Category: Community

New Jerseyans increasingly support a pathway to citizenship

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

As the immigration debate rages on in the race to 2016, New Jerseyans increasingly support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently working in the United States, according to the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll. Sixty-four percent of residents now believe undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay and apply for U.S. citizenship, an increase of 12 points since last asked by the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll in 2012. Another 15 percent say they should be allowed to stay as temporary guest workers but not be able to apply, down seven points. Eighteen percent think they should be required to leave the country, a decline of four points.

“Last night, Donald Trump claimed no one was talking about immigration until he did, but here in New Jersey, immigration – both legal and not – has been a hot topic for years,” said Ashley Koning, assistant director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University. “In Rutgers-Eagleton polls in the past two decades, New Jerseyans have solidly supported legal status and then citizenship for immigrants. This is not surprising, given that New Jersey is one of the most diverse states and that one in five residents is an immigrant.”

The personal importance of immigration to New Jerseyans has increased over time as well: 14 percent now say it is the most important issue to them, up nine points since 2012, and another 29 percent say it is one of a few very important issues. Thirty-nine percent say it is somewhat important (down seven points), and 17 percent say it is not important to them at all (down three points).

More New Jersey residents also have a positive opinion of immigrants’ impact on everyday life today than they did in 2012.  But even with these increases, 41 percent say the number of immigrants in the Garden State is too high, up five points since 2012; another 44 percent say it is just right. Moreover, immigration remains a partisan issue, with notable differences between the two parties and even among Republicans, specifically among Donald Trump supporters compared to the GOP as a whole.

Results are from a statewide poll of 867 adults contacted by live callers on both landlines and cell phones from July 25 to August 1. The sample has a margin of error of +/-3.9 percentage points. Interviews were done in English and, when requested, Spanish.

Immigration is an especially personal issue within certain demographics. Three-quarters of residents who identify as Hispanic support citizenship, compared to 61 percent of non-Hispanics. Similar patterns exist for those not born in the United States and those whose parents immigrated to this country.

These same groups are also more likely, by double digits, to say immigration is personally important to them: 40 percent of Hispanics, 30 percent of foreign-born residents and 21 percent of those with foreign-born parents say it is the most important issue, with the majority of each group saying the issue is at least one of a few of their top concerns.

Interaction with immigrants in daily life also has an impact: support for citizenship and personal importance increases along with frequency of interaction. Over seven in 10 who say immigrants make their neighborhood, workplace, or the state a better place also favor citizenship.

Younger generations are much more supportive of citizenship – though not more likely to say the issue is important – than older ones, as support steadily declines with age.

Importance of immigration does not necessarily imply support of citizenship, however. Among supporters, 15 percent say it is the most important issue for them, and another 25 percent say it is one of few. But those who favor deportation also feel strongly about it, with 16 percent saying immigration is their top issue and another 38 percent saying it is one of the most important.

Partisans of all stripes support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the United States, though to varying degrees: Democrats at 78 percent, independents at 57 percent and even Republicans at 51 percent. But Republicans and independents are also more likely to say undocumented immigrants should be forced to leave the country, at 28 percent and 21 percent respectively, while just 10 percent of Democrats say the same.

Those favorable toward former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton resemble Democrats in general, with 72 percent supporting citizenship. Those who like Gov. Chris Christie likewise resemble Republicans in general. But Donald Trump supporters are notably more negative about welcoming immigrants: 46 percent favor citizenship, 17 percent prefer legal status, and 35 percent choose deportation – the highest of any demographic.

“Republicans as a whole have come a long way on the issue since we last polled this in 2012, when they were mostly split over citizenship, with 37 percent expressing support and another 33 percent favoring deportation,” said Koning. “The double-digit increase to majority support in two years is remarkable. But of course, there are many different views about immigration reform on the national stage right now – especially among contenders on the Republican side like Donald Trump. And we see these differences play out when we specifically look at Trump supporters’ attitudes on citizenship, which are more conservative than the rest of the party.”

Republicans are slightly more negative regarding other aspects of the immigration issue. While there are minimal party differences in personal importance, just over half of Republicans feel the number of immigrants in the Garden State is too high, compared to 35 percent of Democrats and 39 percent of independents. Those in Trump’s corner are especially likely to say the number of immigrants in the state is too high, at 58 percent, compared to Christie supporters or the GOP as a whole.

Republicans are also less likely to say that immigrants have a positive impact on different parts of daily life. Nineteen percent say immigrants make their neighborhood better, compared to 39 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of independents. GOPers feel somewhat similarly about the workplace, with about a quarter believing immigrants make it better, versus almost four in 10 of other partisans. As for New Jersey itself, 29 percent of Republicans view immigrants’ influence positively, compared to 40 percent of independents and 49 percent of Democrats. Republicans say they interact with immigrants on a daily basis to a lesser extent than other partisans – at 52 percent, versus 59 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of independents.

The overall increase in support for immigration and importance of the issue among New Jerseyans may stem from their frequent interaction with immigrants and their increased belief that immigrants have a positive effect on society. Six in 10 say they interact with someone from another country every day; another two in 10 say a few times a week. The remaining two in 10 interact with immigrants a few times a month or less.

Thirty-two percent feel people born outside the U.S. have made the quality of life in their neighborhoods better (up six points), while 49 percent say immigrants have not had much of an impact (down 12 points); another 13 percent say immigrants have actually made their neighborhoods worse (up three points). New Jerseyans feel similarly about their place of work, with 36 percent saying immigrants have made it better, a 10-point increase since 2012. Another 43 percent say they have had no effect here (down 11 points), and just nine percent say they have made the workplace worse.

Forty-one percent of residents believe immigrants have made New Jersey as a whole better, a nine-point increase. Twenty-nine percent say they do not have an impact on the state (down six points), and 21 percent say immigrants make the state worse, a drop of four points.

India-U.S Ties More Than Trade Relationship: Ambassador Singh

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

Indo-US relationship has moved up the ladder from the initial stages of buyer-seller relationship, especially in defense matters, to co-development and co-production benefitting both the countries, Arun Kumar Singh, India’s Ambassador to the United States, said. The relation, he said, has moved up the ladder in terms of defense technologies, under which New Delhi acquired technology from the U.S., to development of such technologies in India thanks to many niche areas of research and development now taking place in the country which is of interest to both Washington and New Delhi.

The ambassador was addressing leading members of the Indian American community and businesses from New Jersey on August 9th, the first such meeting after Singh took charge as India’s envoy to Washington in May this year. The event was organized by the Indian Consulate in New York in association with Parikh Worldwide Media, headed by Dr. Sudhir Parikh, and the business community of N.J.

Held at Renaissance Hotel in Iselin, the meeting was keynoted by Amb. Singh and addressed by Parikh who right at the outset set the tone for the interaction in his brief welcome address, noting that the world today has come a long way from the time of Rudyard Kipling who said “East is East, West is West. And the twain shall never meet.”

“One area that we have seen tremendous cooperation in the last four/five years is in terms of defense sector cooperation. So far, we have bought $10 billion worth of defense supplies from the U.S., more than what we have done from any other country. Some of the things we got from the U.S. during this period include — C-17, C-130 aircraft which were very useful to us,” he said.

“But we are now going beyond the buyer-seller relationship to also look at co-development and co-production. Under the leadership of Defense Secretary (Ashton) Carter we have worked out six pathfinder projects for cooperation in defense. Two have been already been finalized, and two are already making good progress. The other two will follow up. So, this is an indication of how we are moving away from just the initial stages of cooperation to now doing co-development of technologies,” the ambassador said.

“Obviously, Kipling didn’t have access. He was not connected. He was not wired. In this globalized Internet age, the twain shall meet, and the twain shall trade,” Parikh said. “This afternoon, we look forward to hearing the Ambassador’s views how this can be accomplished.”

In his address and a brief question and answer session, the Ambassador explained in detail why and how it was going to happen. “The U.S. leaders have said time and again that they see the rise of India in the U.S. interest, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has referred to this as a relationship between natural allies. It is from that perspective that we approach the bilateral relationship,” Singh said, adding that it’s a reflection of that sentiment that the two countries have seen tremendous increase in bilateral relationship.

Giving an example of India’s technology generation and optimization despite resource constraints, he said that last year India sent a space vehicle to Mars. “Today companies like Cisco and others say that they are going to export products developed by India to other countries and our Prime Minister has focused on manufacturing in India.

“Over the past one year, the rate of GDP has been more than seven percent and in the coming years it will approach eight percent. We saw a 30 percent increase in FDI in the past one year and a four hundred percent increase in FII. It’s a reflection of how efforts (for progress and development) are being made in India these days,” the ambassador said.

The ambassador told the gathering that a lot of the opportunities for doing business and making investments will open up in India in the coming years and asked entrepreneurs to take advantage of that. “We believe that in the coming years, there will be a lot of opportunities in the infrastructure sector because as we expand manufacturing, those constraints will see enhanced emphasis. There will be need for roads, telecom, and power for which investments will be needed. The government has also launched project for 100 smart cities and that again will provide opportunities for foreign investment for urban infrastructure in the next ten years or so,” he said.

“I believe that there will be opportunities for U.S. companies to make investments in India, and both countries could partner for mutual advantage,” the ambassador said, adding that another area of investment opportunity would be in renewable energy sector where India needs to grow at eight to ten percent over a sustained length of time.

He said as India grows it is important that through the policy of inclusive growth people are brought over the poverty line, and contributing to renewable energy will meet some of those concerns and goals. “So, you can see that there would be a tremendous opportunity for this sector for technology partnership. India will provide opportunity because the country has demand, democracy and demography,” he said, alluding to the fact that there are 600 million ‘technically-enriched’ people under the age of 25 who are in the working age, a demographic advantage compared to many other countries where the population is aging.

The event was attended among others by Consul General Dyaneshwar M. Mulay as well as H.R Shah, chairman of T.V. Asia, Ramesh Patel, chairman of Federation of Indian Association, Upendra Chivukula, former Assemblyman who is now chairman of Public Service, New Jersey and a host of businessmen and entrepreneurs, including Anil Bhatia, director Phillip Morris; Jay M. Shah, CEO of Hersh Hospitality Trust; Dipak Patel, CEO of Anna Management Corporation and Alpa Yagni, president, Wells Fargo.

Later in the evening Aug 9, Singh was feted by the Federation of Indian Associations in Royal Albert Palace in Ford, New Jersey, where over 340 members of the community from New Jersey and New York community came to greet him. While the FIA greeted the ambassador with a plaque, representatives of some 30 other community organizations that joined FIA in welcoming the visiting ambassador greet with bouquets.

Malina Singh Jailed for Killing Pedestrian in New York

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

Malina Singh, an Indian-American woman was sentenced to at least two years in prison for hitting and killing a pedestrian in New York last year, a media report said. Singh, 21, a resident of Lake Luzerne in New York, appeared before Saratoga County judge Matthew Sypniewski on Monday, this week, Timesunion.com reported.

In addition to the sentencing, Singh was asked to install an ignition interlock device in every vehicle she owns or drives for three years upon her release from prison. On June 22, Singh admitted she was drunk while driving and killed Jonathon L. Rogers, 34, as he was walking on September 4 last year. Rogers was rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Singh pleaded guilty to charges of vehicular manslaughter. Rogers’ mother told the court that the family would now face difficulties in surviving and his children would have to live without a father.

Dr. Islam Siddiqui Leads American Muslim Institution

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Dr. Islam Siddiqui, an Indian American, has been appointed president of the newly-formed institution, American Muslim Institution. The new group in the Washington, D.C. area announced Aug. 5 the formation of the American Muslim Institution, a nonprofit organization, is to provide reliable information and advice to public and policy makers on Islam and Muslims.

“We need constructive solutions to current and emerging problems emanating from wrong perceptions and misinformation about Islam and Muslims in America,” Dr. Islam Siddiqui, stated in a press release.

“Our mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. As a member of a diverse family of faiths, our efforts will be directed towards justice and equality to attain peace for Americans with a firm grounding in commonly held values,” Siddiqui added.

Siddiqui is a former U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture and Chief Agricultural Negotiator and was the highest ranking American Muslim in the United States government under the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple opens in Ohio with elaborate rituals

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Sri Venkateswara Temple of Central Ohio has been formally launched in Powell with four-day long ancient rituals and celebrations. Grand Opening, Utsava Murthy Prana Prathishthapanam and Sri Venkateswara Kalyanotsavam celebrations included various poojas, homams, viniyogams, agnipratishtha, kumbha-abhishekam, etc.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commended efforts of Temple leaders and area community for realizing this Hindu temple. Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new Temple would help in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

This in Powell is the temporary location of the Temple, which opens daily. Management is in the process of acquiring land in nearby Galena, which will be its permanent location, reports suggest. Ravishankar Kuruganti, Shiva Pattisapu, Nat Rammohan and Anantha Padmanabhan are the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary respectively of the Temple Executive Committee; while Ramakrishna Garu is the Priest.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA. Powell, an affluent city first settled around 1801, was listed in the “100 Best Places to Live in the United States”. Jim Hrivnak is the Mayor.

PAO’s ‘Teeyan Da Mela’ is a big draw in Chicago

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

The Punjabi American Organization (PAO) organized their 11th annual Teeyan Da Mela recently at Bristol Palace Banquet in Mt Prospect.

As many as 600 women in the Midwest region of the US, dressed in colourful Indian clothes, actively participated in the ladies-only event, showing their hidden dancing, singing and other skills.

The event took place under the guidance of Naiha Walia, president of PAO which introduced ‘Mrs Punjaban’ contest this year.

A fashion show was sponsored by Richa from getethnic.com,

The venue was decorated with Punjabi dupattas, saris, and other traditional Punjabi dresses as well as with colorful clothes, flowers, and garlands. There were stalls of henna, bangles, facial makeup, and Indian dresses giving the feeling of a traditional Indian fair.

The chief guest was Satwant Kaur Kaler and the Grand sponsor was Jasmeet Suga–Suga Builders. Other Gold sponsors were Amrita Dandona, Amardeep Lamba Agency and Marybeth and Greg Cerniglia- S&C Insurnace.

Other sponsors who have been supporting the event year after year are Minni and Guljar Multani, Manjit and Gurdev Pelia from Pelia Petroleum, Rahul Jain from Mast Masala, Jesse Singh Remax Realtor, Renee and Nick Gakhal, Kalsi construction company, Punjab sports and cultural club, Parminder Kaur, Davinder Kaur, Varinder Kaur, Gundeep Kaur, Punjab Sports Club.

The food was catered to by Maharaja Restaurant.

South Asians Join Gay Pride March In Greater Numbers

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Social Media 0

Hundreds of South Asians joined the crowding the sidewalk on 5th Ave in the City at the Manhattan Pride March on June 28in what is billed as the largest LGBTQ march in the country.

According to SALGA NYC, the biggest chapter of the national organization, there were at least 80 of its own members at the March, as well as scores of South Asians who were part of other groups also marching down 5th Ave, as well as among the spectators cheering them on. The number of South Asians in this year’s March was higher than previous times.

Apart from the Pride March, SALGA NYC and other South Asians of the same persuasion, attended several other events around the city including the Trans Day of Action on Friday June 26, held at Pier 45, and the Dyke March on 5th Ave between 42nd and Washington Square Park on June 27.

Among those from SALGA were those of Indian, Pakistani and a new Sri Lankan participation.

“It’s my first time attending the Manhattan parade and its different from how the media portrays it,” said one Indian-American spectator who did not wish to be named. “The media always shows the naked guys dancing on floats, drag queens parade everywhere but they don’t show the quiet portion. Lots of families were there with children. Many couples. I was surprised to see a different picture”

“It warmed my heart to see this older aunty, on the side of the road, who ran forward and hugged one of our dancers,” Apphia K., board member of the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association told the media. Robin Mathew, the main organizer of SALGA NYC’s Pride March participation, said, the mission of the organization was to promote the visibility of the often-unseen and unheard of South Asian LGBTQ experiences within the U.S. and the world and empower them to express their different identities. “This year the members who marched with us at the parade came from many different gender and sexual identities, and with diverse immigrant histories from all over South Asia and the Caribbean.”

Feedback from many people after the NYC Pride March showed the SALGA group attracted a lot of attention with the colorful clothes, placards that challenged people to think differently, South Asian music, and energetic dancers. “We also saw many desi people and families watching the parade with smiles on their face and cheering us on,” Mathew said, and they ranged from very young to grandmothers, a hopeful sign that progress was being made within the South Asian community as well. However, SALGA NYC has sent an application to organizers of the India Day Parade in August but have yet to hear back from them as to whether they would be allowed to participate.

The March coming on the heels of the June 26 U.S. Supreme Court ruling making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states, enthused many, but it did bring to mind their counterparts in India who did not have similar rights as yet, Apphia said. Besides, in the U.S., “The right to get married does not address or erase the constant fear and violence experienced by the South Asian LGBTQ community,” she said.

Former PPCC President Shri H.S. Hanspal meets supporters in New York

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

Former President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Shri H.S. Hanspal, who was instrumental to the writing of milestones in “Punjabi” along with English and Hindi in the state of Haryana, amongst various other significant changes that he brought about during his term,  was feted by the Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC, USA). here in New York on Saturday June 27, 2015 at the Diwan Restaurant, Patel Plaza, Hicksville in Long Island where almost fifty Congress supporters and friends gathered around at a very short notice to honor the visiting dignitary.

General Secretary of INOC, USA Mr. Harbachan Singh in welcoming him recalled some of the significant achievements of the Chief Guest, which were applauded by the attendees and requested him to continue to provide his valuable advice and leadership to the party at this critical juncture.

The President of the Punjab Chapter Mr. Tejinder Singh Gill thanked him for accepting the invitation and pleaded for the rapid resolution of some of the ills, e.g., alcoholism, that were holding back the rapid development of Punjab and asked for the an effective link between NRIs and the Punjab Congress party to work jointly.

The Chairman of INOC Mr. George Abraham and the President of INOC Mr. Juned Qazi both spoke at length on the steadfastness and the solid strength of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA and pointedly elaborated on the esteemed value and unwavering support of each of the senior officials of the party apparatus in New York. They also recounted some of the significant achievements of INOC, USA over the recent past.

Senior Vice President Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian,  Mr. John Joseph, President of the Tamil Nadu Chapter and Mr. Zinda Singh, President of the Delhi Chapter, and other officials such as Mr. Prasad Kambhampathy  also welcomed him and spoke on the current need to strategize and reinforce the party with new enthusiasm and vigor. Prof. Inderjit Saluja of Indian Panorama also lauded the Chief Guest for his years of dedicated service to the nation.

Shri H.S. Hanspal was highly impressed at the unity and deep commitment of the INOC,USA and its officials.  In his very inspirational speech, he said that when the chips are down, you have shown political maturity to not lose hope but instead has inspired others here and in India to remain strong.  He said he will take back this very encouraging and comforting fact to appraise the senior officials back home. He added that you not only have a very important role to play in the development of both better relations between India and USA but also help in various ways the motherland and its development.  He praised the hardworking NRIs and the contribution they were making and regretted that not enough attention has been paid to them by New Delhi.  He informed the audience that his doors were always open in New Delhi and welcomed everyone to visit him when they were visiting home.

Thousands Throng Yoga Day Celebrations At Times Square, Hindu Temple, Lincoln Center, JFK Airport

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0

New York: Tens of thousands of people from across all walks of life joined the International Day of Yoga organized by the Consulate General of India, along with several socio-cultural organizations based in and around New York, on June 21, 2015 at more than 50 places in and around the city.

They participated in these events with great pride and enthusiasm. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj represented the Government of India at the Annual Event of Yoga (Summer Solstice) at Times Square and the Hindu Temple Society of North America, Flushing.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who has introduced a Resolution in the Senate in support of the IDY and Madhur Bhandarkar, Film Director, also participated and cheered up the participants at the Times Square where close to 20,000 people participated throughout the day. With the support of the Consulate, the Art of Living Foundation (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar), Global Citizen Forum (B.K. Modi Group) organized a three hours program, including yoga, meditation, dance drama on yoga and finally East Meets West by Bhappi Lahri and Judge M. Kelly, famous Jazz maestro.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, B.K. Modi, Judge Kelly, Bhappi Lahiri, Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh and Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser addressed the 2700 strong supporters of yoga at the auditorium. Similarly, Hindu Temple Society of North America organized a daylong yoga and related events. External Affairs Minister participated in the closing ceremony and released a book titled “Yoga-Bharat’s Invaluable Gift to the World” by Mr. V. Ravi Kumar Iyer.

The Indian Consulate had also organized yoga lecture-cum-demonstration at the airports of New York and New Jersey. Passengers practiced yoga while waiting in transit. Photos of these events are available on indiacgny.org. The State Senates of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Westchester as well as several City Councils have issued Proclamations and felicitation messages to support and commemorate the first International Day of Yoga.

Several Senators, Congressmen, Mayors and Councilmen have sent their appreciation letters to the Consulate on the occasion. Indian-American communities represented by several Socio-Cultural organizations including the Overseas Volunteers for Better India (OVBI) were wholeheartedly involved in these events. The Consulate was also supported by Tech Mahindra, the leader in digitalization and business re-engineering for organizing these events.

Following the United Nations Resolution to declare International Day of Yoga on June 21 every year, the Consulate had been organizing yoga related various Curtain Raisers as well as yoga events in areas under the consular jurisdiction of this Consulate. Curtain Raisers were organized in Albany and Queens on June 9 and June 13 respectively. Yoga and related events would continue to be organized throughout the year at different places by this Consulate from time to time.

Indian American Community Mourns Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s Passing Away

Ajay GhoshCommunity, India 0

Several Indian American community leaders have expressed shock at the sudden demise of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who won popular acclaim as India’s president during 2002-07. He died on Monday, July 27th after collapsing during a lecture at the IIM-Shillong, officials said. He was 83. “Kalam is no more,” Meghalaya Chief Secretary P.B.O. Warjri told the media, shortly after the president passed away at Bethany Hospital, where he was taken to from the management school. Doctors said Kalam suffered cardiac arrest.

American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)  is saddened at the sudden demise of former President Dr. Abdul J. Kalam,” said Dr. Seema Jain, President of AAPI. “In his passing away, the world has lost one of the iconic and visionary leaders of all time and has left a tremendous void.”  In a world full of violence, hatred and enmity, Dr. Kalam’s was truly an inspirational voice that provided positive energy to the common man, especially the youth. His contribution to the scientific advancement of India is quite unparalleled. “We fondly remember his presence with us during the Global Health Summit in Ahmedabad, India in Janaury 2014,” she recalled. Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Abdul  J . Kalam , the former president of India lauded AAPI   for its 32 years of strong leadership in the United States. “You are part of 1.2 million physicians of Indian origin around the world, and growing, making up 25% of all physicians in the world,” he said.

“His simplicity, humility, and inspiring personality endeared him to all and he is the most popular president of India in recent times. He inspired millions of children and gave them motivational speeches across the country,” President, Overseas Friends of BJP-U.S., Chandra Patel said. “Dr Kalam was indeed a people’s President, and beloved child of India. All Indians across the world salute him for his invaluable contributions to India. His death is a tremendous loss to the nation and creates a big void that is hard to fill,” Mr Patel said.
North America Telugu Society (NATS) in a statement said, it is “deeply saddened” on the sudden demise of Dr Kalam. “Dr Kalam had a special relationship with the Telugu land, spending a major part of his life here,” said Telugu Association of North America (TANA) in another statement TANA was a supporter of Kalam’s Lead India 2020 movement.

“A PJ Abdul Kalam has left a rich legacy to the people of India and an even richer legacy to the world,” Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra said. “His love of nation and peaceful celebratory co-existence of multiple faiths are an enduring lesson of humility,” he said.

“India has indeed lost one of the iconic leaders of all time and the death of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has left a tremendous void,” Chairman of the Indian National Overseas Congress, U.S., George Abraham said.

To Kalam, becoming a fighter pilot was a “dearest dream” but he failed to realize it by a whisker, bagging the ninth position when only eight slots were available in the IAF. In his new book, “My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions,” published by Rupa, Kalam, who specialized in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology, says he was desperate to pursue a career in flying.

“It is only when we are faced with failure do we realize that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives,” says Kalam, who went on to put his “heart and soul” at his job as a senior scientific assistant at DTDP. The book is filled with stories of “innumerable challenges and learning” in his years as the scientific adviser when India conducted its second nuclear test, his retirement and dedication to teaching thereafter and his years as president.

Asian American Students’ Complaint Against Harvard Dismissed

Ajay GhoshCommunity 0

The United States Department of Education is dismissing a claim that  Harvard shows bias against Asian-American applicants because a similar lawsuit has already been filed in federal court. The education department’s Office for Civil Rights reportedly told Bloomberg Business that it’s dismissing the claim without evaluating its merit because of a similar lawsuit filed in federal district court in Boston in November 2014.

In May 2015, a coalition of more than 60 organizations filed a complaint with the federal government, alleging that Harvard holds Asian-Americans to higher standards than other ethnic groups, according to On Campus, a public radio initiative produced in Boston.

They also complained the university uses racial quotas, lumping all Asian-Americans, including Indian, Chinese and Pakistani, into a single, broad category and asked the federal government to investigate.

“We feel the Department of Education and the Department of Justice should have access to Harvard’s admissions records,” Swan Lee, who helped to organize the coalition, was quoted as saying. Civil rights activists suggest the complaint is a backdoor attack on affirmative action, and Harvard says its admissions philosophy is “holistic,” and it complies with the law.

The group behind that lawsuit, Students for Fair Admissions Inc., is also responsible for another case against the University of North Carolina, according to On Campus.

Meanwhile, Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC) moved this week to delay lawsuits by a conservative group alleging that the schools unfairly limit the number of Asian-American students admitted.

The universities have cited last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to revisit a white student’s lawsuit against the University of Texas that claims consideration of an applicant’s race violates the Constitution. The schools said the lawsuits against them should be suspended until the Supreme Court rules on the Texas dispute, likely by June 2016.

For decades, U.S. colleges and universities have adopted policies known as “affirmative action,” in which admissions officers use race as one of many screening criteria to bring greater racial diversity to campus. Some white students, and now Asian Americans, contend such policies discriminate against them. Students for Fair Admissions says Asian Americans are held to a higher standard to restrict their numbers.

Harvard and UNC deny any discrimination and say their practices are based on decades-old Supreme Court precedent. The Blum challengers want to overturn that 1978 precedent, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which forbade quotas but permitted colleges to use race as one factor among many to obtain a diverse class. That ruling has primarily benefited blacks and Hispanics.

The three cases, all initiated by Blum and his associates, constitute the strongest attack in years on affirmative action, which has survived challenges at the Supreme Court by tight votes. The universities being sued are fighting to maintain such diversity policies.

For the lawsuits on behalf of Asian-American students against Harvard and the University of North Carolina, Blum set up websites encouraging students denied admission to join his cause.

Advocates for African-American and other minority students contend they are the “real targets” of Blum’s efforts and have asked judges to let them join in the two cases. A Boston-based U.S. District Court judge last month rejected their motion to intervene. Lawyers for the minority students are appealing. A separate motion to intervene in the North Carolina case, made on June 29, has yet to be acted on.

Pujya Gurudevshri spreads fragrance of spirituality in Chicago

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CHICAGO, IL — Propounding the path of Bhagwan Mahavira, an ardent devotee of Shrimad Rajchandraji, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai is a spiritual visionary and modern-day mystic. The founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, Pujya Gurudevshri has illuminated numerous lives across the globe through enlightening discourses and an array of meditation retreats.

His divine benevolence has touched scores of underprivileged lives through the ten fold Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care Programme, At present the Mission has 80 centres spread across the globe in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. In addition, over 225 centres worldwide mould the youth and children, shaping a brighter future for them

Pujya Gurudevshri was accorded an affectionate welcome at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where He spent endearing moments interacting with seekers. The Master gave spirituality a new meaning through three transformational pravachans at the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago. He empowered aspirants with techniques to translate profound knowledge into practical wisdom.

Through everyday situations one encounters, he demonstrated how each one is responsible for their own joy and sorrow. While it appears as though circumstances determine one’s reactions, it is actually an individual’s independent choice.

The spiritual guru further elucidated that the power to make the right choice is gained from the strength of one’s spiritual practices and satsang. Constantly studying oneself and remaining in awareness play a key role in strengthening one’s inner muscles. Introspection enables a shift in one’s values and thus in one’s perception of the world.

It is this shift that gives one a new perspective of life and alters one’s interpretations of the occurrences in daily life. One may begin by only being able to see the physical–that which is plainly visible to the eyes. Moving ahead, with education and enhanced thinking, one gains intelligence and deeper insight.

As one progresses, one develops the power of discrimination and is able to make decisions which are in favour of that which is spiritually beneficial. Finally, the inward journey leads him to experience invisible inner bliss.

Seekers were inspired to forge ahead on the path of liberation and bring about an inner revolution in their lives. Expressing their gratitude towards Pujya Gurudevshri, the committee members of the Jain Centre of Chicago felicitated the Master.

Pujya Gurudevshri graced the residences of several seekers, blessing them with memories of a lifetime. It was amid joyous chanting that pious pratishthas ensued at the abodes of Jagdishbhai-Shobhaben Shah and Manish-Anchal Jain, consecrating the Divine in their hearts and homes.

Aspirants boarded the Summer of George cruise for an evening of elevation with the Sadguru. Views of the Chicago skyline faded in the Master’s captivating aura as energetic dance dedications uplifted spirits and melted hearts. Binding seekers with the thread of purity, Pujya Gurudevshri proceeded to his next destination on his dharmayatra.

Extremism Concerns Growing in West and Predominantly Muslim Countries

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Social Media 0

As the Islamic militant group ISIS continues to entrench itself in Syria and Iraq, and instigate terrorist attacks around the world, concerns about Islamic extremism are growing in the West and in countries with significant Muslim populations. Since 2011, the percentage saying they are very concerned about Islamic extremism in their country has increased 38 percentage points in France, 29 points in Spain, 21 points in the United Kingdom, 20 points in Germany and 17 points in the United States. These are among the main findings of a new Pew Research Center survey, conducted in 21 nations among 21,235 respondents from April 5 to May 21, 2015.

Concerns are also up significantly in Nigeria (+18), the Palestinian territories (+16), Lebanon (+12), Pakistan (+9) and Turkey (+8) since 2013, before ISIS became widely known. Worries about extremism are higher across the Western countries surveyed than they are in the Muslim countries surveyed.Overall, a median of 52% across nine Western nations are very concerned about Islamic extremism. Across the 10 countries with Muslim populations of around half or more (including Middle Eastern, Asian and African nations), the median who are very concerned is 42%. Nevertheless, roughly half or more of people across all the countries surveyed say they are at least somewhat concerned about Islamic extremism in their country.

People in Israel (37% very concerned) and Russia (23%) are less concerned about extremism than those in many of the other countries surveyed. But this has not always been the case in Russia, where great concern about extremism is down 12 percentage points since 2011 and 29 points since 2005, when the survey was fielded just months after 334 hostages died in a school in Beslan that was taken over by Chechen rebels.

In European countries, older people, women and those on the right of the ideological spectrum are more concerned about Islamic extremism than the young, men and those on the left. In the U.S., these demographic differences also extend to political party and religion. Republicans and Americans who say religion is important are more likely to be concerned about Islamic extremism than are Democrats and independents, and those who say religion is not important to their daily lives.

Additionally, general concern about extremism in these countries is closely associated with worries about the international reach of ISIS. In 20 of the 21 the countries surveyed, people who are very concerned about the ISIS threat in Iraq and Syria are significantly more worried about the extremist threat in general.

Across the countries surveyed, worries about extremism have risen the most in France.In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, two-thirds in France say they are very concerned about Islamic extremism in their country. This is up from 29% in 2011, the last time this question was asked there. Concern is also high in Spain, where 61% are very worried about the extremist threat.

Roughly half in the U.S. (53%), Italy (53%) and UK (52%) are very apprehensive about extremism in their countries. Among Americans and Brits, this represents around a 20-percentage-point increase in concern since 2011. Meanwhile, 46% of Germans are very concerned, up 20 points from 2011.

Australians, though a world away from the Islamic State’s territory, have also experienced a terrorist attack in the past year, when a hostage standoff in Sydney ended in the death of three people, including the gunman. Roughly half in Australia (48%) are very concerned about Islamic extremism in their country.

Only a third of Canadians are very worried about the extremist threat in Canada, despite the 2014 attack at the Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa. In Russia, just 23% are very concerned about extremism. This is down 12 points since 2011 and 29 points from 2005. Similarly, in Poland, only 22% are very concerned about the threat of Islamic extremism.

Across all the European countries surveyed, as well as in Australia, Canada and Russia, older people are more concerned than younger generations about the threat of Islamic extremism. Women are more concerned than men about Islamic extremism in many of the Western countries surveyed. Two-thirds of Spanish women are very concerned about the extremist threat, while only 54% of men say the same. Additionally, in four of the six European countries surveyed, those on the ideological right are more worried about the Islamic threat in their country compared with the left.  In the U.S., women, older Americans, Republicans and those who say religion is important in their lives are the most likely to be very concerned about Islamic extremism. For instance, 58% of American women are very worried about the extremist threat in the U.S., while only 49% of men agree.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans ages 50 and older (65%) see Islamic extremism as a major threat, but only 27% of those ages 18 to 29 concur. Republicans (71%) are far more likely to judge extremism as a grave threat, compared with about half of independents (49%) and a smaller share of Democrats (45%). Additionally, 58% of Americans who say religion is very or somewhat important in their lives are very concerned about Islamic extremism, while only 38% among those who say religion is less important agree.

Nearly half of Pakistanis (48%) are very worried about the extremist threat, up 9 points in two years. This follows an attack on a school in Peshawar in December 2014 by the Tehrik-i-Taliban that left 132 schoolchildren dead. In Southeast Asia, few in Malaysia (26%) and Indonesia (20%) are very worried about the terrorist threat, though more Malaysian Muslims (30%) are very concerned than Buddhist Malays (18%).

Arvind Kotha’s 54th Birthday Gift To Obama

Ajay GhoshCommunity, U.S. 0

Washington, DC: Arvind Kotha, an Indian American graphic artist has prepared a unique present for President Barack Obama’s 54th birthday on August 4th. The Indian American immigrant, who has lived in the United States since 2007, has created 54 sketches of the president, showcasing his many accomplishments while in office. Kotha said he tried to capture the mood and emotions of Obama as the president grapples with the many challenges of the nation.

“I have always been inspired by the president’s great courage and leadership,” said Kotha, who worked on this present for nine months. He has also contacted White House staff in an attempt to meet the president and personally present his work. In 2003, Kotha won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for sketching for 108 hours (five days) straight, without even stopping to sleep. He was also awarded a place in India’s Limca Book of World Records that year.

In 2008, Kotha sketched continuously for 72 hours and presented several works to Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kotha has also released a book about India’s political leader Mahatma Gandhi, featuring 40 original sketches that chronicle Gandhi’s leadership in the struggle to free India from British rule. “Sketching is my passion. I try to create joy for people by presenting them with sketches on their birthdays and other special occasions,” Kotha explained.

AAPI’s New Executive Team Led By Dr. Seema Jain Wants To “Mainstream AAPI And Take AAPI To The Next Level”

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Chicago, IL – August 1st, 2015: A new Executive Committee led by Dr. Seema Jain as President, assumed charge of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) during the 33rd annual convention in Orlando, FL on Saturday, June 20th, 2015. In her inaugural address, Dr. Jain, who rose through the ranks of AAPI after being a member of AAPI and in almost every body of AAPI in the past 15 years, stated that she believes that “Now, it’s time for us to mainstream AAPI. From being an ethnic organization, we need to be a mainstream organization that is committed to the cause of ethnic Indian American physicians and many noble causes that we are committed for.”

Dr. Seema Jain was administered the oath of office by Dr. Jayesh Shah, past President of AAPI in the presence of Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, immediate past President, as the more than 2,500 delegates cheered loudly, greeting the new President of AAPI, the largest ethnic medical association in the United States. Along with Dr. Jain, Dr. Ajay Lodha, President-Elect, Dr. Gautam Samadder, Vice President, Dr. Naresh Parikh, Secretary, and Dr. Suresh Reddy, Treasurer of AAPI assumed charge in the presence of leading luminaries from across the nation. Dr. Aravind Pillai was administered the oath of office as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, AAPI by the out-going chairman, Dr. Ajeet Singhvi. Dr. Rupak D. Parikh will serve as the President of the YPS while Dr. Dhaval  Bhanusali will be the President of MSRF for the 2015-2016.

With over two decades of excellence and dedicated service to the cause of physicians of India origin in the United States, Dr. Seema Jain, brings a wealth of experience and vision clubbed with infectious zeal and unwavering integrity and commitment. A woman leader in a predominantly men’s club, Dr. Jain’s motivation for joining American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in 1987 was that “AAPI needed young charismatic leaders that had the service and leadership qualities needed to unite and bring Indian physicians to new levels in American society.” In the past 33 years of AAPI’s existence the organization has had only two women physicians leading this largest ethnic organization of physicians in the US, and Dr. Jain is the third woman President in its history.

Dr. Jain believes “bridging the gap between clinical research and medical practice is central to AAPI’s mission, while working towards sustaining & securing financial growth. In addition, growth & empowerment of women leaders will guide AAPI to new heights. As Indian physicians in the United States it is our duty to nurture the present for a prosperous future.” Dr. Jain, a Board Certified Psychiatrist, is confident that the challenges can be met by a strong organization, working closely with American Medical Association and THE Political Health committees on Capitol Hill.

According to Dr. Jain,, as an organization “we need to strive to give importance to ideas and not people. I wish to strive to make AAPI an organization where people feel proud to contribute their time and energy for the greater good of the members and the society.” “I have the confidence,” she says. “I have a solid team to work with. I was raised in a way that I am given the freedom. I really would like to have an open debate on every issue that confronts AAPI. Moving forward, there will be disagreements, but will work our ways together. I believe, I have the ability to change people’s minds. People have seen me, heard me and they have the confidence in me.”

Dr. Jain gives full credit to her family for supporting at every step of the way. “I want to thank my family and my husband, Dr. Sanjay Jain, who has stood behind me solidly at step of my way. I have very good friends in AAPI, who have full confidence in me and I can trust them for guiding me through all stages in leading AAPI.”

Dr. Aravind Pillai, Chair, Board of Trustees, AAPI, has been entrusted with the role after having served AAPI in various capacities. Very unassuming and down-to-earth, Dr. Pillai, says, “I have been impressed by the degree of support I have received from the outstanding leadership.  I am grateful for their knowledge and support, which helped my transition from patron member to co-chair of the AAPI convention in 2008 to Board of Trustees member. For the past 20+ years, he has been working with various local and national organizations to help improve the health care system both in the US and India.  Dr. Pillai had served as the past President and Convention Chair for the Association of Kerala Medical Graduates (AKMG) in 2006.  In 2008, I co-founded the Central Florida Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (CAPI), and has been the Chair of the Awards Committee and convener of the most successful fund raising Shreya Ghoshal show.

“With active participation from regional directors and chapter presidents, I would also like to establish an AAPI Yoga clinic,” Dr. Pillai says. “The clinic will serve as a treatment center for chronic back pain, migraines, breathing problems and generalized anxiety/depression.  Once established, we hope to get as many AAPI physicians as possible to participate in the clinics, so that we can assist undeserved children and adults. I think the AAPI Yoga clinics can become an integral part of the preventative health initiative in the United States.”

In the coming year, as Chairman, Dr. Pillai wants to “discharge my duties without bias or prejudice.  I hope that AAPI President Dr. Seema Jain, entire executive committee and I will continue to work together to improve AAPI’s image in USA and India.  We will continue to provide active guidance to new immigrant physicians from India and support them as they go through the residency process.  We will help local chapters to create endowment funds to distribute scholarships to deserving students.  I would also like to start a country-wide AAPI awareness campaign. In order to continue to grow and flourish, it is important that we support our Young Physicians Section in any way possible,” DR. Pillai adds.

Dr. Dhaval  Bhanusali , the President of MSRF, recently graduated from his Dermatology residency at Mount Sinai/ St. Luke’s-Roosevelt hospitals.  During his training, Dr. Bhanusali published numerous research studies and has presented worldwide.  Recently, Dr. Bhanusali spent time working at the ABC News medical unit in New York City, served as an advisor at Doximity, and is the CEO of Health Digital, a rapidly growing digital health startup based out of NYC and Tampa, Florida.

He recalls, when he was younger, “I fondly remember heading to AAPI meetings with my family and seeing the deep relationships forged each year.  The sense of pride and camaraderie was distinct, it was as if we were all a large family. Whether on capital hill or in your local hospital, I will work tirelessly to further enhance the reputation of our organization and bring it to new and exciting heights.”

His vision for AAPI is bring AAPI to the forefront of the medical community. “Utilizing our strong leadership and incredible membership, we will be building a strong mentorship platform to help the youth of our organization.  We owe it to our future generations to create an environment that enables success moving forward,” he says.

As the President of the YPS for 2015-2016, Dr. Rupak D. Parikh plans to implement a myriad of initiatives on behalf of AAPI’s Young Physicians. His focus will be providing meaningful leadership development opportunities, along with connecting the multiple generations of Indian Physicians throughout the country in both networking and mentorship capacities.  He firmly believes that the YPS will directly impact the future of healthcare on a national level.

It is his goal to create a platform through AAPI to advance young physicians, accelerate their achievement, and champion efforts which positively progress medicine.   Dr. Parikh earned a position at an acclaimed Interventional Pain and Musculoskeletal Fellowship Program.   His    vision to create a superior model of sub-acute care propelled him to   pursue entrepreneurial endeavors in lieu of the fellowship.    In 2010,

Dr. Parikh founded (ARC) Advanced Rehabilitation Care. Combining his business background in strategy and marketing with a core philosophy rooted in patient-centric post-acute care, he successfully developed an innovative treatment model; this specialized sub-acute program helped improve patient outcomes while simultaneously significantly reducing preventable re-hospitalization rates.  Rupak currently spearheads the regional evolution and national expansion of ARC serving as its Executive Director.

The growing influence of doctors of Indian heritage is evident, as increasingly physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in the healthcare, academic, research and administrative positions across the nation. With their hard work, dedication, compassion, and skills, they have thus carved an enviable niche in the American medical community. AAPI’s role has come to be recognized as vital among members and among lawmakers. AAPI is also transitioning into a multiyear thinking and behavior by maintaining core continuity. Physicians of Indian Origin in the United States are reputed to be leading health care   providers, holding crucial positions in various hospitals and health care facilities around the nation. Leading an organization that represents more than 100,000 physicians and Residents of Indian Origin in the US, and being their voice and providing a forum to its members to collectively work together to meet their diverse needs, is a major challenge. American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI has made its presence felt and is now set to take this largest ethnic group of physicians in the United States to the next level of continued growth and stability.

AAPI members represent a variety of important medical specialties. Many of the physicians who represent AAPI have excelled in different specialties and subspecialties and occupy high positions as faculty members of medical schools, heads of departments, and executives of hospital staff. AAPI physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and service.

Dr. Jain calls upon AAPI members to join in this historic journey: “AAPI’s mission is clear, our programs will continue to strive and our impact is infectious on benefiting society. We as physicians make significant contributions for the betterment of people’s lives. As members we can make these contributions through the 4 E’s: Excellence of Education, Empowerment, Enlightenment, and Evolution. Today I ask you to set aside your differences, and join me in this noble journey to make our mission possible! We make history – starting today!”

Sikh Communities Nationwide Participate in Day of Seva

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New York, NY: August 4, 2015 – Inspired by the Oak Creek sangat’s Chardhi Kala 6K Memorial Walk/Run, the Sikh Coalition organized a third annual National Day of Seva, in remembrance and solidarity for those who were injured and killed on August 5, 2012 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

In the spirit of Chardi Kala (eternal optimism) Sikhs and non-Sikhs participated in 20 service projects across 16 cities, which showcased that we will never allow misguided hatred or bigotry to prevail. These projects included langar services, packing meals for those in need, park clean-ups, toy drives, book readings and Habitat for Humanity projects.

“The Sikh community knows the pain and trauma that hatred brings,” said the Sikh Coalition’s Community Development Manager, Harjit Kaur. “From Oak Creek to Charleston, the seva projects reminded Americans that acts of hatred are not an attack against one, they are an attack against us all. Our resilience and strength to combat hate across our country was showcased this weekend.”

Through the Sikh Coalition’s partnership with local leaders, we also ensured that Americans who did not participate heard this message as well. The Detroit News, Huffington Post, Huffington Post Live, Modesto Bee, NBC News, Times of India and Hindustan Times were just some of the many news outlets to cover the seva projects across the country.

“Thank you to all of the community leaders who helped organize and coordinate their local seva projects and for every sevadaar who participated this past weekend,” said the organizers of the events across the nation. “Without your time and work, none of this impact would have been possible. We are also inspired by the hundreds of participants who joined the Oak Creek community for their annual Chardhi Kala Walk/Run. The Sikh community will continue to honor the lives lost in Oak Creek through seva. Our resolve to combat the problem of hate in our nation remains unwavering.”

Sachin Kumar, 22, Faces 5 Year Prison Term For Online Fraud

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Finance/Economy 0

New York, July 28, 2015: Sachin Kumar, 22, an Indian American student faces five years in jail for his involvement in a scam about selling fraudulent events tickets over web sales platform StubHub and making money out of it, media reports said.

Sachin, who is from New York earned money by selling fraudulent event tickets over StubHub, using accounts set up in fictitious name, Tampa Bay Times newspaper reported. Kumar, a pre-dental and biology student at the University of Tampa, Florida, has agreed to a plea agreement with federal prosecutors on restitution in the fraud.

He reportedly collected $49,121 and StubHub spent $172,047 furnishing victims of the scam with replacement tickets, according to a plea agreement signed by Kumar. Had all tickets been sold, he could have netted $279,949, the report said.

The attorney representing Kumar said many were involved in the scam and his client got only a portion of the proceeds. “Kumar now awaits his fate at sentencing and hopes to be afforded the opportunity to finish his remaining semester of college and move forward with his life,” Kumar’s attorney was quoted as saying. Kumar was to plead guilty in February but was hospitalised after car a crash. He was told about his imprisonment after he recovered.

Pratham Receives $3 million, 3-year grant from the Skoll Foundation

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Pratham has received a $3 million, 3-year grant from the Skoll Foundation to scale up Pratham’s literacy program through partnerships with state governments in India. The grant comes at a pivotal time. The 2015 Annual Status of Education Report found that although school enrollment is at 96.7%, the proportion of fifth graders who can read a second grade text only improved by a single percentage point from 2013 to 48.1%.

Unlike traditional classroom models which group children by age, Pratham groups children by ability. And the results of this design speak for themselves. Independent evaluation of the Pratham program shows that 80% of the children who attend a Pratham learning camp can read fluently by the end of the 40-day session. Pratham Tri-State hosted a stimulating panel discussion and reception at Citi recently.

Authorities on the Indian subcontinent Madhav Dhar, Pravin Krishna, Rakesh Mohan, Arvind Sanger, and Ambassador Frank Wisner shared their views on the outlook for India, both in developing ties with the US and other countries and as an investment destination. The round table was moderated by Sadanand Dhume, who led a rousing Q&A with the 200 guests in attendance.

More than 800 guests representing  a cross-section of the Houston community gathered at the Hilton Americas in April to celebrate 20 years of Pratham. Gala Chairs Lillie Robertson, Harriet Latimer and Beth Madison, along with Chapter President Dr. Marie Goradia, orchestrated the evening, which raised a record-breaking $2 million and honored University of Houston President and  Chancellor Dr. Renu Khator.

Inspired by Pratham’s teaching philosophy, Fulbright Fellow Michael Beeler set out to test an innovative school model using low-cost tablets in Kenya and Tanzania. Known as RARE Education, the initiative was part of the MIT Global Ideas Challenge and won the D-Prize for education.

Consulate General of India in New York Organizes Out Reach Event in New Hampshire

Ajay GhoshCommunity, U.S. 0

With an aim to strengthen ties with the local Indian Community in New Hampshire, the Consulate General of India in New York organized an outreach program for the Indian community on consular, economic, cultural, banking and tourism matters at Concord & Nashua in New Hampshire on July 24-25, 2015. Representatives of different nationalized and private banks of India based in New York, India Tourism, Air India and Make My Trip participated in the event.

Besides, the meeting with the Indian Community, the delegation met with various American dignitaries from New Hampshire State, including the Mayor Donna lee Lozeau, Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster, Former Congressman Paul Hodes, Senator Dan Feltes, Senator Bette Lansky, Senator Lou D’Allasandro, Former State Senator Peggy Gilmour, Councilor Colin Van Ostern, Speaker Shawn Jasper And Michael P. Boyle, CEO & President, Boyle Energy and Businessmen and City elected officials. The delegation was well received by these American dignitaries with warmth and great respect.

A Business Luncheon was organized by State representative Ms. Lata Mangipudi for the delegation members at the Uppam Walker house, Concord. Around 30-40 businessmen and officials participated in the event. It gave a unique opportunity to our bankers and industry partners to get some insight of business opportunities for Indian conglomerates in New Hampshire region.

Outreach NH
Outreach NH

A visa camp and the community event were organized on the following day at Rivier University, 420 South Main Street, Nashua, New Hampshire. More than 150 people participated in the visa camp, where applications for Indian visa, OCI cards and Renunciation certificates were received from the applicants. Over 200 people from various Indian Community and Associations based in New Hampshire region attended the Community event in the evening, followed by a networking dinner. Besides, people representing print and electronic media also covered both the events. The Outreach program provided a platform to the community to know about the activities of the Consulate as well as other economic houses of India based in New York/Washington. The Community welcomed the idea and requested us to organize such events frequently.

Dr. Seema Jain Assumes Charge As President Of AAPI During 33rd Annual Convention

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Orlando, FL: June 21st, 2015 During a terrific convention attended by over 2,500 participants, Dr. Seema Jain, took the oath of office as the President of AAPI on Saturday night, June 20th, 2015. The delegates from across the nation came together to celebrate their achievements and to plan for ways to move forward, enriching and supporting one another for the greater good of humanity through education and dedication to their motherland India and to their adopted land, the United States at the 33rd annual historic convention organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) at the Reniassance Hotel Convention Center, Orlando, FL from Wednesday, June 17th to Sunday, June 21st, 2015. In her first ever Presidential address, Dr. Jain said, “Today, I am pleased to announce our strategic plan for the next 12 months.  With your support, dedication and hard work we will make sure that this is a turning point in the history of AAPI. Our key strategic initiatives will be as follows: Excellence of Education, Empowerment,
Enlightenment, and Evolution.”

Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, the out-going President of  AAPI, in his address, said, “When I became the President of AAPI, the vision for AAPI was spelled out on a traditional Vedic concept of “Panchasheel” , the five action pillars: Education, Community/Charitable service, Member Support Programs, Mentorship / Mantle, and Legislative Action, to further the voluminous achievements of the past 33 years. As he handed over the reign of AAPI to Dr. Seema Jain on Saturday night at a terrific gala, Dr. Jahagirdar had this to say with much satisfaction and pride, “And as this tumultuous year of achievements for AAPI draws to the close, it is with a premonition that the future will be even more productive and that AAPI is now on an unmistakable march into a bright future.”

Dr. Seema Jain being administered the oath of office as the President of AAPI
Dr. Seema Jain being administered the oath of office as the President of AAPI

Dr. Jayesh Shah, past President, AAPI administered the oath of office as the more than 2,500 delegates cheered loudly, greeting the new President of AAPI, the largest ethnic medical association in the United States. Along with Dr. Jain, Dr. Ajay Lodha as President-Elect, Dr. Gautam Samadder as Vice President, Dr. Naresh Parikh as Secretary, and Dr. Suresh Reddy as the Treasurer of AAPI assumed charge I n the presence of leading luminaries and over 2,000 AAPI delegates from across the nation. Dr. Aravind Pillai was administered the oath of office as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, AAPI by the out-going chairman, Dr. Ajeet Singhivi.

Cutting edge CMEs that offered insights into several healthcare and medical issues, focus on ways to actively participate in the nation’s legislative process, on ways to prevent diseases, while working with the government of India and voluntary agencies to effectively train physicians in India, fashion show, women’s forum, fashion shows, mega entertainment by Bollywood Stars, Sonu Nigam, Dr. KJ Yesudas, cultural programs, healthy living, yoga, health walk, meditation, honoring those who worked hard to make a positive impact in their respective areas of work, and  networking and renewing of friendships and bonds were some of the highlights of the 33rd annual convention in the magical city.

Convention Organizing Committee members with Dr. Amish Parikh on the podium
Convention Organizing Committee members with Dr. Amish Parikh on the podium

The convention was inaugurated here on Thursday, June 18th, 2015 with AAPI members rededicating themselves to give back to their motherland, India. A major objective of AAPI has been about giving back to India and USA. AAPI India Engagement was a way of coordinating these individual efforts for the sake of streamlining them and to make it easier and sustainable in the a way that more members can contribute and help make a positive impact in the lives of millions of Indians.

AAPI had three dynamic speakers, Vani Tripathi,  Dr. Margaret McLaren, and Bhakti Sharma, at the Women’s Forum, who  were selected for not only for their enthralling speaking abilities and their expertise in their fields, but also for the varied messages they were able to individually convey to a packed audience at the Discovery Hall.

The event also dthe AAPI Golf Classic, AAPI’s Got Talent and the Be Fit Be Cool Walk in partnership with the Orlando Health Foundation as part of AAPI’s National Childhood Obesity program. Notable Speakers at the event included US Surgeon General Vice Admiral (VADM) Vivek H. Murthy, Kailash Satyarthi, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, recognized for his works against child labor; Sri Sri Ravi Shankar a humanitarian leader and a spiritual teacher; Preet Bharara, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York; and several top Indian performers including Mystic India, Jay Sean, Sonu Nigam and K J Yesudas.

The conference provided an enriching platform for members comprised of medical, mental health, and dental physicians in American to engage with the latest in medical technology, research and advances in the world of all types of medicine and dental. The convention included CME and DME accredited courses as well as variety of panel discussions, presentations and a research competition. There were forums for AAPI Young Physicians Group (AAPI YPS) and for AAPI MSRF for medical students, residents and fellows. A nearly sold out Exhibitor Hall included medical and pharmaceutical products, jeweler, fashion designs, devices and equipment and medical and dental, practice-related services.

A section of the audience during the Gala at the 33rd annual convention.
A section of the audience during the Gala at the 33rd annual convention.

Delegates of AAPI that represents nearly 100,000 Physicians, Fellows, and Residents in the United States, were led to meditate after an inspiring address on Yoga and Health by global thought and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The unique event served as a platform for the AAPI members to discuss the importance of meditation in resolving the nation’s pressing health concerns and how Ayurveda, Yoga, and Meditations, the ancient traditions of India offer solutions to the most pressing health problems of the world.

Dr. Jain called upon AAPI members to join in this historic journey: “AAPI’s mission is clear, our programs will continue to strive and our impact is infectious on benefiting society. We as physicians make significant contributions for the betterment of people’s lives. As members we can make these contributions through the 4 E’s: Excellence of Education, Empowerment, Enlightenment, and Evolution. Today I ask you to set aside your differences, and join me in this noble journey to make our mission possible! We make history – starting today!”

For more details, please visit: www.aapiusa.org

Dr. Joseph Chalil Honored With AAPI Presidential Award

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0

Orlando, FL: Joseph M. Chalil, MD, MBA, FACHE, is the honored recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award by the Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). Dr. Chalil was bestowed with the award for pioneering the ground-breaking initiative Global Clinical Research and Trial Network in front of an audience of 2,000 during the 33rd Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly of AAPI–the largest ethnic organization of physicians in the U.S.–on June 19th in Orlando, Florida.

“Connecting to the brand of AAPI and its extensive US Physician network will lead to an increased visibility of pharmaceutical clinical trials here in the USA,” commented Dr. Chalil, Chairman of the new and independent global research network.

Dr.  Seema Jain, President of AAPI, lauded Dr. Chalil’s leadership in heading the pioneering initiative of AAPI. Upon presenting the award, Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, immediate past President of AAPI, praised Dr. Chalil for his leadership of the initiative, affording the AAPI Membership the extensive reach to “educate physicians regarding clinical across the U.S, from small groups as referral sources to larger ones that can already run the research and trials themselves.”

Dr. Joseph Chalil receiving the Presidential Award from Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, immediate past President of AAPI during the annual convention. Also in the picture are: Dr. Ajeeth Singhvi, immediate past Chair, AAPI BOT, and Dr. Amish Parikh, Chairman of the AAPI Convention in Orlando.
Dr. Joseph Chalil receiving the Presidential Award from Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, immediate past President of AAPI during the annual convention. Also in the picture are: Dr. Ajeeth Singhvi, immediate past Chair, AAPI BOT, and Dr. Amish Parikh, Chairman of the AAPI Convention in Orlando.

Dr. Chalil is a Physician and Executive at Boehringer Ingelheim, the world’s largest privately held pharmaceutical company, and for the past five years has served as Scientific Advisor to AAPI, the second largest physician organization in the US second only to AMA. A veteran of the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, Dr. Chalil is also board certified in healthcare management, and has been awarded Fellowship by the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of more than 40,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations.

Dr. Chalil holds three US Patents, and his research includes Clinical Trial Management in Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Myeloma, and publications in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. He was the recipient of the 2013 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award. A Visiting Professor at various universities and board member of various companies, Dr. Chalil is an expert in US Healthcare policy and a strong advocate for patient centered care. The American Association of Cardiologists of Indian Origin (AACIO) honored Dr. Chalil for his achievements in the field of Cardiology in 2013.

Rath Yatra Celebrated In New Jersey

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An 18-feet wooden chariot seating newly-arrived idols of Jagannath (Sri Krishna), his elder brother Balarama and their younger sister Subhadra from India, the three gods central to Rath Yatra (chariot festival), an annual religious rite for Hindus, was pulled by scores of devotees at the Wayne Hindu Temple in New Jersey during the annual July 18 event.

Hundreds of people, both young and old, took part in the procession, including from New Jersey, New York, and also some from Pennsylvania. Men and women in colorful attire gathered early on to the scene for the festival organized by ICS-NJ Mahatma Gandhi Center & Lord Jagannath devotees.

Devotees pulled the chariots on each side of the Rath with great feelings of devotion. It was a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and experience the great festivity. The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages.

A devotee associated with the event said that this year was very special for devotees due to Nabakalebara, the periodical renewal of the wooden images of the gods at Puri Temple in Odisha, India, the original abode of the4 gods. Devotees witnessed the rare Nabakalebara Rath Yatra, which comes every 12 years.

Rath Yatra festival marks the annual journey of three deities Lord Jagannath, brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra from the temple in a splendidly decorated wooden chariot.

Mahapuja (worship) began with sacred yagna (fire ritual) around in late noon by priests Arvind Sastri and Pitambar Sarangi.

Temple officials like Dilliswar Sahu, Dhiren Das, Akhil Patel, Kaushik Patel and Jayesh Patel participated in the Nabakalebara puja. More than 600 hundred devotees attended the puja and the pahandi (ritual journey of the gods) followed by Chera Panhara (symbolic cleansing around the chariot) and pulling of the beautiful chariot.

“The devotees pulled the chariots with great tempo. It was a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the festival. The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered equal enough to several pious deeds or penance for ages,” the devotee who identified himself as Pradeep, said.

Indian Govt. Rejects Devyani Khobragade’s Plea for Dual Citizenship for Her Children

Ajay GhoshCommunity, India, Politics 0

The Government of India has rejected IFS officer Devyani Khobragade’s plea seeking dual citizenship for her children, who are American nationals, saying Indian law does not allow this. Khobragade, who was India’s deputy consul-general in New York when she was arrested and charged with visa fraud, had recently approached the Home Ministry officials with the plea.

“We have conveyed to Khobragade that her children are not eligible for dual citizenship and hence her plea cannot be processed,” a senior Home Ministry official said. Her daughters were born in India but accepted U.S. citizenship as Khobragade’s husband is an American national. The IFS officer is accused of suppressing this fact to her employer, Ministry of External Affairs. The children held Indian passports, too.

After coming to know that Khobragade’s daughters held American passports, the MEA revoked the children’s Indian passports. She has challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court. The government took the action as dual citizenship is only applicable to those children who were born outside India. Khobragade’s daughters were born in Mumbai. Children of foreign diplomats, who are born in India, are given dual citizenship till the period of their parents’ service in India.

The government recently told the Delhi High Court that Khobragade obtained U.S. and Indian passports for her two daughters in violation of Indian law, without informing the MEA. This, it argued, raises serious questions about her “trustworthiness and integrity.” “Devyani Khobragade’s submission that the U.S. passports were only used for travel to U.S.A. does not in any way dilute the gravity and seriousness of her misdemeanor and are blatant violations of Indian Passports Act,” it said.

Bhavuk Uppal Could Face 50-year Sentence for Drunk Driving

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New York, NY: Bhavuk Uppal, an Indian American, accused of driving with suspended license and allegedly killing three people in a New Jersey road accident, faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted on the second degree multiple count charges, media report said here last week.

Bhavuk Uppal, 22, was driving drunk and allegedly hit a car that, in turn, crashed into an SUV, on July 10. The car had three occupants – a young pregnant women, her husband and their infant child. Uppal who has a long history of motor vehicle violations, has been charged with three counts of death by automobile, two counts of assault by automobile, causing death or injury and possession of drug paraphernalia as well as driving while intoxicated, media reports stated.

“He has infractions for speeding, unsafe driving, driving without a license, fictitious plates, reckless driving, driving while suspended and has been involved in multiple crashes,” prosecutor Matthew Brown was quoted as saying. The authorities were awaiting results from the blood alcohol levels tests.

“If the charges are to remain at second degree, he could be jailed for 50 years. If upgraded, it could be life,” added chief assistant prosecutor Matthew Troiano. Meanwhile, Morristown Superior Court Judge William McGovern has increased Uppal’s bail from the initial $300,000 with no 10 percent option to $750,000 with no 10 percent option. Uppal is currently in the Morristown County Correctional Facility and the next court hearing is set for August 11.

Devendra Fadnavis Keynotes 2015 Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal Convention

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Over 4,000 people packed the Anaheim Convention Center here July 3-5 to attend the 17th biennial convention of the Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal, which was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Fadnavis, who was on a visit to the U.S., told his audience — greeting them in Marathi — he was pleased with the theme of the convention, “Maitra Peedhyanche,” as there were many generations of Maharashtrians living in the U.S. now, and it provided an occasion to celebrate the “sanskriti” of all generations.

The chief minister said he wished to connect the different American Marathi generations with the different Marathi generations back home in Maharashtra. During his speech, which was heartily applauded by the attendees, Fadnavis spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative, and stressed that it will succeed only if “we embark on ‘Make in Maharashtra’.”

Urging the Indian Americans in the audience to invest in Maharashtra, the chief minister spoke of how “India is young” and that it can provide human resources to the entire world, adding that the average age of India’s population is only 25. There will be a “red carpet” for investors, he emphasized, not “red tape.”

Inviting the audience members to come and visit Maharashtra, Fadnavis said the state has many unexplored tourist spots, from beaches to jungles, and offered a 25 percent discount to anyone booking through the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation.

On the occasion, the chief minister also unveiled the convention’s Smaranika, or souvenir book, as well as a tri-monthly magazine by the Maharashtra Government — Maharashtra Unlimited.

The three-day convention actually began July 2, termed a pre-convention day, that included many seminars such as a Business seminar for accomplished Marathi businessmen wishing to network. Among the main speakers were Harsha Bhogale, a well known cricket commentator, and his wife Anita Bhogale. Also featured was a business plan competition.

Among other features of the convention were Continuing Medical Education provided for physicians, and a panel, “La Cinema,” which offered an opportunity for discussions on the movie industry. Several Marathi film personalities took part in the discussions, along with those from Hollywood, such as the team from “Outsourced.”

U.S. Company To Pay $20 M To Exploited Indian Guest Workers

Ajay GhoshBusiness, Community 0

It took 7 long years to get justice for some 200 Indian guest workers defrauded by a major U.S. company, but they stuck it out say their American lawyers, and victory was theirs’ when on July 14, Signal International, a Gulf Coast marine services company decided it would rather pay a total of $20 million to them than face 11 more lawsuits pending in southern courts, media reports here say.

In February this year, Signal International had to cough up $14.4 million in a jury ruling to five Indian guest workers, one of the largest settlements of its kind in U.S. history. The ruling was based on the finding that the company and its agents engaged in labor trafficking, fraud, racketeering and discrimination. The jury also found that one of the plaintiffs was a victim of false imprisonment and retaliation.

In a video posted on the SPLC website, Daniel Warner, SPLC senior supervising attorney in the case described the “dangerous” working conditions for these skilled men in the bowels of the oil rigs and pointed to the huge profits Signal made off their backs after bringing them to this country on false promises. The case was the first of the dozen lawsuits against Signal to go to trial. Now with this an additional settlement of around $6 million to resolve the 11 pending cases, the total of more than $20 million makes it one of the largest labor trafficking cases in U.S. history settled in workers’ favor.

The 11 pending cases were also spearheaded by the Southern Poverty Law Center against Signal along with the leading law firm Crowell & Moring, LLP, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Coschignano & Baker, and the Louisiana Justice Institute.

Signal, based in Mobile, Alabama, will issue an apology to guest workers who also sued in Texas and Louisiana. The agreement has yet to be approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court as the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. “We are happy to have reached an agreement and hope to see it quickly approved by the court,” Jim Knoepp, SPLC deputy legal director is quoted saying in a release. “These workers have waited seven long years for justice.”

The settlement, he said also serves as a warning to companies that might exploit guest workers.

2 Indian-Americans Help US Win Math Olympiad Championship

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Sports, Youth 0

Shyam Narayanan, 17, and Yang Liu, 18, two Indian-American youth, along with four other teenagers, took the U.S. mathematics team to the top at the 56th International Mathematical Olympiad, IMO, after a gap of 21 years. They competed against teams from 100 countries.

Glowing with pride at the victory ceremony July 14 after the gruelling competitions in Chiang Mai, Thailand which lasted from July 3 to 13, the young team is an epitome of what America means – a multicultural society whose immigrant populations have enabled it to gain recognition around the world. The six-member team had 3 Caucasians, one Chinese, one part Chinese and Indian, and 1 of Indian origin. “That diversity is a part of our culture,” Po Shen Loh, the national coach of the team, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA, told News India Times.

Shyam Narayanan and Yang Liu are special people, their coach said. While both Narayanan’s parents are of Indian origin, Liu’s father is Indian whose last name is Patil, and Liu sometimes uses that as his last name as well, and his mother is of Chinese origin. The parents’ names were not available by press time. Narayanan is a student at Blue Valley West High School in Kansas City, Missouri, and is enrolled in the Program for Research in Math, Engineering and Sciences, PRIMES-USA, at the Center for Advanced Professional Studies, CAPS, based in Augusta, Georgia.

Members of the U.S. team included Ryan Alweiss, Allen Liu, Yang Liu, Narayanan, and David Stoner, all of whom were awarded gold medals, and Michael Kural, who earned a silver medal, just one point away from the gold. The last time the U.S. team took first place was in 1994.

Eid-Ul-Fitr Celebrations Bring Over 8000 Devout Muslims Naperville

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Social Media 0

Naperville, IL: On Friday July 17th, 2015 Muslims from all over the Naperville and suburb areas joyfully bustled into the Ashyana Banquets to join the celebrations of Eid Ul-Fitr. While there were various venues that held Eid prayers throughout the region, the largest turnouts were at the Ashyana Banquets where arrangements for Eid prayers were made by the Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN) in three spells, at 8:30 am, at 10:00 am, and at 11:30 am. The Imam for the first session of the Eid prayers was Dr. Omar Hedroug, for second session, Mr. Rizwan Ali, and for the Third session, Dr. Wali Khan.

Over 8000 devout Muslims, including Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India, with family , Mr. Aadil Farid, President, ICN, Mr. Ashfaq Hussain Syed, a committed social activist, Mr. Sami Siddiqi, Mr.Shoaib Khadri, Mr Zahyr Siddiqi, Dr Aqeel Mohiuddin, Dr Adil Ahmed Mohiuddin, Dr Kaleem Khan, Dr Muzafar, Mr Masood Quadri and prominent Businessmen, Professionals, and Community Leaders, attended the Eid prayers .

Women in vibrant colored dresses, men in ethnic outfits and children, smiling and laughing, filled the parking lots and poured into the Ashyana Banquets . Volunteers of the Eid Committee of the ICN open-heartedly welcomed the incoming persons so as to ensure that every one of them was able to partake in the Eid prayers, without any inconvenience. Despite the large numbers, the volunteers of the ICN, the Glenbard Security Inc, and the staff of the Ashyana Banquets were able to direct the crowds effortlessly and efficiently.

Imam and Residential Scholar of the ICN, Mufti Rizwan Ali, delivered an inspiring talk on the good deeds performed by the Muslims during the month of Ramadan and the generous rewards promised by Allah SWT to them. He stated that in the present day world, which is characterized by widespread immorality, the practice of giving and taking of interest, intake of intoxicants, etc., the Muslims, across the globe, engaged themselves in fasting, praying, and the reading of Qur’an. “This is, therefore, an occasion to rejoice and celebrate as Allah SWT has enabled us to be on the right path as shown by Him in the Holy Qur’an, despite multifarious distractions”, he added.

Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, the Consul General of India, while extending his warmest wishes to Muslims in the United States and around the world on the occasion of the Eid-Ul-Fitr, stated that while Eid marks the completion of Ramadan, it is an occasion to celebrate the common values that reinforce the obligations that people of all faiths have towards each other. “Ramadan is not only a special occasion for fasting and praying but also a month-long rigorous training program for inculcating the values of discipline, patience, caring for the poor, and respect for the fellow beings, irrespective of caste, creed, and religion”, opined Dr. Ausaf Sayeed. He urged that the values learnt during the month of Ramadan should by diligently practiced throughout the year. “Ramadan is simply about loving one another, offering friendship to fellow beings, and living in peace and harmony”, he added.

Mr. Aadil Farid, President, ICN , stated that the month of Ramadan is considered a blessed month in which the Holy Quran was revealed. He stated that the month of Ramadan is an occasion for spiritual uplifting, softening the heart and humbling oneself, sharing and caring, seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT, extending forgiveness to others, and seeking mercy of Allah SWT and praying for the same to others. “ The ICN community, which comprises over 3500 families, representing India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Somalia, Iraq, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and various other countries,addresses the needs of Muslims as well as those who belong to other religions. ICN works very closely with people of other faiths to serve humanity, and encourages its members to follow the principles of Tolerance, Justice, Peace and Progress”, added Mr. Aadil Farid.

“The sacred month of Ramadan is a time of sacrifice and reflection. Ramadan offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to peace and justice through the power of faith. Ramadan reminds us that our common bonds far outweigh our differences. I wish everyone a blessed and meaningful Eid-ul-Fitr.  I extend my warmest wishes to the Muslim community of Illinois on this occasion”, said Mr. Ashfaq Hussain Syed, a committed social activist.

Doctor sentenced to 71 months in federal prison for health insurance fraud

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0

Dipak Desai, 65, an Indian-origin doctor has been sentenced to 71 months in a federal prison and ordered to repay over $2.2 million for health insurance fraud, the Federal Bureau of investigation announced last week.

Desai, who ran an endoscopy centre, overcharged the US health insurance systems for senior citizens and for the poor as well as private health insurers for providing anesthesia services, according to Daniel G. Bogden the Nevada federal prosecutor. The Las Vegas doctor, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy and health care fraud, was sentenced by federal Judge Larry R. Hicks. Desai.

“Dr. Desai intentionally defrauded the federal health care system for his own personal enrichment,” Bogden said. “We are hopeful this closes a long and sordid chapter of harm caused to the people and businesses of Nevada.”

An FBI press release said that Desai and his endoscopy company’s chief operating officer Tonya Rushing “imposed intense pressure on the endoscopy center employees to schedule and treat as many patients as possible in a day, and instructed the nurse anesthetists to overstate in their records the amount of time they spent on the anesthesia procedures.” Rushing was earlier sentenced to a year in jail for her role in the scam.

Dinesh D’Souza ordered psych counseling

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

A New York Judge has ordered Dinesh D’Souza, an Indian-American conservative scribe and Obama critic filmmaker, to do community service for four more years for breaking campaign-finance laws and undergo further counselling.

Judge Richard Berman clarified on Monday July 13th that under the sentence he handed down after D’Souza pleaded guilty last year, he has to do eight hours each week for the entire five years he’s on probation and not just the eight months he was confined to a halfway house.

The Manhattan federal court judge also read aloud a report from a court-appointed psychologist who called D’Souza “arrogant” and “intolerant of others’ feelings,” according to the New York Post.

“In my mind it was never contemplated that the eight hours only applied to the period of home confinement,” Berman was quoted as telling defence attorney Ben Brafman.

He later read out a report from a psychologist who saw D’Souza, the maker of the anti- Obama film “2016: Obama’s America”, and then ordered him to continue attending weekly sessions, the Post said.

“The client tends to deny problems and isn’t very introspective,” the psychiatrist wrote. “The client tends to deny problems and is arrogant and intolerant of others’ feelings.” But so long as D’Souza stays on track with his community service, he will be allowed to visit his daughter in London and his elderly mother in India later this year, Berman said.

D’Souza pleaded guilty last year to illegally shelling out $20,000 in contributions in the name of others for Republican Wendy Long’s failed 2012 bid to defeat Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

North Carolina to have Hindu Temple on 7.6 acres

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Ground Breaking Ceremony (Bhoomi Puja) for “Winston Salem Hindu Temple” in Clemmons (North Carolina) was held on June 11; which included pujas, aaradhana, havan, kalasha pradakshina, samprokshnas, etc. Besides worship services, this 3,600-square-foot Temple will also organize festivals, celebrations, special events, etc., and besides sanctuary, will also include classrooms and a community center, reports suggest.

To be built by Om Hindu Organization of North Carolina and Sri Mata Shaktipeetham, 7.6 acres have reportedly been purchased for this purpose. Construction, after consultations with temple architects in India, will start later this year.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada, commended efforts of Temple leaders and area community for realizing this Hindu temple complex.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new Temple would help in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

It plans to have the shrines of Lalithaambika, Kaameshwara, Ganapathy, Balaji, Aditya, Shirdi Sai, Ram Parivar, Radha Krishna, Valli-Devasena-Subrahmanya, Ayyappa, Hanuman, Dhanvantri, and Navagraha; besides a Dwaja Sthambam. Estimated Cost for Lalithaambika shrine at $75,000 is highest among all of the shrines.

This will be the first Hindu temple of Forsyth County, where about 500 Hindu families reside. In the absence of a temple, the area Hindus have been travelling to Charlotte and Cary, besides worshipping at home shrines.

“A Hindu Temple stands for Tranquility, Education, Meditation, Purification, Love and Engagement”, according to Temple website. Dr. Sudhakar Pandit, Swami Rajendran and Krishna Surabhi are Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

Asia Society Policy Institute To Work For India’s Membership in APEC

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

Despite having a population of 1.2 billion and the world’s ninth largest economy, India remains excluded from several regional economic organizations like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) — a situation experts say is detrimental to both India and the international community.

India’s economy is only partly integrated into the global economy, particularly regional trade arrangements in a dynamic Asia-Pacific. The emergence of regional trade agreements such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) threatens to further distance India from the global supply chains critical to Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” initiative.

Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) has convened a high-level, international task force to develop a strategy for India’s membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. To be chaired by Kevin Rudd, ASPI will develop the case for India’s membership in APEC, identify the benefits and obstacles to it, and seek to generate support for India’s membership in India and among APEC members.

Rudd served as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister and as Foreign Minister. As Chair of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism, Rudd is leading a review of the UN system.

Ajay Banga, co-chair of ASPI, is President and Chief Executive Officer of MasterCard and a member of its board of directors. He serves as a member of President Obama’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. Amb. Shyam Saran, another co-chair of ASPI,  was Foreign Secretary of India from 2004 to 2006 and currently serves as Chairman for the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), a think tank specializing in studies on economic and trade issues.

The task force will include members from India, the United States, and key APEC member economies from Asia. ASPI will share a report of the task force with the Government of India, APEC member economies, and business communities in all those economies in early 2016. The Confederation of Indian Industry is partnering with ASPI on this initiative.

Rudd noted that India’s delayed entry is as much about the negotiation process as internal economic issues. “The dynamic of any negotiating room at the top is always in the direction delay, it is rarely in the direction of decision,” Rudd said. “There are two things that are eternal: the kingdom of heaven and the bureaucracies of our various countries.”

“Business globally, and especially in the U.S., should be delighted by the prospect of India joining APEC,” said Banga. “An India that’s much more open, much more aligned with the trade protocols and practices of APEC members, is an India that is way better positioned for integration into global supply chains.”

Shyam Saran, one of several panelists appearing via Skype, emphasized that his country realizes the importance of international economic associations. “Let me say very categorically that India is very keenly interested in becoming part of APEC,” he said, adding that the country has in fact applied in the past but was stopped by a moratorium on new members.

Asia Society Policy Institute To Work For India’s Membership in APECPanelists pointed out that some member countries remain skeptical of India’s ability to conform to APEC trade norms and culture. “The U.S. reluctance to embrace India into APEC for these many years has been a fear that India would slow down the process of moving toward greater trade facilitation and liberalization,” Fred Bergsten, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said. “India, along with some other countries, has sometimes caused problems for global trade negotiations.”

Bergsten added that if India were to join APEC, it could pave the way to membership in the even more exclusive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Being part of an organization like this, according to Peterson Institute estimates, could expand India’s exports by as much as $500 billion per year by 2025.

Sunil Kant Munjal, joint managing director and chairman of Hero MindMine Institute Ltd., said that it’s hard for India to institute the needed reforms as quickly as countries like China did. “There’s literally not one other large economy in the world that has given civil liberties first and has tried to turn itself into a market economy and a global market economy,” he said. “It is a fairly unique experiment in that sense, so some of the things have been slower than we’d like, but it’s also because of the complex and extremely diverse society that we have in India.”

India’s entry into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), which accounts for nearly 60 percent of global GDP, would provide a pathway for greater integration into the region’s economy. It would also ensure that trade remains a unifying force in the region, where competing trade regimes are straining ties.

Dr. Seema Jain Highlights AAPI’s Initiatives At World Congress on Preventive Healthcare 2015

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health 0

Houston, TX: Dr. Seema Jain, President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), highlighted the numerous initiatives on preventive healthcare, AAPI, the largest ethnic association of medical professionals in the United States, has initiated here in the US and in India, during the First World Congress on Preventive Healthcare 2015 at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Friday, July 10th, 2015. Dr. Eduardo Sanches, President of American Heart Association was another speaker who was a special guest to address the delegates at the World Congress.

Dr. Jain emphasized the need for Exercise, Healthy Eating, and Energizing oneself through Meditations and Yoga to be the best means for preventing health risks and staying healthy.  She praised the AAPI members who have been in the forefront researching, educating and discovering ways to prevent risks and find healthcare solutions to world’s healthcare problems.

 “There is a plethora of Physicians of Indian Origin working globally who have their roots in India,” Dr. Jain, said. “It is estimated that there are 1.2 million Physicians of Indian Origin working not only in India, but also, in most of the countries around the world. Their contributions to the world of healthcare is enormous. AAPI has taken numerous initiatives in preventing health risks and bringing the best healthcare to millions of people.”

Dr. Seema Jain, President of AAPI, addressing the audience at the World Congress ON Preventive Healthcare 2015
Dr. Seema Jain, President of AAPI, addressing the audience at the World Congress ON Preventive Healthcare 2015

Dr. Jain pointed out that Indian-Americans constitute less than one percent of the population in the United States, but they account for nearly nine percent of the nation’s physicians in the United States, having a very powerful presence across the nation, while serving in almost all parts of the country. They are estimated to provide healthcare to over 40 million patients in the US.

“It was truly an honor to have you endorse and inaugurate the First World Congress on Preventive Healthcare 2015 hosted by the 35th NABC here in Houston,” said Dr. Sumita Chowdhury, Chairperson for the World Congress on Preventive Healthcare, said. “Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to come and make this a historic event. Your speech was unforgettable and the message was so soulful that it touched the hearts of all the thousands of attendees who were spellbound! I certainly look forward to working closely with AAPI under your leadership with our mission.”

In addition to several workshops on ways to preventive healthcare, the Congress brought medical testing, diagnosis and knowledge about high mortality causes to the fore during the Congress held from July 10-12th. The historic World Congress was part of the North American Bengali Conference (NABC) 2015, organized by Tagore Society of Houston. An overflowing crowd of about 8,000 registered attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, distinguished guests and walk-in visitors to the fair and exhibitors’ area thronged the nook and corner of the sprawling complex.

Bollywood celebrity and music director Jatin Pandit was the Brand Ambassador for the World Congress on Preventive Healthcare 2015. This Congress will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston from July 10th to July 12th, 2015.

Free screenings for clinical cardiac risk parameters, blood tests for advanced lipid parameters, diabetes testing, cardiac rhythm evaluations, and endothelial function tests were some of the services offered to participants during the Congress.

The Congress was an initiative to create global awareness about preventive healthcare to make it a sustainable priority with a mission to: Educate communities on risk factors and preventive strategies; Enact healthy lifestyles, best practices, and equity in access, and empower each individual to implement early intervention and resuscitation because knowledge is power.

A forum to bring together all stakeholders in healthcare to formulate a shared vision towards prevention of disease, The Congress combined the collective wisdom of world leaders in healthcare policy and delivery will create sustainable measures for prevention that can be adapted worldwide and integrated into the fabric of our daily lives.

The Congress was aimed at preventing heart disease, diabetes, and premature death for all. This forum was a way to evaluate the factors contributing to the increased disease risk among South Asians and will help to formulate awareness campaigns to help modify risk factors that are specific to this ethnic group.

The total number of people with diabetes is projected to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030. In 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes and 13% of Asian Indians had diabetes. $245 billion: Total costs of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2012.  South Asians have a one in three lifetime risk for developing diabetes.

South Asians living in America carry a very heavy load of coronary disease – one that is much higher than any other ethnic community. While the occurrence of coronary disease has doubled in the last few decades, it is now growing exponentially. Although South Asians comprise a quarter of the world’s population, they carry 60% of the burden of cardiovascular disease.

The Congress brought to the attention of the world that one American dies every 40 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular diseases. A disproportionate burden of this risk is seen in the 3.4 million South Asians that live in the United States. The risks for heart attacks and cardiovascular death can be up to five times higher for South Asians when compared to other ethnic groups. At the event, Dr. Chowdhury appealed to the South Asian community to unite and conquer the epidemics of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and called on each member of the community to join the South Asian Cardiovascular Registry and contribute to the advancement of science.

Dr. Seema Jain, President of AAPI, addressing the audience at the World Congress ON Preventive Healthcare 2015
Dr. Seema Jain, President of AAPI, addressing the audience at the World Congress ON Preventive Healthcare 2015

“There is a need for greater visibility and cohesion of these Physicians. Their combined intellectual and technical strength can also be a vital force in the development of the healthcare sector, including research and academics. Indian physicians both in India and abroad excel in their fields and have a passion to provide quality care. AAPI through this new initiative, brings their collective power on one platform to help shape healthcare in under served areas and work towards quality healthcare for all,” added Dr. Jain.

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