved out of the Bombay Presidency: Maharashtra and Gujarat. The states were created  after a series of protests that were part of the Samyukta Maharashtra Andolan that demanded a separate state for Marathi-speaking people.

The two-hour event on the iconic Times Square was organized by Jai Bharat Dhol Tasha Pathak USA and Non-Resident Gujarati Community of USA. “Since both the Gujarat Day and Maharashtra Day fall on May one, we thought about organizing a joint celebration,” Manisha

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Day was separately celebrated at the Indian Consulate before the groups joined hands in Times Square to mark the day. Consul General Riva Ganguly Das and Deputy Consul General Manoj Kumar Mohapatra sent best wishes and support for the celebrations.

New York: Captain Amarinder Singh, former chief minister of the Indian state of Punjab and currently the state Congress chief and MP, was given a rousing reception, when he was invited to address the Punjabi diaspora on May 7th at the Long Island Hilton Hotel in Melville, NY. In addition to Captain Amarinder Singh, the event also hosted the former Maharaja of Patiala.

The leader of the Punjab state Congress Party is travelling through the US to drum up support for the Congress party, which is trying to get back to power in Punjab, where elections are due in February 2017. According to reports, the ruling Akali Dal has lost much of the support and Aam Aadmi Party is gaining ground after winning in Delhi.

Earlier, during an event in Chicago on Friday, the visiting leader said that Punjab desperately needed good governance and this was not the time for experimentation. “Just because some people are telling you that you have tried so and so, now give us a chance does not qualify and entitle them to take over the reins of an important state like Punjab at a critical juncture”, Capt Amarinder told audience in Chicago.

Announcing that it was going to be his last election in 2017, he said, however before hanging his boots, it was his dream to see the smile and shine back on the faces of all the Punjabis, who are otherwise being faced with despair and despondence due to ten year failure of the Akalis. Addressing the Punjabi diaspora and seeking their more involvement and participation in building up Punjab and bringing in change, the former Chief Minister reminded them of their roots and responsibility towards their ancestral place.

“We are glad that all of you have done so well in life and we are proud of you”, he told them, while adding, “now we hope and expect that you will definitely do your bit and help us in re-launching Punjab on the path of progress and prosperity once again”. Later replying to a question, Captain Amarinder said, 1984 was the darkest chapter in the Sikh history which nobody can afford or should forget. “I myself resigned from the parliament and the party over what happened in 1984”, he said, adding, “however Punjab needs to move forward”. He asked as why the Akalis were raking up the issue only during elections and forgetting it the moment elections were over.

Amarinder said, the problem of drugs was very complex and serious saying there were three types of drugs flowing in Punjab. He said, on type of drugs was being smuggled through Pakistan, the other type was coming from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and the third and the worst type were the synthetic drugs which were being manufactured locally with the patronage of the Akalis.

“Give me a chance and I will finish this problem, not in four weeks as I have promised, but just one week as I know who all are involved and responsible and it only needs an intent and will to finish it”, he said in response to a question amidst thumping applause.

Captain Amarinder Singh has offered to provide NRI Punjabi doctors, specially psychiatrists and therapists, infrastructure to set up de-addiction centers within the existing government hospitals in all major cities of Punjab, if Congress is voted to power in the state. Addressing a gathering of Punjabi diaspora from Central Califonia at Fresno, Capt Amarinder urged the NRI doctors to work in partnership with him for the rehabilitation of lakhs of

Meanwhile, Captain Amarinder Singh is learnt to have cancelled his scheduled seven-day trip to Canada due to the possibility of facing a case relating to torture in a court in Toronto. The decision came on Saturday after Singh had postponed his arrival in Toronto since he wanted to wait for the court to issue an order before he decided on his course of action.

The case was filed by the activist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on behalf of a Canadian resident who was allegedly tortured during Singh’s tenure as chief minister of Punjab. An official statement released by Singh slammed SFJ’s law fare, saying it was “playing into the hands of the anti-India forces like the ISI to embarrass India and project as if rights violations was the norm of the day in the country (India) like some dictatorships in different parts of the world”. He added, “The government of India, rising above political considerations, must take up the matter with the Canadian government at the highest level.”

Pranav Patel, a stock broker of Indian descent has been charged in an alleged $131 million stock manipulation scheme after investigations by a task force set up for President Barack Obama’s war on financial crimes, federal officials announced May 4.

Pranav Patel of Tamarac, Florida, participated along with eight others in the multistate scam “through a dizzying round of unauthorized trades” to pump up the share price of a company with no business operations, Robert L. Capers, the federal prosecutor in Brooklyn said.

The 35-year-old Patel was scheduled to appear later on Wednesday in a federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for legal proceedings to bring him to Brooklyn for trial. The case involved the NASDAQ-traded stocks of ForceField Energy Inc., which claimed to be a worldwide distributor of LED lighting products.

The nine from four states across the US were charged with securities fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and making a false statement to law enforcement officials.

The charges followed actions by the President’s financial fraud enforcement task force that “was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes,” Capers’ office said.

The nine, who included Naveed Khan of Staten Island, New York, “designed an elaborate but fraudulent scheme built on lies, kickbacks and manipulated trading activity to defraud the securities markets, the investing public and their clients,” Capers said. “They took a company with essentially no business operations and little revenue and deceived the market and their clients into believing it was worth hundreds of millions of dollars through a dizzying round of unauthorized trades and deceptive promotions.”

“The scheme ended up costing investors approximately $131 million in losses,” according to Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) New York Field Office.

The prosecutor’s office alleged that a ForceField official hired Jared Mitchell, the managing partner of a financial firm, to pay kickbacks using offshore bank accounts in 2014 to Patel and four other stock brokers for buying ForceField shares in their client’s accounts to manipulate the price.

The announcement did not identify the official, but Richard St-Julien, who was ForceField’s chairman and founder, was arrested in April last year. He was charged with securities fraud conspiracy. He paid the alleged participants through a Belize-based company in a scheme to manipulate the company’s share prices.

Fayetteville, North Carolina: Dr. Sid Gautam, a professor of economics at Methodist University where he founded and led its Center for Entrepreneurship, passed away on April 28, 2016 at his home town Fayetteville, North Carolina. He had spent his life striving to meet higher expectations, both in his personal life and in his 44-year career at Methodist University where he created programs and awards recognizing local businesspeople and boosting the community’s sense of itself. Dr. Gautam was 74.

In recent years, Dr. Gautam had turned some of his considerable energies to promoting healthy living. About 2010, he began hosting free monthly programs at Kiwanis Recreation Center where people could learn and practice simple yoga moves and attend seminars on various health issues. Dubbed Happiness Yoga, the program drew its name from Dr. Gautam’s belief in the connection between happiness and health.

Dr. Gautam founded the Center for Entrepreneurship in 1973 and a few years later began holding two annual symposiums, one focused on the local and national economic outlook for the coming year and the other on the stock market. He attracted attendees by getting important bankers, business people, economists and others to give keynote speeches.

He and his advisers also recognized local business people through awards such as Entrepreneur of the Year, Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Business Person of the Year and the Small Business Excellence Award, all of which are still being carried on today.

Dr. Gautam was quite involved in the Indian community activities as Life Member GOPIO which recognized him for his contribution to Entrepreneurship. He travelled around the world and spoke at the various GOPIO convention and forums connecting entrepreneurship and Indian cultural values.

On behalf of GOPIO, President Niraj Baxi expressed their deep sadness at the loss of a colleague in community work.  “He was a warm, friendly, always ready to help the community at all times. We will miss him very much,” Baxi wrote to Dr. Gautam’s family.

GOPIO Founder President Dr. thomas Abraham said that it was a great community loss since Dr. Gautam was a motivating speaker and was always available to speak at various GOPIO conferences. Dr. Gautam is survived by his wife of 53 years, Indira, his daughter Pragati, son-in-law Dr. Anil Sharma, and their children. The cremation was done on May 1st in Feyetteville.

Sonia Nallan, 48, an Indian American woman was fatally shot dead in the neighborhood of San Jose, CA on April 30, and the police have arrested her husband on murder charges. Her husband, James ‘Jim’ Nallan, 63, is being held without bail at Santa Clara, Calif., County Jail.

According to San Jose Police Department reports, police responded at 12:46 a.m. April 30 to a call reporting that a person had been shot. Arriving at the scene, officers found Sonia Nallan suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly after.

San Jose police confirmed that Jim Nallan is in custody and that there are no outstanding suspects. No motive has yet been established for the shooting. Nallan, a technical recruiter at Encore Semiconductors, is survived by two sons, Sahil, 21, who attends UC Berkeley; and Nitin, 20, who attends UC Irvine. Funeral services were held on May 6, at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward, Calif.

As the killers of Shani Patel is still at large, the police in Newark, New Jersey are offering a $10,000 for information leading to the capture of the murderers. Shani Patel, 21, an Indian American student majoring in economics who was in his junior year at Rutgers, was fatally shot around 10 p.m. on April 10, in his Toms River, New Jersey, apartment. His 23-year-old roommate, a Rutgers graduate, was also shot, and was transported to University Hospital where he underwent a surgery. He was previously listed in critical condition and no updates have been announced.

According to reports, a suspect, Marcus Feliz, was captured on April 13 and charged with homicide and robbery. Feliz – who is being held on $750,000 bail – has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Menawhile, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has said another suspect believed to be involved in the killing of Patel, Fraynned Ramirez, 26, of Hartford, Conn., is still at large. Ramirez has been charged with murder, felony murder and robbery, in connection with Patel’s death. Ramirez is presumed to be armed and dangerous, according to the prosecutor’s office. Neither Felix nor Ramirez are students at Rutgers, according to nj.com.

Police believe the shooting was related to drugs. A substantial amount of drugs and money were found in Patel’s apartment as police investigated the scene of the crime, and police believe the shooting occurred in the course of a robbery attempt.

A memorial page has been set up for Patel on Facebook. Friends also held a memorial service for him. “I write with the sad news that last night we lost one of our students,” Rutgers chancellor Nancy Cantor wrote in an email to students. “There is an active, ongoing investigation by the Newark Police Department of a crime that took place at a private residence located off campus.”

Cantor went on to write, “While law enforcement is still investigating and we understand that it was not a random act that led to Shani’s death, it is a shock to lose a member of our community under any circumstances. Our deepest condolences go out to Shani’s family and to all who knew him as a student, colleague or friend.”

“It’s really sad to see that this has happened to him, very sad,” said Patel’s lawyer Billhimer in an AP report. “He was an economics major and was interested in becoming an entrepreneur. He was always talking about having his own business. He was a very smart young man. He was a nice kid.”

New York, April 28: When the whole world is moving towards pluralism, trying to embrace and appreciate the faith and culture around the world, Indian American students at an Ivy League College in the US, led by fundamentalists have protested against a White woman singing Hindu Kirtans. They assert that only those born Hindu should sing the religious hymns, according to media reports.

The performance by Carrie Grossman, who has adopted the Hindu name Dayashila, was disrupted Thursday last week by protesters claiming that by singing kirtans she as a white person was wrongly “appropriating” elements of Hinduism.

According to reports, although the protesters used radical leftist rhetoric, their agenda appears to be a form of selective opposition to conversions or religious interactions – in effect, banning those not born Hindu from singing Hindu religious hymns or participating in rituals. However, similar protests are not held by those claiming to be against “cultural-appropriation” when non-Christians sing Christian hymns or participate in Christian observances. Wearing bindi or pottu by non-Indian women have also been crticised as “cultural appropriation.”

The protesters are reported to have used radical leftist terminology like white privilege, structural change and “radical love” to oppose what they called “cultural appropriation” by a white person. “Cultural appropriation,” according to those who protest it, happens when people use or performs elements from a culture not their own.

Many in the audience confronted the protesters, who eventually left the event and staged a sit-in outside. “Several audience members turned around and asked them to be quiet,” The Brown Daily Herald reported. “In addition, some of the audience members stood up and moved to where the protesters were sitting to ask them to leave.”

In the face of protests, the Contemplative Studies Departmental Undergraduate Group, which organised the kirtan, issued an apology saying that they “humbly acknowledge that those intentions (in arranging the event) do not preclude harm and hurt that we may have inflicted,” the Herald reported.

Freedom of expression in US universities is under threat not from the government, but from students and faculty. At elite universities like Yale, students have in the past year explicitly protested freedom of expression on campuses and tried to silence professors and students not conforming to their version of liberal or radical views.

Rajan Zed, the president of US-based Universal Society of Hinduism, called the protests at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island state, “sad and inappropriate”. “Color of the person should not matter in devotional singing and anybody should be able pay respectful homage to Hindu deities through kirtan or other forms,” Zed said. “Kirtan offered means to connect to the heart, to the divinity that lies within.”

He asked Brown University president Christina H. Paxson and chancellor Thomas J. Tisch to “make sure that such unreasonable interruptions did not happen at the Hindu events on the campus in the future” and to hold a formal inquiry into the disruption. The Herald reported that Grossman, a Brown University alumna, told her audience that she discovered kirtans during a visit to India and “found (chanting) very powerful and very healing”.

Describing her mission to spread the singing of kirtans, Grossman writes on her website about her experience in the third person: “At the altar of her instrument she called out to the divine and unburdened her heart. This process was profoundly healing and, the more she did it, the more she felt drawn to share her sound with the world.” She has produced a recording, “Soma Bandhu,” that features hymns like “Om Nama Shivaya,” “Jai Ma” and “Sarve Bhavantu.”

Anchal Saraf, one of the protesters in this incident, has been quoted in the media, as a signatory to a petition demanding freedom of expression at Jawaharlal Nehru University. The duplicity of these students is shocking. While they demand freedom of expression in some cases, they protest against the same when it comes to their own.

Queens, NY: The 10th Biennial Civic Luncheon held by Queens Civic Congress (QCC) was a huge success with capacity attendance, a well-organized program with keynote speaker Preet Bharara, prominent U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, New York as well as featured speaker, Queens Borough President Melida Katz and several other notable elected officials. The event was sponsored by Queens Civic Congress Foundation and held at Antun’s in Queens Village.

Paul Kerzner, President, Queens Civic Congress Foundation, welcomed the guests, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance then a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by Hon. Melinda Katz. QCC president Harbachan Singh welcomed members and guests, acknowledging the important role of members and officers for the successes of QCC activities focusing on improving the quality of life issues. Mr. Singh also expressed due gratitude and outlined several future plans,

Presentation of various proclamations and resolutions to the 3 honorees was done by Hon. Melinda Katz and NYS Senator Tony Avella. In his remarks, State Sen. Tony Avella congratulated QCC and the honorees, citing the advocacy of QCC on community issues Kevin Forrestal, executive vice president of QCC, made presentations on behalf of several elected officials.

In her speech, Hon. Melinda Katz thanked QCC for its issues oriented community efforts and remarked on the appeal, diversity and progress in Queens which is fast becoming the destination of visitors to New York.

Keynote speaker Preet Bharara was introduced by Vice President Ashook Ramsaran with a warm welcome of admiration and appreciation. Mr. Bharara recounted his family’s journey from India to USA and the many opportunities in the USA which contributed to his success as a notable and quite visible official in New York State and indeed the entire USA. Bharara reiterated determination and relentless pursuits of his office to enforce and encourage accountability in all sectors, and provide protection from predators and those who do not abide by the rule of law. He said that “fair and equitable treatment under the law applies to everyone regardless of position or standing and is a cornerstone of United States of America”.

QCC Civic Achievement Awards 2016 for high achievements in community service were presented to: James Gallagher, Jr. (President, Fresh Meadows Homeowners Civic Association) presented by QCC vice president Kim Ohanian; Warren Schreiber (President, Bay Terrace Community Alliance) presented by QCC vice president Tyler Cassell; Christina Wilkinson (President, Newtown Historical Society) presented by QCC treasurer James A. Trent.

Other elected officials in attendance included several NYC council members and NYS senators and assembly members. NYS Assemblyman David Weprin congratulated QCC and the honorees for outstanding community work.

QCC vice president Richard Hellenbrecht made the concluding remarks, citing several QCC initiatives and support for many important community issues. Hellenbrecht also welcome the youth group of Civic Activism Network (CAN) and thanked Elmhurst United for supporting CAN’s participation.

Music was provided by John Walters. Queens Civic Congress, Inc. and Queens Civic Congress Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation, were formed in 1997, representing more than 100 civic and other community organizations throughout the Borough of Queens in New York City, and are committed to the protection and advancement of the “Quality of Life”, to provide a forum for the civic associations and neighborhood organizations, to develop and present common policies and positions, and to furnish effective leadership and advocacy for the advancement of the welfare and interests of Queens’ neighborhoods.