Category: Women

Ekal Vidyalaya Fundraiser A Huge Success

Staff ReporterCommunity, Women, Youth 0

The annual musical fundraiser held by the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA New England Chapter featured a great musical group that entertained the audience beautifully while helping raise funds to support the holistic development of villages in remote rural India.

The event was held at the Ashland High School in Ashland, MA on Sunday May 12.  Women volunteers draped in special uniform sarees (bought at Sree Sai Vogue) and male volunteers wearing uniform jackets welcomed the audience.  The lobby was beautifully decorated by Aneesha Karody and featured some beautiful paintings from the Ekal Artist Raksha Soni.  Following the lighting of lamps by some of the early and strong supporters of Ekal, the event opened with a welcome by Dr. Subra Dravida , the president of the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA, New England chapter.

Dr. Dravida highlighted the work that Ekal does in over 86000 rural remote villages.  Using education, health and skill training as the three focused areas of intervention, Ekal is working to bring about integrated village development.  The concerted efforts to make a difference resulted in Ekal Vidyalaya winning the Gandhi Peace Prize, which is the highest honor given to an Non-Profit organization by the government of India.

In keeping with the Mother’s day theme, the EMCEEs for the evening were the mother-daughter team of Sudha Subbaraman and her daughter Vamsi who did a stellar job mceeing the event.  The heartbeats group presented several Bollywood numbers. The music was stellar and the audience was rocking through the performance.

A pledge drive was conducted to raise funds for schools. Motivating speeches presented by Manorama Chaudhury and Sachin Goel inspired the members of the audience to give. Ram Nehra, one of the founding members of Ekal New England was given the Ekal Ratna award for his service to Ekal by Dr. Subra Dravida and Puran Dang, Chairman Emeritus for Ekal New England. Ekal Youth Leader, Sanjana Krishna was honored for her tremendous commitment to the cause by Ekal Youth Program director Anuradha Upneja and former Ekal New England President Parveen Minocha. Latha Krishnan, the VP for Ekal New England presented the vote of thanks.

The event was followed by dinner. The attendees overwhelmingly applauded the event as one of the finest musical evenings in New England.

For more information on Ekal, please check out their website at http://ekal.org. 

6 facts about U.S. moms

Staff ReporterCommunity, U.S., Women 0
American motherhood has changed in many ways since Mother’s Day was first celebrated more than 100 years ago. Today’s moms are more educated than ever before. A majority of women with a young child are in the labor force, and more mothers are serving as their family’s sole or primary “breadwinner.” At the same time, the share of mothers who are stay-at-home moms has held steady in recent decades after falling precipitously in the 1970s and 1980s.
Here are some key findings about American mothers and motherhood from Pew Research Center reports:
1.Women are more likely now to become mothers than they were a decade ago, and this is particularly the case among highly educated women.The share of women at the end of their childbearing years (ages 40 to 44) who had ever given birth was 86% in 2016, up from 80% in 2006. This was similar to the share who were mothers in the early 1990s.
Over the past 20 years, highly educated women have experienced particularly dramatic increases in motherhood. In 2014, 80% of women ages 40 to 44 with a Ph.D. or professional degree had given birth, compared with 65% in 1994.
The shares of women who were mothers also rose among those with bachelor’s or master’s degrees during this period, while rates of motherhood remained steady for women with less than a bachelor’s degree, at 88%.
2. Women are becoming mothers later in life. The median age at which women become mothers in the U.S. is 26, up from 23 in 1994. While this change has been driven in part by declines in births to teens, delays in motherhood have continued among women in their 20s. In 1994, more than half (53%) of women in their early 40s had become mothers by age 24; by 2014, this share had fallen to 39%.
3. Mothers are spending more time in the labor force than in the past, but also more time on child care. In 2016, moms spent around 25 hours a week on paid work, up from nine hours in 1965. At the same time, they spent 14 hours a week on child care, up from 10 hours a week in 1965. Dads, too, are spending more time on child care. (In addition to caring for their children, 12% of parents are also providing unpaid care for an adult. Among these parents, moms spend more time than dads on caregiving activities.)
Seven-in-ten moms with kids younger than 18 were in the labor force in 2015, up from 47% in 1975. In fact, mothers are the primary breadwinners in four-in-ten U.S. families. In 46% of households with a mother and father, both parents are employed full time, up from 31% in 1970.
4. About one-in-four mothers are raising their children on their own.While most U.S. mothers are married (68%), nearly one-quarter (24%) are solo moms. All told, about 9 million mothers are living with a child younger than 18 without a spouse or partner. Solo motherhood is particularly common among black mothers (56% are in this category). By comparison, 26% of Hispanic moms, 17% of white moms and 9% of Asian moms are solo parents. (Solo parenthood is far less common among fathers: 7% of dads are raising a child without a spouse or partner in the home.)
A relatively small but growing share of moms are living with an unmarried partner. In 1997, 4% of mothers were cohabiting, and by 2017 that share had doubled to 8%.
5. Most Americans say women face a lot of pressure to be involved mothers. Even in an era where women make up nearly half the U.S. workforce and men are more involved in housework and child care than in the past, the public sees vastly different pressure points for women and men in today’s society. Roughly eight-in-ten adults (77%) say women face a lot of pressure to be an involved parent; a significantly smaller share (56%) says the same about men.
In contrast, most adults (76%) say men face a lot of pressure to support their family financially, while only 40% say women face this type of pressure.
6. Foreign-born moms account for a rising share of U.S. births. While annual births have decreased among U.S.-born women since 1970, they have increased among the foreign born, driven both by a growing foreign-born population in the U.S. and by relatively high birth rates among that group. In the past quarter century, births to foreign-born moms have boosted fertility in all but two states. And they accounted for more than one-third of all births in three states in 2015 (New Jersey, New York and California).

Jagruti Panwala: Chairwoman of AAHOA, World’s Largest Hotel Owners Association

Staff ReporterBusiness, Finance/Economy, Profiles, Women 0

Pennsylvania hotelier Jagruti Panwala is the new chairwoman of AAHOA, the world’s largest hotel owners association. Panwala became chair during the association’s 2019 Convention and Trade Show which was held at the San Diego Convention Center. Panwala is the first woman to lead the association in its thirty-year history.

“I am humbled and honored to serve the more than 18,500 hoteliers of AAHOA as Chairwoman. As an association, our success is a collective effort, and we will continue to build on AAHOA’s thirty years of industry leadership. We are at the strongest point in our association’s history. I am confident that we will continue to grow by inviting more hoteliers into the fold, expanding our vast educational offerings, and bringing industry partners and hoteliers together.”

Over the next year, Panwala said she will focus on bolstering AAHOA’s advocacy efforts at the state and local level, building out the association’s political action committee, and encouraging more hoteliers to seek leadership roles within AAHOA and the hospitality industry. “We must speak with a collective voice against those who seek to harm the foundations upon which our industry is built. America’s hoteliers face significant challenges. Short-term rentals are seeking special laws, such as secret tax agreements, that fly in the face of free enterprise. Unscrupulous lawyers intent on exploiting small business owners continue to abuse the ADA by filing frivolous lawsuits against hoteliers. We will fight for a level playing field with short-term rentals and work with a diverse coalition of hoteliers and disability rights advocates to address drive-by lawsuits. AAHOA will continue to advocate for smarter laws and regulations that benefit hoteliers, guests, and our communities.”

In her inaugural address to AAHOA members, Panwala thanked AAHOA’s founders, past chairs, and members for their decades of dedicated work. “You are responsible for all that AAHOA is today and will become in the future.”

Chairwoman Panwala joined AAHOA in 2001 and served on the AAHOA Board of Directors as Female Director Eastern Division. AAHOA members elected her as Secretary in 2016. She is the President & CEO of Wealth Protection Strategies. Panwala is an AAHOA Certified Hotel Owner (CHO). She is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and holds a degree in economics and finance.

“We are fortunate to have our new Chairwoman, Jagruti Panwala, leading the way as AAHOA enters its fourth decade as the voice of America’s hotel owners,” said AAHOA Interim President and CEO Rachel Humphrey. “Her success in the hospitality and financial services industries is a testament to the determination and relentless pursuit of excellence with which she approaches her work. From testifying before Congress to collaborating with brand executives and industry partners, Jagruti’s knowledge of the hospitality industry and understanding of hoteliers’ needs will serve our association well.

Millennial desi women on a mission to make Kathak a household name

Staff ReporterCommunity, Culture/Religion, Entertainment, Women 0

New York Kathak Festival produced its first festival at the Ailey Studios and Ailey Citigroup Theater this weekend on April 19-21, 2019. The first of its kind, the New York Kathak Festival attended by over 750 was a confluence of artists and Kathak aficionados coming together as a community to learn, share, and connect over the 3-day event in the heart of Manhattan.

Originating in India, Kathak is a classical dance that carries history in its very form. The New York Kathak Festival is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by a team of 10 young professionals. “The NYKF organizing team is mostly millennial women who live and work in the New York + New Jersey area. The festival is our passion in addition to our careers,” said Meenakshi Lala, on behalf of the festival. Anisha Muni, also on the festival team said, “we created this event with the intention of using art to bring community together and create a platform for Kathak to blossom in New York City. We’re on a mission to make Kathak a household name.”

The festival created space for performance, teaching, and discussion. Raoul Bhavnani of the India Center Foundation, co-sponsored panel discussions on critical conversations relevant to Kathak dance. He commented: “An honor to co-host an expert panel on the present, past, and future of Kathak dance today during the Kathak Festival weekend. Well done to all the panelists who grounded us in the living tradition, gender, and the idea of the divine. Inspiring conversation.” Eminent artists contributed to the festival, including Pandit Divyang Vakil, Dr. Pallabi Chakravorty, Dr. Purnima Shah. Dr. Sitara Thobani, and many others. Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty and Air India supported this important event.

The concert lineup included 50 dancers and 10 musicians from all over the world. Prashant Shah, an Indian dancer now based in New York closed his showcase of traditional and contemporary Kathak to a standing ovation. Shivangi Dake Robert traveled the furthest—all the way from Singapore—and was electric. The weekend was closed with a finale by the festival’s guest of honor, legend Pandit Birju Maharaj and his foremost disciple, Saswati Sen. Speaking about the event’s organizers, Sen said, “what the seniors couldn’t do, these children have done: bringing everyone together for Kathak.” Maharaj, 81 years old and a highly celebrated 7th generation artist added, “now you must support them.” The FIA is a proud community partner of the New York Kathak Festival.

The New York Kathak Festival is a newly formed organization that presents and promotes dancers, scholars, and practitioners of Kathak, a classical dance tracing its origins to India. We produce a festival bringing together established and emerging artists from across the United States and beyond. The New York Kathak Festival is produced by the American Kathak community, inspiring creative exchange between local Kathak artists and diverse New York audiences.

Kanchana Poola Given Life Time Achievement Award at IAPC Induction Ceremony

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Entertainment, Profiles, Women 0

Kanchana Poola, a community leader and philanthropist, best described as the unassuming power-house of the Indian community, was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Induction Ceremony of the Indo-American Press Club (IAPC) last month on Long Island at the at the popular Antun’s by Minar in Hicksville, NY.

Kanchana Poola served as the President of New York Tamil Sangam (NYTS) for several years and currently serves as an advisor of the decades old Sangam. She is a Life member of FeTNA and has been associated with American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association. She has contributed generously to several noble causes in India and in the United States.

A recipient of numerous honors, Kanchana was honored in New Jersey by the community organization Golden Elephants Events group for her dedicated service to the Indian community in USA, her unconditional support to educational institutions run for orphanage children in Tamil Nadu and to other notable charities as well. Kanchana was one of the ten women selected in NY/NJ/CT tri-state area to receive the award known as “Woman of Achievement Award.”

Kanchana was honored for her tireless service to the Tamil community living in USA especially in the New York area. Kanchana was the first woman president of New York Tamil Sangam (NYTS) – the first ever Tamil Association started in North America forty years ago for the cause of Tamils living in New York.  Her contributions to the Tamil community towards art, literature, culture and the language are countless. Kanchana was one of the main driving forces behind the successful completion of the three-day celebrations of Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America in July 2006 at Manhattan Centre in New York City. Kanchana was the longest serving Woman President of NYTS proving her able leadership qualities with exemplary service to the community.

Kanchana and Jagadeesan Poola have contributed to the Harvard Tamil Chair Fund.  They are Co-Chairs of The Asian Era and Aksharam magazines. In her acceptance speech, Kanchana Poola said her father instilled in her the value of giving —  for education, for the poor and the needy. The Poola couple were also honored by the NYTS.

During the solemn ceremony attended by community leaders, diplomats, political leaders and hundreds of community members, a new Team led by Sunil J. Koozhampala as the President of IAPC assumed charge for the coming year.

Sunil J. Koozhampala took the oath of office as IAPC President along with his Executive Committee for 2019. New Board members were also inducted and executive committees for New York Chapter & Philadelphia Chapter installed. Sunil is the publisher and MD of Rashtra Deepika Ltd and Deepika, a reputed Malayalam newspaper from Kerala. He also has hospitality interests in the US and Costa Rica. He called IAPC founder chairman Ginsmon Zacharia a visionary leader.

In its mission to offer a common platform for media professionals of Indian origin and improve their working conditions, Indo-American Press Club received encouragement from over 250 community leaders and dignitaries as it celebrated 6 years of growth & expansion and held a induction ceremony for its 2019 team.

Others who were honored at the colorful ceremony included:

* Dr. Neeta Jain, Democratic Party and Civic Community leader

* Mr. Devadasan Nair, Consul Community Affairs, Indian Consulate, New York

* Mr. Ashok Vyas, Program Director of ITV Gold

* Mr. Ven Parameswaran, Senior Columnist, Writer & Critic

* Mr. Varkey Abraham, Business Entrepreneur

* Guruji Dr. Dileepkumar Thankappan, Renowned Yogacharya

* BCB Bank – Manager Roopam Maini

* Mr. Mohan Nannapaneni, Co-Founder of non-profit organization TEAM Aid.

* Sujeet Rajan, Executive Editor, Desi Talk  and News India Times

The Indo-American Press Club was formed in 2013 with lofty ideal of providing a common platform to journalists of Indian origin living in the United States, while fostering closer bonds and cooperation among an extensive network of journalists across the nation, who are committed to professionalism and have the well-being of the larger society, For more details, please visit: https://www.indoamericanpressclub.com/

SAKHI to honor Champions of Gender Equality

Staff ReporterCommunity, Profiles, Women 0

On Friday, May 3, 2019, Sakhi for South Asian Women (Sakhi), New York City’s first South Asian American women’s organization and an award-winning nonprofit that combats domestic and sexual violence in NYC’s South Asian community, will celebrate 30 years of service and advocacy at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at its gala Honoring the Power Within.

ACLU Artist Ambassador, best-selling author, and Top Chef host/executive producer Padma Lakshmi will serve as the gala’s Honorary Chair. Sakhi will recognize ‘me too’ movement founder Tarana Burke and philanthropist Indrani Goradia.

Sakhi’s 30th Anniversary Honored Guests Padma Lakshmi, Honorary Chair, best-selling author and host/executive producer of Bravo’s Top Chef Tarana Burke, Honoree, ‘me too’ founder, activist, and advocate Indrani Goradia, Honoree, philanthropist, advocate, and founder of Indrani’s Light Foundation Eve Ensler, Award Presenter, author of Obie Award-winning The Vagina Monologues, Tony Award-winning playwright, author, performer, and activist Amanda Nguyen, Award Presenter, 2019 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, founder and CEO of Rise Mayuri Veda, Special Remarks, thriver and peer advocate Padma Lakshmi, ACLU Artist Ambassador for immigrants’ rights and women’s rights, best-selling author, and host/executive producer of Bravo’s Top Chef is serving as the Honorary Chair of the gala.

Ms. Lakshmi says that, “Sakhi is fulfilling an important role in the Asian-American community, supporting those who need it most. The work they do is vital.” Two in five South Asian women experience domestic violence compared to one in four in the general population. Through crisis management, safety planning, job training, counseling, and more, Sakhi works with South Asian survivors of violence and sexual assault to achieve safety and independence.

Sakhi will honor two champions of gender equity and justice: Tarana Burke and Indrani Goradia. Honoree Tarana Burke is the founder of the viral ‘me too’ movement.

Time magazine included her on their 2018 Time 100 list as one of the world’s most influential people. For over 25 years, Ms. Burke has worked to increase access to resources for communities affected by sexual violence and racial injustice. Like the #metoo movement, Sakhi works with South Asian survivors of violence to take control of their lives and see themselves not as victims, but as agents of change. Ms. Burke says, “‘me too’ was born from a need to center black and brown girls in the movement to end sexual assault. Sakhi has been a model for gender justice, a resilient community partner, and I couldn’t be more humbled to stand with them as they celebrate their 30-year journey.”

Ms. Burke will be introduced by Amanda Nguyen, the founder and CEO of Rise and a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize nominee for her work on behalf of survivors of sexual assault. Sakhi also works with different communities and institutions to end domestic violence. Sakhi leads grassroots workshops that destigmatize taboos around domestic violence in South Asian communities and trains doctors, law enforcement officers, and other frontline providers to treat South Asian survivors with greater cultural sensitivity.

Honoree Indrani Goradia is an example of the power of collaboration. Ms. Goradia is an activist, philanthropist, and founder of Indrani’s Light Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the level of care for domestic-violence survivors. In 2013, Ms. Goradia joined forces with global health organizations, the PSI Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to lift women and girls out of poverty. Ms. Goradia says, “As an advocate and survivor, I have dedicated my life to uplifting the voices and power of survivors across the globe, and I am deeply honored to receive this award for Sakhi for South Asian Women’s 30th anniversary celebration.

Indrani’s Light and Sakhi are inextricably linked in a movement fighting for justice for all survivors of violence.” Ms. Goradia will be introduced by Tony Award-winning playwright Eve Ensler. Ms. Ensler wrote the best-selling play The Vagina Monologues, which won an Obie Award and has been published in 48 languages and performed in more than 140 countries. “It is an honor to bring together these powerful leaders in the movement to end violence against women for Sakhi’s 30th anniversary celebration,” says Sakhi’s Executive Director, Kavita Mehra.

“They share our belief in uplifting the voices and power of survivors of violence and are role models for all of us at Sakhi. As one of the first South Asian women’s organizations in the country, and the first to break the stigma about gender-based violence in the South Asian community, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made. As we embrace a new chapter of our history, we’re urgently looking to our friends and supporters to help us expand our services to meet the rising needs facing South Asian survivors of violence in New York City. We raise nearly half of our annual budget at our annual gala. This year we have an ambitious goal of raising $600,000, which will support Sakhi’s critical work in crisis intervention, mental health counseling, as well as help us launch our new transitional-housing program.” For more information, including gala ticketing and sponsorship information: www.sakhi.givesmart.com

Sakhi for South Asian Women (Sakhi) exists to end violence against women. Sakhi unites survivors, communities, and institutions to eradicate domestic violence to work together to create strong and healthy communities. The organization uses an integrated approach that combines support and empowerment through service delivery, community engagement, advocacy, and policy initiatives. Founded in 1989 by a group of five South Asian women—Anannya Bhattacharjee, Mallika Dutt, Tula Goenka, Geetanjali Misra, and Romita Shetty—who were from diverse professional fields such as banking, film, law, and public health, Sakhi, meaning “woman friend,” was created to fill a critical need—in spite of an abundance of religious and cultural centers, professional associations, and ethnic-specific groups within New York’s large South Asian immigrant population, there was no place for women to address the silenced subject of domestic violence. Through efforts to serve survivors and mobilize community members to condemn abuse, Sakhi has changed the conversation on domestic violence in the community. Margaret Abraham, author of Speaking the Unspeakable: Marital Violence Among South Asian Immigrants in the United States, has noted, “What Sakhi did was bring together issues around ethnicity and gender, which were previously not discussed in our communities. They shifted domestic violence from a private family problem to a public social

Neetu Chandra to make Hollywood debut with ‘The Worst Day’

Staff ReporterEntertainment, Women 0

Indian actress Neetu Chandra is all set to make her foray in Hollywood with a short film titled “The Worst Day”. Based in Los Angeles, the comedy film is written and directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Stanislava Ivy, read a statement.

On her role, Neetu said: “2019 has started off on a wonderful note for me and I’m thrilled to be working on this project. “It’s been a learning experience for me because it’s my first ever negative role. She is wild, she is interesting and she is the villain.”

According to Neetu, the project has “changed her” and this is definitely “one of my most special projects”.

“The Worst Day” also features actors Marietta Melrose and Jose Moreno.

Also, the film is expected to be developed into a TV series. However, it is yet not clear.

Apart from it, Neetu will also appear in Korean youth action drama “Narae”.

Neetu Chandra is a popular Actor. Latest movies in which Neetu Chandra has acted are Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Garam Masala, Ameerin Aadhi Bhagavan and Khiladi.  Neetu rose to fame with her role of an airhostess in the Akshay Kumar-John Abraham starrer “Garam Masala”. She later appeared in several Indian regional films.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day last month, to acknowledge women’s contribution to the society, The Consulate General of India, New York and The Federation of Indian Associations BY-NJ-CT, jointly hosted and organized a gala celebration in New York. And Neetu was the guest of honor at the event, where she spoke wit passion about women’s empowerment.

Apart from being an actress who’s worked in several industries, including Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, Neetu is also a producer whose film had won the National Award. She has dabbled in theatre, with her performance in the play Umrao Jaan being appreciated by many. An international Taekwondo champion, she is also associated with NBA and basketball.

Indo-American Arts Council Presents “The Colors Of Her Heart”

Staff ReporterCommunity, India, U.S., Women 0

Choreographed and directed by Mallika Sarabhai, The Colors of Her Heart is a spellbinding, dance-theatre-multimedia production, that uses the haunting lyrics of British musician Samia Malik with the creative visual imagery and story creating skills of Yadavan Chandran. On the stage, six women tell their poignant stories bringing awareness into the issue of gender inequality.

What do all women across the world share as experiences? Whatever the color of their skins, whatever their language and culture, the single identity that leads to their exploitation and violence against them is their gender. With songs in Urdu and English and stories that are both personal and universal, the heartful composition draws you into the world of women and their lives, dwelling on their experiences of vulnerability, love, pain, rejection, discrimination, and violation.

The ballet shifts between powerfully spoken monologues as accounts of the performers, group and solo dances, emotive pieces, even a ghazal that come together rhythmically with the bilingual live music by Samia Malik. The pieces reflect upon the common thread that binds all women, bringing together not just the stories of six women, but the pains, travails and victories of women of all nations.

The Colors of Her Heart plays at The Ailey Citigroup Theatre on 405 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019 on April 17. The show starts at 7PM and there will be a talkback with the Mallika Sarabhai, Yadavan Chandran and Samia Malik at the end of the show.

Mallika Sarabhai is one of India’s leading choreographers and an accomplished Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer, who has specialized in using the arts for social change and transformation.She first came to international notice when she played she played the role of Draupadi in the Peter Brook’s play The Mahabharata for 5 years, first in French and then English, performing in France, North America, Australia, Japan and Scotland.

Mallika has won many accolades during her long career, the Golden Star Award is one of them, which she won for the Best Dance Soloist, Theatre De Champs Elysees, Paris 1977. As well as a dancer, Sarabhai is a social activist. She manages the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts located at Ahmedabad, a centre for the arts and for the use of arts as a language for behavior change.

The IAAC supports all the artistic disciplines in classical, fusion, folk and innovative forms influenced by the arts of India. We work cooperatively with colleagues around the United States to broaden our collective audiences and to create a network for shared information, resources and funding. Our focus is to help artists and art organizations in North America as well as to facilitate artists from India to exhibit, perform and produce their work here. The IAAC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. For information please visit www.iaac.us.

8th Annual Women’s Achievement Awards Held on Long Island, NY

Staff ReporterWomen 0

As Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth ,Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker, New York State Assembly woman Judy Griffin l  (Among many other VIP’s) walked into Akbar’s Ballroom in Garden City, on Friday March 1,2019,, they all very well felt the pride and achievement in the air. The Grand ball room was full of so many accomplished and elite, who’s who of the society gathered for one singular purpose, to be the part of and to celebrate 8th Outstanding Women’s Achievements Gala, part of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day Celebrations

IAF (Indian American Forum) led by Indu Jaiswal, known for her strong commitment and dedication to the community cause was the organizing force behind the gala.  This year well known Community Leader Shammi Singh was the Chairperson of the Gala. And of course the hall was beautifully decorated with spring flowers theme courtesy Sunita Sadhnani of Glamorous Event Planners.  Evening started with lighting of the lamp. Shammi Singh Chairperson, of Gala in her remarks welcomed all the guests congratulated all the honorees and praised their efforts in achieving such success.

American National Anthem sung by Gurbani Kaur Sethi and Indian National Anthem sung by Roopam Maini. Master of Ceremonies Mr Anuj Rihal and Chanbir Kaur Sethi made the evening enjoyable. Chanbir Kaur, Roopam Maini , Rohini Singh, Isha Rihal and Inesha Singh coordinated a brief Q&A session with the honorees discussing and emphasizing their accomplishments

Mr Sant Singh and Mrs. Daman Chatwal congratulated all honorees and acknowledged the efforts of IAF Team. Five distinguished women who had excelled in their profession and community services were presented with Outstanding Women’s achievements Awards

Sonia k Bain a transactional commercial real estate lawyer who represents developers, retail companies, hotel groups and several other types of real deal estate properties in New York City. , Sonia Bain is named to 2019 Notable woman in Law by Crain’s New York Business and several other professional achievements

Sylinthia Burges Is Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, First woman Veteran Counselor. Ms. Burges served in the active duty in Army in Lebanon war, at Camp Casey, in Korea, at present she is working with Veterans and several agencies to assist veterans and clients. She is named to The New York State Veterans hall of Fame by Senator Kemp Hanon.

Judge of New York State Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant was elected to New York State Supreme Court, becoming the first woman of Indian decent in New York State to become the Supreme Court judge. She now presides over criminal; cases in Queens County.

Dr Subhadra Nori is currently the regional Director for the combined departments of Rehabilitation medicine at Elmhurst and Queens Hospital Centers. She is an Associate professor at the Icahn School of medicine, Mount Sinai New York. She has held leadership positions at several National Societies in her specialty Along with her Husband Dr Nori, she helped to establish two Shirdi Sai temples centers one in New York Baldwin and one in Iselin New Jersey. Dr Nori is considered by her peers as an outstanding physician, excellent educator and researcher and a superb administrator.

Manu Saluja a well-known Artist and painter in New York and has a Master’s degree in painting from The New York Academy of Art. Her work includes stunning historical portraits as well as recent paintings inspired by her life as a New Yorker. She has been commissioned Portrait.  Manu is on the faculty of both New York University Academy of art in Tribeca and the Long Island Academy of Fine Art.

Stephanie Benedictus Young Achiever is currently a senior at Syosset High School. She has been a part of YICG since childhood and attended Vedic, Shloka and Bollywood dance classes Stephanie values the YICG message and and has become a co teacher of Bollywood Dance. She has a deep appreciation for her culture and works very hard to instill this appreciation. Stephanie wants to be a Physician and wants to continue to help the community.

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth, was all in praises for the efforts of Indian American Forum and Indian American Community. She congratulated all honorees and stressed the importance of role women are playing in this world. And presented them with citations.   Citations of behalf of Nassau County Executive Laura Curran the town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladin, Congressional recognition from Congress man Thomas Suozzi, and From Nassau County Legislature Rosemarie Walker. Were presented to all Honorees

Among those present during the event were Bobby Kalotee Founder of IAF, Nassau County Human right Commissioner Sharanjit Singh Thind, Zahid Syed, Mr and Mrs. Sant Chatwal, Dr Rajinder Uppal, President of International Punjabi Society, Shashi Malik, Vice President of  India Association of  Long Island, Sher Madra ,  Peter Bheddah, Board of Directors of Nargis Dutt Foundation,  , Haseena Mooppan Domestic Harmony Foundation, Dr Anila Midha, President of SAWA, Rizwan Qureshi from HAB Bank, Roopam Maini from Indus American Bank, Jasbir Jay Singh, President IPD USA, Kamal Dandona,  Smiti Khanna , Dr Urvashi and Anoop Kapoor, Sudhir and Swati Vaishnav   and several other dignitaries were present

Dance performances presented by students of well-known Choreographers Swati Vaishnav and From New York Kathak Festival and Stephanie Benedictus. Mr Mohinder Taneja gave special thanks for all of our sponsors and media partners. Well known Artist Sabina Himani donated painting Child Bride and Manu Saluja Donated Maharaja Ranjit Singh Painting for Silent Auction.

Board of Trustees Dr Azad Anand, Surinder Rametra, Dr Ved Kawatra, Animesh Goenka, Dr Urmilesh Arya, Dr Bhupendra Patel, Bobby Kalotee, Board members Beena Kothari, Bina Sabapathy, Nirmala Rametra, Anu Gulati, Dr Meena Jaiswal, Vijay Goswamy, Tejal Kamath, Rohini Singh, Anuj Rihal, Inesha Singh, Gala Chairperson Shammi Singh and Many others helped in making the event a grand success. It was indeed a very successful evening, showcasing and honoring outstanding women achievers, who are successful in business, cultural, professional, education, and medical. Community and social services.

Indian Consulate, FIA Celebrate Women’s Day

Staff ReporterWomen 0

International Women’s Day was celebrated at The Consulate General of India, New York on 8th March 2019, which was organized by Federation of Indian Association along with the Consulate General of India, New York.

The event was graced by the presence of distinguished celebrity guests  – National Award winning Bollywood actress Ms. Neetu Chandra, popular TV host and of Emmy award-winning show Equitrekking – Ms. Darley Newman, Mrs. Taruna Chakarborty, distinguished community member as well as more than 150 members from across the tri-state area majority of them women.

The event marked the annual International women day by honoring women and their resilience and perseverance.  Distinguished women addressed the gathering and shared their experiences and struggles and what distinguished them and made them leaders.   Consulate General of India, New York, Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty also graced the occasion and spoke about leadership in women and the need of equal rights.

Mrs. Sukhminder Kaur, Mrs. Sheetal Trivedi, Mrs. Arun Anand, and Mrs. Rina Shah were honored by the consulate general and FIA  committee for their distinguished achievements and contributions to the society.

FIA president Mr. Alok Kumar along with the FIA executive committee members, Chairman Ramesh Patel joined the felicitation of all celebrities, annual honorees including the all-women crew of Air India, along with Mrs. Bhouvna Rao, RM Americans for Air India.

Women’s Empowerment Campaign Chicago Hosts Women’s Excellence Awards Gala

Asian Media USACommunity, Women 0

Chicago IL: The Women’s Empowerment Campaign (WE) hosted a power-packed awards gala on Saturday March 2nd 2019 at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, IL. The Women’s Empowerment Campaign was designed to create the largest networking & empowerment platform for Indian women in Chicagoland. The top goals of the group include supporting entrepreneurship in the Indian women community, showcasing & highlighting women business-owners and professionals, raising awareness of existing resources & services in the community, celebrating successful Indian women & supporting women leaders in the community. The initiative was founded in November 2017 and currently has 1500+ members. They have executed many successful events since inception including the first ever women’s business awards, women’s business expo, women’s job fair and two networking events.

The principals of the campaign include founders Shital Daftari, Dr Anuja Gupta & Rita Singh who are prominent businesswomen & community members in Chicagoland. “We wanted to start a platform that increased the recognition of Indian women commensurate with our contribution to the economy” says Dr. Anuja Gupta who is a physician and real estate developer of Verandah Retirement Community. Shital Daftari who is an e-commerce business owner of Saris and Things had a different perspective, “We wanted to do showcase how powerful Indian women were. I also wanted to inspire women to take the first step to living a life of their dreams and reaching their highest potential”. Rita Singh who is an IT business owner and also has experience in show business says, “Judge a country by the place it gives its women” quoting Mahatma Gandhi.

The Chairperson of the gala was Jayshree Patel 2018 chairwoman of the advisory board of New York Life Insurance. Jayshree competed with 1200 agents nationwide to win the honor. It was the first time in the 183 year old history of the company that the award went to a female and an Indian. Jayshree was accompanied by her husband Nilam Patel also with New York Life, Ranga Srinivasan head of south Asian markets New York Life and Mike Gavin the managing partner of the Chicago office of New York Life Insurance. “I wanted to pursue a career in insurance because it helped to create real value in the lives of people served. I felt I was doing a very purposeful thing and it never felt like a job” says Jayshree Patel. “The south Asian market is a very important one for New York Life. Top achievers like Jayshree do deserve due recognition by the community” said Ranga Srinivasan head of south Asian markets.

The Awards Gala felicitated top women in the Indian community of Chicago. “Our goal with the awards was to showcase excellence in professionals and business owners of the Indian women community”, says Dr Anuja Gupta.  The women felicitated included Dr Asha Oroskar CEO Orochem Technologies, Divya Sarang an attorney & judge in Kane County, Ketki Shroff Steffen an attorney & judge in Cook County, Dr Sonia Mehta CEO Prime Health, Dr Rubina Dang founder SCARF, Ketki Parikh Founder Vachikam Films & South Asian Film Festival, Sabrina Hans founder SHE Events, Neha Gill CEO Apna Ghar, Rohini Dey owner of Vermilion Restaurant & Mini Dalawari who is the mother of a special needs child.

The Leadership Team of the initiative is a formidable list of the top community leaders in Chicagoland, selected by the founders for their varied experiences & networks. Shital Daftari says, “it was very important for us to select the right people for our leadership team. We handpicked each member from a very long list of qualified individuals who were leaders in their own ways in the community”. Dr. Anuja Gupta adds, “We wanted a representative from every major demographic group in Chicagoland”. Many women from the leadership team are from big organizations in Chicago including Uma Katiki who is 2017 Vice-President & 2018 President of the Chicago Andhra Association, Vidya Joshi Vice-President of Maharashtra Mandal Chicago & secretary of BMM, Aparna Ayyalaraju & Rajani Akurati who are Board Directors of the Telegu Tristate Association.

The list also includes women who have started their own commendable organizations including Chandini Duvuuri founder of an NGO for battered women, Promila Kumar founder of Sanjeevani, Rosey Bhasin founder of Connections By Rosey, Namitha Pai founder of Happy Feet, Sushma Bhanot founder of Share A Smile Chicago & Arshia Wajid founder of American Muslim Health Professionals. Many other women of the leadership team are accomplished professionals who are independent thinkers with great passion for womens causes, including Dr. Manjari Gambhir who is a practicing physician, Dr. Pooja Batra Sharma a Dentist, Dr. Tanvi Bhatt a Professor in Physical Therapy & Loni Sharma a Financial Advisor. Two very important team members are women who are actively working in the community in various organizations including Shree Guruswamy a social worker & volunteer at Sanjeevani, and Ratna Kapur from the United Punjabi Association.

In addition to the leadership team the group also has community partners which include women who are active in community service including Bhavana Modi, Farhana Bukhari, Vibha Dave, Nipa Shah. The Advisory Board members are Dr. Asha Oroskar founder & CEO of Orochem Labs, Smita Shah owner of Direct Floors, Anisha Shah owner of Shree Builders & Arlington Rentals & Madhoolica Dear past president of the Indian American Heritage Museum.

The gala was presented as a black-tie event with 600 guests including prominent business persons, community members, high-level public officials and the media. “Platforms like WE are a must towards our journey of gender parity” said Hon Consul General India Neeta Bhushan. The public officials included secretary of state Jesse White, mayors of many surrounding towns, state representatives, trustees and judges. “Women are half the electorate, half the votes and half the economy. They are the backbone of society” said Secretary Jesse White. The evening saw a performance by the famous Jesse White Tumblers a program he initiated to save 16500 inner city kids from drugs. The other entertainment for the evening included a fashion show by esteemed Indian designer Anita Dongre. Anita Dongre is the biggest fashion retailer of India with over 400 retail stores. The founders specifically wanted to align themselves with the Anita Dongre brand because of its women-empowerment angle. The brand has a big initiative called Grass Roots that empowers traditional artisans in rural India.

The Roar of a Woman’s Silence

Staff ReporterSocial Media, Women 0

By Miss Anushree Bernard, Program Coordinator of Vanishing Girls Campaign of ADF India

The United Nations declared the 8th of March in 1975 as the International Women’s Day to celebrate the social, cultural, political and economic achievements of women across the world. This day gained prominence over the years and it grew from strength to strength as it gave a spectacle to all nations of the world about the rights and equality of women.

However, as we celebrate the International Women’s Day 2019, some very fundamental questions cross my mind primarily being that have we been able to achieve equality for women especially in India after all these years or are we echoing a utopian idea of equality for all women without acknowledging the ground realities that are being faced by thousands of them even today. Equality beings at birth, yet as a country we rank with one of the worst sex ratios at birth in the world. Millions of girls are aborted in the womb as their birth is not welcomed in most Indian families resulting in the loss of 12 million girls in the last three decades in India. The practise of sex selective abortions carries on rampantly in various parts of the country with an average of 7000 girls getting aborted every day that continues to remain unnoticed despite being prohibited by the law. This practise has serious implications which will eventually lead to the extermination of the female gender in the longer run, as we have already lost 63 million women in the last one decade due to several factors such as inadequate nutrition, neglect, poor healthcare and sex selective abortions. However, this discrimination is does not end inside the womb, but also after the girl is born.

In a recent incident that I witnessed in Rajasthan, a one-day old baby girl was abandoned and left to die near a garbage dump on a cold winter night around 25 kilometres away from Jhunjhunu, later rescued and taken immediately to the government hospital for immediate medical attention. While speaking to the staff at the government hospital, they informed us that out of the 12 new born children that they have received in the past few months, 11 out of them were all girls, which shows the daughter aversion that the people of the district carry. Today, there are 21 million unwanted girls in the country who struggle to seek acceptance and love from their families.

Dowry during marriage is seen to be one of the most compelling factors which has resulted in such hatred towards girls. The burden of the parents to pay a huge amount of dowry in the form of cash or gifts creates immense pressure on many Indian families to abort the girl child before itself. However, even after getting married, many women are subjected to gross violence and torture in their marital homes for bringing inadequate or no dowry at all during the wedding. This torture has resulted in 21

dowry deaths every day in India and according to the National Crime Records Bureau, as many as 7,635 women died in the year 2015 due to dowry harassment.

The violence against women has been shrouded in silence until 2018 which created a revolution of sorts with the rise of the ME TOO movement as it gave a voice to thousands of women to speak out about sexual harassment that they faced within their workplace and otherwise as well. Women emerged stronger than before for one pivotal reason that they were being heard.

Today as we celebrate the International Women’s day, we must begin from the first step towards bringing equality for all women which is by hearing their voices out. We must ask ourselves some coherent questions such as do we see and treat women and girls as equal not only within our homes but also at workplaces and in the society. Or do we blindly celebrate this day without understanding the basic essence of gender equality. Nelson Mandela said that “Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression”. Giving equality to the female gender, begins from giving them their right to be born, as all parents must make their daughters so capable that they wouldn’t have to worry about her marriage. Instead of saving money for her wedding day, spend it well on her education and most importantly instead of preparing her for her marriage right from her childhood, prepare her for being herself unapologetically so that she may grow up to be a strong independent courageous woman with wings that will give her the freedom to pursue her dreams.

International Women’s Day: Strong Religious Women: Heroines and ‘Heart’ of Church

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‘What would the church and society be without religious sisters?’

Courtesy: Zenit News Service

International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019, honors the indispensable efforts of women and campaigns for their rights. The focus of this day is less on the about 660,000 women worldwide who have dedicated their entire lives to serving their fellow humans: religious sisters.

During the Lenten and Easter season, the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) directs the attention of the public to these extraordinary women and calls for support.

“What would the church and society be without religious sisters?” the Executive President of ACN, Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern, commented. “This is true in many countries: when the government breaks down and all organizations leave because of the tense security situation – the religious sisters are the ones who stay.”

Kindergartens, orphanages, schools, medical facilities, and parishes would be unthinkable without them. Not to mention their prayers for the concerns of the world: Pope Francis has called the religious sisters the “praying heart” of the church. “Anyone who has put their faith in the prayers of the religious sisters in a time of personal need knows how uplifting it is to be spiritually sustained and supported,” Heine-Geldern said.

Aid for 11,000 religious sisters in 85 countries

ACN supports about 11,000 religious sisters in 85 countries around the world. “Besides funding charitable activities, this includes granting subsistence aid – for example in eastern Europe, where the sisters have no source of income at all,” explained ACN Project Director Regina Lynch.

Other main areas of support are the formation of young religious sisters, rebuilding projects in countries in which convents have been destroyed through war or natural disasters and aid for transportation projects.

“As every employee of ACN who visits one of our project countries can confirm: without religious sisters, it would be impossible to carry out the work of the church under the most difficult circumstances. They are heroines – who do not shy away from either persecution or death,” Lynch said. Each year, the aid organisation receives tragic reports of religious sisters who have been killed in service.

The motto of ACN’s Lenten and Easter campaign is: “Extraordinary women. Thanks to God. Thanks to you.” The campaign gives religious sisters from all over the world the opportunity to talk about their vocations and their lives in prayer and community as well as their work for those most in need.

“The religious sisters are heroines of faith and charity,” explained ACN President Heine-Geldern. “They bear witness of the vitality and strength that comes from a life serving God and those around us. ACN is proud to be able to support these outstanding women.”

Women’s Feature Service: Mapping the Struggles of Feminism in India

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Pamela Phillipose was editor of the Women’s Feature Service, the only syndicated news service in India with a gender perspective, for nearly six years, until she stepped down this year as editor in chief and director. She wore other hats for the publication as well, writing and photographing.

The service began operating in India when Anita Anand, the manager, moved its headquarters to New Delhi in 1991 to ensure that its focus stay on the developing world and that it become autonomous.

The service had gotten its start in 1978 as a UNESCO initiative in reporting on development issues and written by women journalists, based with the Inter Press Service (IPS) global news agency in Rome. www.ipsnews.net

Once it moved to India, it opened several bureaus around the world, publishing articles by Indian journalists and others for syndication about women’s issues on social, economic, political and health developments, but the bureaus eventually shut down because they could not raise enough money to keep going.

The service (www.wfsnews.org) now syndicates 250 to 300 articles a year and offers programs like international conferences on women-related topics to be self-sustaining. (Anand left in 2000.)

Phillipose started her journalism career in Bombay (now Mumbai) with The Times of India in the 1970s and later was associate editor for The Indian Express. She was awarded the Chameli Devi Jain prize for outstanding woman journalist in 1999 and the Zee-Astitva Award for Constructive Journalism in 2007.

She was an editor of a book, “Across the Crossfire: Women and Conflict in India” and has contributed to various anthologies, including “Memoirs From the Women’s Movement in India: Making a Difference.”

This interview, which touches on Phillipose’s career as a journalist and advocate as well as the increasingly precarious state of many women in India, was held last year by email and by Skype from New York to Phillipose in Delhi.

  1. Why did you leave mainstream media to join the Women’s Feature Service in 2008?
  2. The Indian media had increasingly moved away from issues concerning a large section of population, which did not have a presence in the market, after the country began to liberalize its economy — a process that began in the mid-1980s but which peaked in the early ’90s. Dictated by the market, and the advertising sector in particular, the mainstream media began to shift their focus to consumers during the liberalization years.

This meant that many important tropes fell off the media map, including that of gender. This was one of the major reasons for me to consider making the move from The Indian Express, where I was in charge of the editorial pages, to the Women’s Feature Service, a features agency mandated to highlight gender concerns.

  1. You moved from The Times of India to The Indian Express and then to Women’s Feature Service, or WFS. How has the life of Indian women changed during your career?
  2. I began my career in the mid-1970s with The Times of India in Bombay. In those days, newspapers were driven largely by politics. TheMathura rape caseof the late 1970s and the mobilizations around it helped to make visible the larger theme of violence against women.

This, in turn, impacted positively on media coverage of women’s concerns, and the trend continued into the 1980s, which saw many legislative changes taking place.

After the economic restructuring of the 1990s, there was an unprecedented burgeoning of media presence and institutions — first within the print, then within television and over the last decade or so within the ICT [information and communications technology] and social media space.

All of this has impacted both the representation of women in the media and their presence within the media. In the 1990s, for instance, because women were the prime audiences for television, television serials attempted to consciously link women with the models of hyperconsumption and a neo-conservatism being promoted on television.

However, through it all, larger issues like societal biases — reflected in skewed sex ratios — and sexual violence, remained deeply entrenched within society.

The extent to which such violence, for instance, existed at the subterranean level was evident in the regular recurrence of violence, as evidenced in the murder and rape of Thangjam Manorama in Manipur [2004] or in the Delhi gang rape [2012].

So, while many positive changes, vis-à-vis women, did take place, including universal primary education, rising legal literacy and reservations for women at the level of local government, women in India continue to face serious challenges, including those determined by their caste and religious backgrounds.

  1. India has received a lot of news coverage in at least the last year for the occurrence of multiple gang rapes in the country. This has led to multifaceted conversations worldwide about the state of women in India. Have these conversations helped shed light on women’s rights and concerns, a mission of the Women’s Feature Service, or have the rapes complicated the situation for women further?
  2. These are complex issues that require comprehensive answers. Quickly, though, I would like to point out that theJustice Verma Committee Reportwas a positive outcome of the mobilizations around the Delhi gang rape of December 2012 because it put on the table many issues like marital rape and assaults on women in conflict situations.

Those mobilizations also saw the enactment of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, which mandated the compulsory filing of First Information Reports in police stations, something that was neglected earlier, and the criminalization of various kinds of attacks on women, including stalking, acid attacks and stripping.

  1. How do you balance your advocacy work on women’s rights in India with journalism?
  2. I believe an important part of journalism is advocacy. In a country like India, where the well-being of an increasing number of people is being threatened, directly and indirectly, by reversals of all kinds, ranging from the food and environmental crises to global recessions, there is space for a more people-centric definition of journalism.

We need more than ever media practitioners who travel beyond the confines of privileged enclaves, leaving behind the “big spenders” of metropolitan India, to tell their stories. We need media practitioners who have the knowledge, capacity and technological ability to communicate on the real issues of our times and speak truth to power in compelling ways.

It is important for journalists to use their abilities of description, their sense of empathy, their access to information and their understanding of the power of words, to tell their stories.

  1. What advice would you give to the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, about effective legislation to protect women’s rights? Do you think, for example, that a separate coach for women in a train is necessary?
  2. It is imperative that the Modi government ensures that the rising tide of intolerance and communalism in the country is addressed urgently. Communalism and communal violence adversely affects women disproportionately, as we saw in theGujarat riots of 2002.

One piece of legislation — the Women’s Reservation Bill, providing for a 33 percent quota for women in Parliament and the state legislatures — has been pending since 1996 because of opposition from male Parliamentarians.

The Modi government would do well to pass that law urgently. We also need other laws presently considered too radical for Indian society — like a matrimonial law and a law to outlaw marital rape.

  1. The Women’s Feature Service has reported on women in conflict zones. You also co-edited a book reporting on conflict, titled “Across the Crossfire: Women and Conflict in India.” What is it about women in conflict zones interests you? Why is it important to focus on women in these circumstances?
  2. Women and children, as we know, are the worst affected when conflict-driven violence breaks out, since the responsibility of keeping families going falls on them. However, they hardly matter in peace negotiations and their concerns are not adequately reflected in the drawing up of the architecture of the post-conflict scenario.

Another major concern is that they are extremely vulnerable to sexual attack and assault in times of conflict. This is why I would also advocate the striking down of a repressive law like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, presently in the statute books, which gives the military sweeping powers to treat citizens in disturbed areas with complete impunity.

* Founded in 2011, PassBlue is a project of the New School’s Graduate Program in International Affairs in New York and not tied financially or otherwise to the UN. PassBlue is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Indian nuns’ center in Mumbai bags award

Staff ReporterCommunity, Environment, Health, Women 0

Sahayini has trained and placed 500 marginalized youth and contributed social advancement of the poor. A Salesian social development agency has been awarded the first Father Edward D’souza Memorial award meant to honor services rendered to the poor and under privileged.

The Sahayini Social Development Society Vocational Training Centre was given the award Feb. 23 at a function in Mumbai.

Sister Rosaline Pereira, in charge of Sahayini received the award from Auxiliary Bishop Savio Dominic Fernandes of Bombay archdiocese. Sahayini has trained and placed 500 marginalized youth and contributed social advancement of the poor.

Adrian Rosario, a member of Bombay catholic Sabha and in-charge of the award selection team said the Sabha instituted the award to perpetuate the memory of Father Edward D’souza, the Sabha’s chaplain who passed away four years ago.

Sahayini Social Development was created to provide programs and services to the poorer and needy children, adolescent girls, women through the community centres established in various locations of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa.

The outreach services include youth and women empowerment, child rights and education, special care, protection and services to girls at risk, livelihood promotions, health and environment development. It has community centres through which it carries out its services with required team of staff and logistics.

Sahayini officials said 95 percent of their trainees are well placed with living wages in and around Mumbai.

Women’s Health, Childhood Obesity, Rural Health Education are main focus at AAPI’s 13th Global Healthcare Summit in Hyderabad

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Health, Women 0
(Chicago, February 25th, 2019) While much progress has been made to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women, the fact remains that millions of women in India and around the world are deprived of their basic rights like education, forced into marriage early on, not allowed to work, and are denied their voices and rightful places in the society. India tops the list of countries that are said to have highest mortality rates during delivery and even the highest number of non-school going girls. Nearly a quarter of total number of girls born in India don’t even live to see their 15th birthday.
There is a need to empower women, working towards women’s education, gender equality, giving them respect and honor them for their contributions and achievements. There is an urgent need to work on bringing awareness in the society about the need for gender equality and equal opportunity in terms of education, healthcare and equal wages for women. It requires immense amount of dedication and reforms in the education and healthcare systems that need to be implemented as well as monitored consistently.
It’s in this context, AAPI continues its focus on women’s education, especially in rural India. A major theme and focus of the 13th annual Global Healthcare Summit to be held from July 21st -24th 2019, Hyderabad, India, organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in collaboration with Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), will be on Women’s Health,” declared Dr. Suresh Reddy, President-Elect and Chairman of the GHS 2019.
A team of physicians, consisting of women leaders of AAPI, including Drs. Sangeeta Agrawal; Uma Jonnalagadda; Saumya Neravelta; Stella Gandhi; Kusum Punjabi; Radhika Chimats; Swati Yalamnchi; Pooja Kinkhabawala; Dr. Meher Medavaram; and, Dr. Anupama Gotimukula will lead the sessions on Women’s Healthcare Needs.  In addition, a day-long session on Rural Health Education will be held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Hyderabad on July 22nd.
The much awaited Women’s Forum at the GHS will be led by a panel consisting of inspiring women leaders who have been in the forefront, and have shown resiliency, confidence, leadership, determination, and dedication, and have withered all obstacles in life, and have become women leaders, and are recognized to be an inspiration to all.
Dr. Jagan Ailineni, past President of AAPI says, “With the objective of better understand the health care challenges in rural India and have a direct experience of rural healthcare needs, AAPI delegates will travel to Burgula village in Ranga Reddy district in the state of Telengana on July 24th.” They will have a fist hand experience of ADOPT A VILLAGE project in this village, initiated by Dr. Jagan Ailineni and Dr. Alok Agrawal.
The AAPI delegates will visit and interact with the participants and the beneficiaries of the Project in this village and get to know the impact of the many projects undertaken in this villages, especially, Kashi Reddy Guda Primary School, Swacch Pathashala Award in Telangana, Water Plant, Toilets, Mahila Mandal building, Pragathi Bhavan, Zilla Parishad High School and Primary school in Burgula. They will also visit the Primary Health Center, Burgula; Pragathi Rural Development Center, Burgula.
Delegates also will visit the Sneha Program where Menstrual Hygiene Program with distribution of Sanitary Napkins are given away to needy women.  Challenges in Rural Health Care in India with Hand-outs & Brochures prepared by Dr. Alok & Sangeeta Agrawal will be handed out on July 22.
There will be a Hands on CPR in two locations simultaneously on the same day at the High School by GMCGA Alumni; and, at the Pragathi Rural Development Center by GMCGA. The CPR trainings will be provided to Anganwadi and Asha workers, who are women leaders in the local community.
According to Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Secretary of AAPI, “The trainings are aimed at decreasing the number of deaths, especially from road accidents by enabling the first responders to provide life support to victims of accidents. The training, which includes CPI and other medical services are being provided by professional trainers from the US and is offered to personnel. In collaboration with the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine, and the American Heart Association, AAPI is organizing the workshop/training (EMTC) trainings for first responders, as part of the GHS 2019.”
Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Vice-President of AAPI, says, “The growing clout of the physicians of Indian origin in the United States is seen everywhere as several physicians of Indian origin hold critical positions in the healthcare, academic, research and administrative positions across the nation. Indian doctors have carved a comfortable niche in the American medical community and have earned a name for themselves with their hard work, dedication, compassion, and amazing skills and talents.”
Representing the voice of the over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, leaders of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, have been strategically engaged in working with the Union and State Governments of India for the past dozen years.
“We  collaborate with more than 35 professional medical associations, pharmaceutical and medical device companies to address the health care challenges of a rapidly developing India. It is the passion, willingness and staunch loyalty towards the former motherland that draws several AAPI members to join this effort & by working with experts in India, AAPI is able to bring solutions that are India centric & takes us closer to our lofty vision of making quality healthcare affordable & accessible to all people of India,” said Dr. Naresh Parikh, President of India.
“With the changing trends in healthcare both in India and US, we are refocusing our mission and vision. AAPI would like to make a positive impact on the healthcare delivery system both in the US and in India,” Dr. Suresh Reddy said. For more information on Global Health Summit 2019, please visit www.aapiusa.org

Women’s Empowerment Campaign Chicago Hosts US Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard

Staff ReporterPolitics, Women 0
The Women’s Empowerment Campaign (WE) hosted Congresswomen and Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard at a networking event on Saturday February 9th, 2019 in Naperville, IL. The Women’s Empowerment Campaign was designed to create the largest networking & empowerment platform for Indian women in Chicagoland. Some of the important goals identified by the group include supporting entrepreneurship in the Indian women community, showcasing & highlighting women business-owners and professionals, raising awareness of existing resources & services in the community, celebrating successful Indian women & supporting women leaders in the community. The initiative was founded in November 2017 and currently has 1500+ members. They have executed 3-4 successful events since inception including the first women’s business awards, women’s business expo, women’s job fair and a big gala to celebrate international women’s day in an Indian way.
The principals of the campaign include founders Rita Singh, Shital Daftari & Dr. Anuja Gupta who are prominent businesswomen & community members in Chicagoland. “We had reached a point in our lives where we felt blessed by the community support we had and wanted to do something to give back to the community” says Dr. Anuja Gupta who is a physician and real estate developer of Verandah Retirement Community. Shital Daftari who is an e-commerce business owner of Saris and Things had a different perspective, “We wanted to do showcase how powerful Indian women were. I also wanted to inspire women to take the first step to living a life of their dreams and reaching their highest potential”. Rita Singh who is an IT business owner and also has experience in show business says, “I had a very gratifying experience mentoring other people who wanted to start their own business and wanted to do it on a larger scale thru this platform. I wanted to make a meaningful difference in the Indian community”.
Hosting Tulsi Gabbard was a big accomplishment for the group. Tulsi who is a congresswoman from Hawaii announced her run for US President in January 2019. She is the first Hindu woman to run for president. Hosting leaders such as Tulsi fits in with the group’s goals of supporting women community leaders. This visit of Tulsi Gabbard was the first outside of Hawaii after her announcement. Tulsi served in the military and was deployed in two wars. She is currently a major in the marine corps. “The greatest attribute that anyone could have is love for their country because that is truly beyond themselves and not related to any other self-interest. When I promised to serve my country in the military I really meant it” said Tulsi Gabbard. One remarkable moment in her political career came when she asked to use the Gita instead of the usual Bible for her swearing-in ceremony to the US Congress. “As women’s empowerment advocates and as Hindu women we could not be prouder to support Tulsi” added WE Founder Dr. Anuja Gupta.

Dr. Sudha Parikh receives award for philanthropic work

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Dr. Sudha S. Parikh, an anesthesiologist in tri-state area, was awarded the  Nari Udyami Award for her philanthropic work at a ceremony in India on Jan. 23. On the concluding day of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Varanasi, at an event entitled “She The Change: Nari Udyami Award” several pravasi Indians were recognized for their work relating to women’s empowerment.

Dr. Sudha Parikh received the award for her work with girl’s education and women’s empowerment through various non-profits like Akshay Patra, Share and Care, and Project Life. Dr. Sudha Parikh is the wife of Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, founder and chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold.

Dr. Sudha Parikh, philanthropist and vice chairperson of ITV Gold, 9th from left in back row, holding the award along with other’s recognized during the “She The Change: Nari Udyami Award 2019” event in Varanasi, Jan. 23, organized by the Beti & Shiksha Foundation. The event was held on the last day of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.

“I feel great and humble to get this award … along with very accomplished women. I thank the BS Foundation (Beti Shiksha Foundation) for recognizing my work and inspiring me to do more work helpful to the community,” Dr. Sudha Parikh said in an interview to ITV Gold. “Women’s education is the most important because if one woman is educated in the family, she will educate a whole family and she can uplift a whole family,” she said.

Dr. Sudha Parikh, who is also the vice chairperson of ITV Gold, urged other social workers and those interested in philanthropy to join in helping to empower women and children through education and with other needs such as health services, and training in skills so that they can earn a living.

“I am connected with a few organizations like Share and Care and Akshay Patra,” which raise funds to help with children and women’s empowerment, and hot school lunches that keep kids in school, she noted.

Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, founder and chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, seen at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Jan. 23, in Varanasi, with Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, the daughter of the youngest son of Mahatma Gandhi, Devadas, and daughter-in-law, Lakshmi Gandhi. She has been dedicated to the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, and also works for rural women and children with the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust established by Mahatma Gandhi.

Dr. Sudhir Parikh praised the Beti & Shiksha Foundation for its work and said he felt “very humble and very grateful” for the recognition accorded to Dr. Sudha Parikh. “Because this kind of recognition encourages us to work harder for women’s empowerment , women’s education, and women’s health.”

These kinds of recognition, “is like an adrenalin for us to keep working in our senior age. We are both in our 70s, but we are working relentlessly on these kinds of philanthropic work,” Dr. Sudhir Parikh said.

He reiterated his belief that “The more you give the more you become,” and that giving to society was a “double pleasure.”

A performance by Deepak Maharaj, son of Birju Maharaj, at the ‘SheThe Change: Nari Udyami Award” ceremony Jan. 23, in Prayagraj (Varanasi) on the last day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

“When you are giving, it is a pleasure for you, and when you look at the person receiving it, look at his smile and satisfaction, that gives us another pleasure,” he said.

“I would encourage people to support female members of the family to go out and help the poorest of the poor and children in society because it lifts the whole family,” Dr. Sudhir Parikh said.

The B & S Foundation was founded in 2008, because of the “persistent gender inequalities in India and the sheer need of finding non-traditional, high-return livelihood options for poor women,” in urban and rural areas, according to the website. The organization operates in Delhi, as well as in Jammu & Kashmir and North-Eastern states in India. “Our aim is to level the employment field for disadvantaged women by providing livelihoods options that enhance women’s economic status, dignity, and decision-making within their families.” It does this through its WE-SHAKTI program aimed at empowering women with minimal economic and social capital to become professional commercial drivers.

A Galaxy of Women Leaders Address AAPI’s Women’s Forum during GHS in Mumbai “A Strong Woman Cannot Be Stopped:” Amruta Fadnavis Tells at AAPI’s Women’s Forum

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Women 0
“When a strong woman is born, she cannot be stopped,” Amruta Fadnavis, First Lady of Maharashtra and Vice President of Axis Bank, told a packed audience at the Women’s Forum during the 12th annual edition of Global Healthcare Summit at the Trident Hotel, Narimon Point, Mumbai, India on the final day of GHS, December 30th, 2018.
Organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) the Women’s Forum had a galaxy of successful women, who shared with the AAPI delegates their own stories of growing up and facing challenges with conviction and courage, and have today become role models for other women around the world.
The Women’s Forum had Amruta Fadnavis, First Lady of Maharashtra and Vice President of Axis Bank; Deana Uppal, Entrepreneur & Winner Miss India UK; Dr. Nandita Palshetkar, President FOGSI; Dr. Ratna Jain, Former Mayor Kota, Rajasthan; and, Sangita Reddy, Executive Director, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospital Group as panelists. Dr. Asha Parikh, Chair, AAPI Women’s Forum and Dr. Udaya Shivangi, Vice Chair, AAPI Women’s Forum, led the panelists to a lively discussion on ways to prevent and address violence against women.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Asha Parikh, Chairwoman of the Women’s Forum, described violence against women as a “burning issue” around the world. While praising AAPI for making efforts to focus on this crucial issue affecting women across all continents, she urged everyone to “identify ways to collectively address this issue.” Reminding the audience about the tradition of woman being considered a goddess in the Indian tradition, she urged everyone to respect women in all places.
Amruta Fadnavis, who was the keynote speaker at the Women’s Forum, is a trained classical singer, a social activist and a banker. Married to the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, she is the youngest first lady in the history of Maharashtra. Currently, serving as the Vice President – Transaction Banking with Axis Bank, Ms. Fadnavis has represented India at National Prayer Breakfast – 2017, an International peace initiative presided by US President Donald Trump. She has perfectly blended her life as a working woman and a socialite to nurture her interests and passions. She chose to have her own individuality rather than wrapped herself under the covers of first lady of Maharashtra and which is definitely an inspiration for many women today.
Ms. Fadnavis grew up in a household where education and independence for women was essential.  Being a wife, mother, businesswoman, artiste, each role she plays is so demanding. But, Ms. Fadnavis, who shared about her supporting parents and family, while growing up, said, she was able to plat all of these roles effectively, because she has a very understanding husband, who encouraged her to work towards the realization of her personal and professional goals.
“It’s smart economics to invest in a girl as much as one would in a boy,” Ms. Fadnavis said. “It’s very important to help girl child to be independent.” She stressed the need for women to be more educated than men. “Men feel threatened when women do not adhere to what men wants them to do,” she said. Pointing to many non-governmental programs she has initiated and supported, Ms. Fadnavis drew the attention of how with the trainings provided to police, more women have come forward to report violence than in the past.
Dr. Nandita Palshetkar shared with the audience about her own advocacy role she and FOGSI, her noble organization working with women are doing in Maharshtra. Describing violence against women as “most shameful,” Dr. Palshetkar stated, the prevalence of violence against women is a global phenomenon. She called for the need for education towards gender sensitization. Working with schools, health workers across the country, this can be achieved, she said.  According to her, “The biggest challenge is to keep fighting. Women need to support each other and applaud each other’s victory. If you are not doing it no one is going to do it for yourself,” she told the audience.
 
Deana Uppal, another panelist, while acknowledging that there is discrimination in the glamour world of Hollywood and Bollywood, said, in choosing lead roles and when it comes to payments, men are always preferred over women. “We have come a long way. Changes are taking place,” she said. “There are questions raised when such practices are seen happening.” She allured to the effect of MeToo# Movement and its impact on the ability for “more people to speak out against any type of discrimination.” Stressing the need for equality, she said, “I strongly believe in promoting equality. You are the role models for all of us here. Keep fighting and support one another.”
Dr. Ratna Jain, who was elected Mayor of Kota in Rajasthan at a very young age, recommended that  “Be sure of what you want to be and be passionate about what you want to achieve. Believe in yourself and go ahead and do it.” While acknowledging of the many social evils that are prevalent across India, Dr. Jain said, “When women are educated, things will be better for everyone. Many of these social evils will be eliminated.” Stressing the need for literacy, she said, “Small efforts by everyone can do wonders.”
Ms. Sangita Reddy, who moderated the panel discussion pointed out how women are being judged differently than men in almost every aspect of life. She stated that there are as many as 70% of the healthcare jobs are held by women, but only a handful of jobs in Board “There is an unconscious structural bias. There is a need for looking within and identify ways to move forward in order to be agents of change from within.
Dr. Udaya Shivangi, Co-Chair of Women’s Forum, stressed the need for enhancing professional growth without compromising one’s family, values and interests in life. She shared with the audience how her mother inspired her to dream and work towards realizing her dreams.
The 12th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit at the glamour capital of India, Mumbai concluded here on December 30th with Physicians of Indian Origin rededicating  themselves to work and collaborate towards bringing in high quality, innovative, preventable, cost-effective ways to the delivery of healthcare to millions of people in India.
The three-day historic event, inaugurated by the Honorable President of India on December 28th at the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai, was for the first time, jointly organized by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), from December  28th – 30th December 2018 at Hotel Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai. Earlier, Dr. Naresh Parikh, President AAPI in his opening remarks, highlighted the importance of Women’s Forum, which has come to be a much sought after event at ever Convention and GHS.
Representing the interests of the over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, leaders of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, for 37 years. For more details, please visit:  https://aapisummit.org/www.aapiusa.org

Chandrika Tandon to receive Horatio Alger Award

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Indian American business leader Chandrika Tandon will be receiving the 2019 Horatio Alger Award, among 12 others, from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education.

Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, has announced that Chandrika K. Tandon, Chair and Founder of Tandon Capital Associates, Soul Chants Music, and the Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation has been selected for membership in this prestigious organization.

For more than 70 years, the Horatio Alger Award has been annually bestowed upon esteemed individuals who have succeeded despite adversity, and who have remained committed to higher education and charitable endeavors throughout their lives.

Ms. Tandon was born the first daughter of a traditional family in Chennai, India. Raised from an early age to make a good wife, her only exposure to the world at large was through music and the poetry and literature her grandfather shared with her. Though she dreamt of making music her life’s work, she was discouraged, as it was not considered a respectable profession at the time. Ms. Tandon instead pursued business, not knowing that music would find her again later in life. Fighting for her dreams against the narrow future her family envisioned, she went on hunger strikes to be allowed to leave home for college and business school. In 1973, Ms. Tandon graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Madras Christian College, and went on to attend the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad for her MBA. Immediately thereafter, she began her career for Citibank, starting in war-torn Beirut.

At age 24, Ms. Tandon immigrated to the United States to work for McKinsey and Company, becoming the first Indian woman hired, and all without an American education. She found herself advising CEOs on their biggest problems even though she didn’t own a business suit, didn’t know how to drive, and was totally new to American culture. With a dogged determination to create impact for businesses and clients, coupled with a fearsome work ethic, she made partner at the firm within a few years. In 1990, she risked her life savings to found Tandon Capital Associates, a financial advisory company, restructuring preeminent financial institutions worldwide, and creating billions of dollars of market cap. This decision quickly catapulted her to a new echelon.

At the pinnacle of her career, despite all the trappings of success, Ms. Tandon became increasingly tormented by life’s bigger questions. She was compelled to reevaluate her definitions of success, and self-reflection led her to remember that the happiest moments of her childhood were tied to music. Ms. Tandon decided to pursue singing as an extension of her professional life, often leaving home at 4:00 a.m. for lessons on Saturdays so that she could learn from artists she idolized. Her dedication to the craft has since gained admiration around the world, allowing her to perform for millions, release four albums, and in 2011, garnering her a Grammy nomination for her album, Soul Call.

“Chandrika is a visionary who took control of her future at a young age,” said Matthew Rose, president, Horatio Alger Association and 2013 Horatio Alger Award recipient. “Despite barriers, she never lost sight of her goals, and fought for the life she wanted and deserved. We are delighted to welcome Chandrika as a lifetime Member, and I look forward to sharing her story of triumph and accomplishment with our Scholars.”

In the past 20 years, Ms. Tandon has used her business skills and resources pro bono to better humanity and commit to a life of public service. Through the Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation, she strategically directs resources to create pathways to economic, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being for all. As one of the largest Indian-American donors to American higher education, Ms. Tandon and her husband have given $100 million to the New York University (NYU) Polytechnic School of Engineering, renamed the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She serves as Vice Chair of the NYU Board of Trustees and sits on the boards of the NYU Langone Health System, the NYU Stern School of Business and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. From 2002 to 2008, she served as NYU Stern’s Distinguished Executive in Residence, where she lectured about business transformation and leadership, and earned the Walter Nichols Medal in 2009. In 2016, she received the university’s highest honor, the Gallatin Medal.

“I spent my life working hard to create impact for businesses and society,” said Ms. Tandon. “But I know I would not be where I am today without the teachers and supporters I’ve had – especially my grandfather. My love for music has been an important outlet for me in finding myself, and for that, I am forever grateful. I hope I can help to advocate for our young Horatio Alger Scholars as they fight for their professional and personal passions, just as I did.”

Through its Members, Horatio Alger Association aims to educate young people about the limitless opportunities afforded to them by the free-enterprise system. To further this mission, the organization awards scholarships to outstanding high school students who are committed to pursuing higher education and giving back to their communities. Like Association Members, Horatio Alger Scholars have faced significant adversities, but have also displayed unmatched resilience in overcoming their challenges. Since the scholarship program was established in 1984, Horatio Alger Association has provided more than $159 million to students in need, all of which has been funded solely through the generosity of Association Members and friends.

“Ms. Tandon defines tenacity and boldness – characteristics that many of our Scholars also embody,” said Terrence J. Giroux, executive director, Horatio Alger Association. “Her business acumen, dedication to service and passion for education will serve our Association well. I’m certain she will be a tremendous role model for the young men and women we support.”

Ms. Tandon and the Member Class of 2019 will be formally inducted into the Association on April 4-6, 2019, during the Association’s 72nd Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies in Washington, D.C. The annual three-day event honors the achievements of both Members and National Scholars, affording both groups the opportunity to meet and interact as well as exchange stories of hardships and triumphs.

For more information about Horatio Alger Association and its Member Class of 2019, please visitwww.horatioalger.org 

NFIA Elects First Woman President in Four Decades of its Existence

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A three-day convention was organized in metropolitan Washington DC during November 16, 2018 – November 18, 2018 weekend by the country’s one of the oldest associations of Indian American Associations – an umbrella group – the National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA). All delegates from different states gathered at Sheraton Tyson corner, under the presidency of Sudip Gorakshakar. The convention was organized by convener Pooja Thomre of San Diego who was assisted by four Co-conveners, Angela Anand, now elected first female president of NFIA from Nation’s Capital, Pat Patnaik from California, Yogendra Gupta from Maryland and Raz Razdan from Georgia.

The convention started with the White House briefing, organized by then Vice President, Angela Anand, on Friday afternoon at EEOB. Mr. Stephen Peter Munisteri, Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Public Liaison was contacted by Angela Anand to arrange the briefing and also to speak to the delegates along with his assistant Melissa Fwu. Mr. Munisteri is a retired attorney from Houston, Texas, who from 2010 to 2015, was chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. In 2016 he joined the Rand Paul for President campaign. In 2017 he was appointed to the White House staff to manage the office of the Public Liaison for the President Trump.

For more than one hour, all delegates assembled at the Diplomatic Reception room of the White House – Eisenhour Executive building and received briefing from the Political appointees inclusive of Raj Shah, who is the White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant to President, along with Stephen Peter Munisteri, Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Director of the Office of Public Liaison and Martha Fwu also of Public Liaison office along with Pranay Udutha, another appointee, who spoke on the Health Initiatives of the President. All speakers, one by one, and in the interactive session gave opportunity to delegates to ask questions. Delegates asked questions on health and drug issues and administration policies on pricing of drugs and long research and development process of drugs along with companies using prime time to advertise drugs on television, press and media messages of networks regarding administration’s policies, education, transportation, presidents’ economic and business policies.

The speakers stated that President Trump has good relations with India and he will visit India when time permits and not for Republic Day event as he has scheduling conflicts. It was also said that reaching out to the Indian community is very crucial but Indians as whole are not reaching out to the present administration due to some pros and cons. He has done well for the economy, pay rises for people and better benefits for all but the news is not reaching out correctly to everyone due to media bias. Pranay Udutha, who works with Kelly Ann Conway said the administration is training families to request doctors to give shorter time for the use of opioids for medical conditions rather than 90 days and stacking up the medicines. The session ended with a tour of some historical areas of the selected portions of the White House.

In the evening, all delegates were hosted by the Indian Embassy and the event was organized by Yogendera Gupta. All officials including DCM Mr. Santosh Jha, Community Minister Anurag Kumar, Visa section chief and press personnel of the Indian Ambassador to U.S. Navtej Sarna, greeted all the delegates warmly and provided opportunity for networking reception. At this meeting, Community Minister Kumar offered the NFIA officials to speak and also ask questions.

NFIA Elects First Woman President in Four Decades of its ExistenceThe morning of second day of the convention, seminars were held on the topics: health and fitness – diabetes, yoga, Ayurveda, philanthropy (NGO – Snehalya), business and entrepreneurship along with Technology 20-20 seminars were held. “Did we bite more than what we could chew” – Technology 20-20 had distinguished gentlemen and technologists, a token female– one on the softer side of technology, i.e. software training, Angela Anand was engaged in this seminar. The seminar was moderated by Nanotechnology expert and a well-known community personality, Dr. Thomas Abraham, NFIA Founder and currently serving as chairman of GOPIO, who owns a market research firm Innovative Research and Products in Stamford, Connecticut. Panelists were Digvijay “Danny” Gaekward, Founder and CEO of NDS USA Information Technology; Vijay Lakshman, a serial entrepreneur, video gamer, designer, author of books; who is in technology management at present and Dr. Satyam Priyadarshy, Chief Data Scientist at Halliburton, Founder of Reignite Strategy and an adjunct faculty of several educational institutions.

The awards banquet on Saturday evening started with a cocktail hour followed by the award ceremony starting with American and Indian national anthems followed by a cultural program. Students of Natya Marg Bharat Natyam dance school performed dance along with their artistic director Indrani Davaluri and a fellow dancer Sulochana on pots and plates carrying lighted lamps. Students of Nrityaki performed kathak dance and vocalist Kshama Garg entertained by her melodious voice old and new songs from Bollywood. A Fashion show organized by Indrani Davaluri delighted all in the audience and so did the music of Aloke Das Gupta on Sitar. He was gracious and has played for Beetles.

At the banquet, Dr. Michael Griffin, Under Secretary of Defense; Congressman Todd Rokita (Indiana – R), Dr. John Anderson, Curator, Air and Space Museum, along with Swami Deerananda Ji, from Chinmaya Mission, spoke to an audience of NFIA delegates from across the country and leaders of the community from the Nation’s Capital. Gerald Connolly, a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia’s 11th congressional district whose district the convention was held sent a congratulatory message as he was on nation’s business traveling out of the country.

The NFIA elections were held after the General Body meeting and was conducted by the Election Committee Chair Dr. Thomas Abraham along with members past NFIA President Radha Krishna and NFIA Executive Director Harihar Singh. The following were elected as new team for 2019.

President – Ms. Angela Anand; Exec Vice President – Ms. Lavanya Reddy; Vice Presidents – Dr. Yogendra Gupta, Mr. Ashok (Pat) Patnaik and Mr.  Subbarao Makam; Secretary – Ms. Rachel Verghese; Joint Secretary – Dr. Satish Misra; Treasurer – Mr. Ajoy Dube; Directors-at-Large – Ms. Pooja Thomre, Mr. Satheesan Nair, Dr. Om Sharma, Ms. Padma Gupta, Mr. Babu K Patel, Dr. Lalita Kaul and Ms. Aparna Hande;

Regional Vice Presidents – Mr. Kamlesh Munshi (Capital), Ms. Vasu Pawar (South Pacific), Ms. Raj Razdan (South East) and Mr. Amrik Kamoh (North Pacific).

The newly formed NFIA Board appointed the following for various positions; Chairman NFIA Foundation – Mr. Sudip Gorakshakar, Executive Director Admin – Dr. Hari Har Singh and Second Executive Director – Mr. Kewal Kanda.

Commenting on the election, NFIA Founder Dr. Thomas Abraham said, “Indian American women involved in the community activities have made history at the NFIA convention when all the positions for which elections have been conducted gone to women, which shows women power in our community.”

“We hope that the new team will reach out to all Indian American community and professional organizations and make a truly representative body for the whole 4.5 million community,” added Dr. Abraham.

Outgoing President Sudip Gorakshakar and NFIA Founder President Dr. Thomas Abraham complimented Convention Convener Pooja Thomre for taking the responsibility to organize a successful convention.

NFIA Elects First Woman President in Four Decades of its ExistenceNFIA awarded nine individuals, selected nationally for different categories and disciplines by a committee of five, chaired by NFIA Past President Inder Singh. The award ceremony was conducted by Dr. Thomas Abraham, who is chairman of GOPIO. The following were selected to receive the awards in person:

Dr. Ajay Kothari – Engineering, Digvijay “Danny” Gaekwad – Business & Entrepreneurship, Shweta Misra, Classical Dance Artform – Performing Arts, Dr. Aman Mann – Health Sciences, Umi Mukherjee – Service to Indian American Seniors, Koshy Thomas – Media, Arti Manek – Folk and Classical Dance Art Forms, Aloke Dasgupta – Performing Arts, Sitar​ playing in Classical​ Tradition and Nami Kaur – Service to Non-profit Institutions.

Dr. Ajay Kothari is President and Founder of Astrox Corporation. His PhD and MS in Aerospace Engineering are from University of Maryland. He has over 50 professional publications, has been interviewed on TV about Space more than 10 times and authored more than 20 articles in news outlets. He has managed more than 30 contracts from Air Force, NASA and DARPA. He was awarded National Merit Scholarship, was awarded the “Engineer of the Year” award by ASEI, was the president of ASEI National Capital Chapter from 2014-2015, and was on Board of WHEELS Charity Foundation in 2016-2018.

Digvijay “Danny” Gaekwad is the founder and CEO of NDS USA Information Technology. During the last three decades, Danny has built over a dozen small-and medium-sized companies, in diverse fields, such as convenience stores, real estate development, hospitality industry and information technology. His companies have created thousands of jobs in Florida and other parts of the United States, contributing millions of dollars to the economy. In 2016, Gov. Rick Scott recognized him with the “One Million Jobs” certificate of appreciation for his contribution “in helping Florida job creators add 1 million jobs between December 2010 and December 2015.”

Multi-talented Shweta Misra is a well-known Kathak dancer in the DC area and operates Nrityaki Dance Academy to teach Kathak dance artform. Her dance school is affiliated with a university in India – Prayag Sangeet Samiti, through which students can obtain Master’s degree in Kathak. She and her dance academy students have performed at prestigious locations such as White House, Kennedy Center, and Indo-American Galas. She has a MS Degree in Computer Science from Virginia Tech and works as a Senior Software Engineer. She became Mrs. India Virginia 2015 and is Mrs. India DC 2018.

Dr. Aman Mann is a Research Faculty at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Aman’s research expertise span different fields of neuroscience including neurotrauma (TBI) and neurodegenerative conditions (Multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease). His discoveries in the laboratory support the development of new disease-modifying drug candidates for brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease which are currently being developed at AivoCode. Aman is the founder and Chief Operating Officer of AivoCode Inc., in La Jolla, California. He completed his Bachelors in Bioengineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and received his PhD in Nanomedicine from University of Texas.

Umi Mukherjee – Service to Indian American Seniors, says, “About 27 years ago, I started a Seniors’ club in Southern California. I used to pick up and drop them off at their homes on Tuesday afternoons. After 5 months, I changed the venue to a more central place and the membership increased manifold. I paid for the rental of the hall, snacks & lunches for first 4-5 years. The membership has always been FREE and we have about 250 seniors at monthly meetings. For the last few years, I have been getting sponsors for monthly meetings. We take seniors to overnight trips also. For me, it is the biggest achievement of my life when I can make seniors happy.”

Koshy Thomas, publisher and CEO of Voice of Asia Group, the parent corporation for the weekly publication, Voice of Asia, which has served as the authoritative voice of the South Asian community in Texas for over 30 years. Mr. Thomas created Voice of Asia to nurture and promote the political, economic and cultural ambitions of the South Asian community in Texas. Mr. Thomas and his wife Moani have three daughters and three grandsons.

Arti Manek – Folk and Classical Dance Art Forms. Dancing, performing and teaching has been Arti’s passion since childhood. Arti learnt Indian Classical kathak dance from the renowned Guru, Abhay Shankar Mishra, in England culminating in the establishment of Shankara Dance Academy, now flourishing in Los Angeles. Legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj attended the first Rang Manch Pravesh of her student as the chief guest. Arti also achieved immense acclaim in folk dance, getting numerous awards in FOGANA competitions and productions of mega dance drama shows including Ramayana with Pujya Morari Bapu as chief guest.

Aloke Dasgupta – Performing Arts, Sitar​ playing in Classical​ Tradition. Aloke Dasgupta studied under the guidance of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and has performed with V.G. Jog, the LA Philharmonic and the Rolling Stones, Gwen Stefani, among others. He composed for movie “Out Source” and for “Ocean of Pearl” received award. He has performed extensively in India, Japan, the USA, and Europe. He played for Lincoln Center, Hollywood Bowl, Ford Theatre. Finally with “Cheap Trick” he performed 36 shows in Vegas “ Recreation of Sgt. Pepper by Beatles. He founded the Raga Ranjani School of Music in 1986 and has been teaching sitar ever since.

Nami Kaur – Service to Non-profit Institutions. Nami Kaur donates her time/skills to non-profit organizations, following a corporate career at IBM Corporation.  She serves as: Executive Board Member – Children’s Hope India (CHI); a New York based non-profit. At CHI, she led the development of its new website and manages outreach initiatives with dignitaries; Chair – GOPIO Media Council. Manages communication with the South Asian media and Editor – monthly Newsletter, GOPIO International; Board Director – Riveredge Coop; Her focus, has been to improve communications between the Board, Property Management and the Resident Shareholders and Volunteer – New York Botanical Garden. Nami holds MBA in Marketing and MS in Mathematics.

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji calls for empowering women at the United Nations

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Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati​, Secretary-General of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance & President of Divine Shakti Foundation, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh has been elected to be a Co-Chair of the Faith-Based Advisory Council to the United Nations. Approximately 40 faith leaders and leaders of international faith-based organizations have been nominated to serve on this Advisory Council.

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji addressed the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Global Summit, at the United Nations, in New York, on November 19-20. Her address, delivered before an audience from across the world, focused on the crucial importance of women’s leadership and sustainable development in a time of increasing global strife and insecurity as well as the importance of the role of religion and religious leaders in fostering peaceful and inclusive societies.

Saraswatiji’s panel on strengthening the visibility of women in the peace process, which was moderated by former UN Ambassador Louise Kanthrow, brought together renowned women leaders from acclaimed institutions, including Georgetown University and the Tutu Campaign.

In her address, Saraswatiji said, “It is crucial to uplift the women and girls of our world today, so that they may lead the way towards a more peaceful tomorrow. Now is the time to promote the building of skills so that women can especially play key roles at negotiation tables. We also must look for the causes of violence and insecurity in the first place, and call for unified actions towards a more sustainable world, including ensuring access to safe water and improved WASH.”

Her panel on Many Cultures, One Humanity: The Role and Responsibility of Religious Leaders and Faith-Based Organizations in Building Peaceful and Inclusive Societies, moderated by Dr. Azza Karam, Senior Advisor, Culture to the UNFPA, brought together renowned religious leaders from the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Hindu faiths from across the world to speak to the crucial role played by religious leaders in peacebuilding.

Saraswatiji spoke on the importance of leadership and shared Mahatma Gandhiji’s famous quotation: “What is the point of that fast speed when we are moving in the wrong direction?” She emphasized, “Leadership is wonderful. Religious leadership is crucial. But we must ensure that along with elements of speed – technology, power, charisma – we also ensure that leaders are taking their followers in the right direction. … We can always find doctrines of separation, doctrines that permit us to exclude the other, but today as religious leaders we must find doctrines of togetherness. We must take back religion from being an agent to separation to being an agent of oneness.”

Sha added: “Lastly, without water, there can be no peace. Even if we can get people to stop killing each other over their religion, they will kill each other over lack of water, lack of food, lack of resources. People will be in dire straits fighting for ever diminishing resources. So if we are committed to building truly peaceful and inclusive societies we must ensure access to clean water.”

In the face of unsustainable practices and rising populations, climate change, coupled with the depletion of natural resources, are posing serious threats to global peace. It is predicted that the world will have half the water it needs by the year 2040, leading to increased possibilities of war, hunger and mass displacement.

Already, instances of conflict and discord are increasing, as is the impact of natural disasters. As a result, more people have been forced to flee their homes as refugees than in any time since World War II.

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji (right), with other panelists and moderator at the the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Global Summit, in New York, held on November 19-20.

Bhagawatiji said, “The Global Interfaith WASH Alliance is working hard to determine and implement solutions to combat these serious threats through sustainable development. It was predicted by the UN that the next war will likely be regarding water. Rather than let it lead to this point, GIWA is bringing together the faith leaders of the world to promote change.”

She continued, “Not only do we need to preserve our precious water resources, but we must also ensure they are kept clean. Today is World Toilet Day, so let us also not forget the importance of healthy sanitation for all, for cleaner waters and the safety of women everywhere.”

Other religious leaders on her panels included, Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muaammar, Secretary-General, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Vienna, Austria; Rabbi Michael Melchior, President, Mosaica Religious Peace Initiative, Jerusalem, Israel; John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria; Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, Executive Director, Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers; and Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian Jr., Executive Director of URI (the United Religions Initiative).

The lack of toilets is a serious, yet often overlooked cause of violence against women, leading to instances of rape, violence and trauma. The point was taken up as a crucial one towards ensuring that both the safety and dignity of women and girls are facilitated. The Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA), through its many programmes, is widely promoting social change for improved sanitation through the inspiration of leading faith leaders.

Said GIWA Founder/Chair, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, said, in a statement, “The significance of this address being delivered on this World Toilet Day can’t be denied. Let us come together and stay together to inspire a clean, healthy and water secure world, where women may lead as torchbearers of hope, and healthy water and sanitation are accessible by all.”

The overarching theme of the 8th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations; Global Forum was “#Commit2Dialogue: Partnerships for Prevention and Sustaining Peace”.

UNAOC brought together over 1,000 participants to share knowledge and explore innovative ways of promoting inclusive approaches to conflict prevention as a pathway for sustaining peace.

The two-day event featured several high-level, renowned speakers from around the world, including, António Guterres, UN Secretary-General; Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, High Representative for UNAOC; María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the UN General Assembly 73rd Session; Carmen Calvo, Deputy Prime Minister of Spain; and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.

UN celebrates International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

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On November 19, the UN marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women at the Trusteeship Council Chambers at the UN Headquarters. It also commemorates the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign to End Violence against Women.

One of the unique features of the commemoration is the UN’s commitment to the role of law enforcement in ending violence against women and girls in private and public spaces. This local-to-global focus at the UN will bring critical perspectives from the UN, Member States, and including for the first time, a local law enforcement agency – the New York Police Department (NYPD).

The “violence against women” movement is perhaps the greatest success story of international mobilization. However over 35 percent of women across the world face violence during their life in what the World Health Organization (WHO) calls a “global health problem of epidemic proportions.”

Over one billion women experience gender – based violence in the world. Under Secretary General Mlambo-Ngcuka has pointed out that given the magnitude of this pandemic, if it was a disease, governments and scientists would be marshalling every resource to address it.

According to research led by a group of scholars at Stanford and Oxford universities, domestic violence costs 25 times more than conflict and violent extremism and exhausts 5.2 percent of global GDP.

Despite the stark and unyielding statistics, around the world, a new energy is bringing renewed commitments from heads of state and government leaders to address the different faces of violence against women.

Eighteen years ago, when I partnered with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on a study on domestic violence in the outskirts of Beijing, violence against women in the domestic sphere was recognized only in terms of loss of limb or eyesight.

The broadening categories of domestic violence including the recognition of economic abuse as a category of violence is part of a second generation of domestic violence laws and is in full compliance with international norms such as the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (DEVAW).

Earlier in the year, Theresa May wrote to the Guardian, “Not all abusive behavior is physical. Controlling, manipulative and verbally abusive behavior ruins lives and means thousands end up isolated, living in fear. So, for the first time, the bill will provide a statutory definition of domestic abuse that includes economic abuse, alongside other non-physical abuse.”

While older laws on gender -based violence focused on punishment, the new crop of laws focus broadly on punishment and prevention.

For example, the newly passed “anti-violence against women” law in Tunisia (2017) makes it easier to prosecute domestic abuse, and it imposes penalties for sexual harassment in public spaces. Most importantly it calls for children to be educated in schools about human rights.

Another phenomenon of this “second generation” of gender-based violence laws is a heightened recognition of a victim- centered approach and the costs of violence on the survivor, in terms of physical, economic, psychological, social and familial.

Earlier in the year, New Zealand passed legislation granting victims of domestic violence 10 days paid leave to allow them to leave their partners, find new homes and protect themselves and their children. Family violence in New Zealand is estimated to cost the country between NZ$4.1bn and $7bn a year.

One of the critical components of the UNiTe campaign is the recognition that violence against women does not take place in a vacuum. As Secretary General Antonio Gutteres has confirmed: “Violence against women is fundamentally about power. It will only end when gender equality and the full empowerment of women will be a reality.”

Mlambo- Ngcuka harnesses the full panoply of international commitments in their full majestic entirety, including the recognition that gender parity and women’s leadership is critical to UNiTe campaign to end violence against women.

In doing so she marshals international norms, from General Recommendation 12 and 19 of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the DEVAW and the Security Council Resolution 1325 and its progeny as normative and constitutive in combating violence against women.

From the HeforShe movement, which calls for male leadership in advancing women’s equality, Mlambo-Ngcuka is putting in motion a broader bedrock of structures to combat violence against women in order to address the root causes of gender inequality.

On November 19, we come together at an extraordinary moment of unprecedented momentum built by the #MeToo movement towards empowering women and achieving gender equality across the board and across the globe.

As envisioned 70 years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) recognized that “contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind…” More must be done to recognize that these barbarous acts take place not only battlefields, but within hallowed halls of power, in the classrooms, in workplaces, including the paddy fields, and in our homes.

As stated in the UDHR, the commitment to end violence against women is a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. This common standard transcends culture, tradition, power or politics.

Netflix Global documentary series on single South Asian men and women

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A new Netflix Global documentary series is offering a select group of single South Asian men and women the chance to find their perfect match by working with India’s most elite matchmaker.

The series will follow upwardly mobile millennials in North America and India as they search for their perfect partner.  If selected, they will have the opportunity to work with the top desi matchmaker in the world, who will present them with curated matches from her extensive database of global clientele.  All services will be free of charge to selected candidates.

Those who are single and serious about getting married and want the opportunity to work with one of the world’s top matchmakers should send an email to: MatchmakingProject2018@gmail.com
More info:  https://matchmakingproject.wixsite.com/2018

Kavita Ramdas Head of Women’s Rights Program at Open Society Foundations

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The Open Society Foundations has announced the appointment of Kavita N. Ramdas as director of the Women’s Rights Program, effective September 25. 
Ramdas is a globally recognized advocate for gender equity and justice, speaking often on the role civil society and philanthropy play in raising the visibility and voice of women and girls. Ramdas begins her new role with a deep, global knowledge of women’s rights philanthropy, having served as president and CEO of one of the world’s leading foundations for gender equality, Global Fund for Women, from 1996 to 2010. Kavita currently serves as the strategy advisor at MADRE, a global women’s rights organization that works to support women on the frontlines of war and disaster. She founded and leads KNR Sisters, a consulting venture for social justice movements and philanthropy.
Kavita Ramdas Head of Women’s Rights Program at Open Society Foundations“The work of our Women’s Rights Program is more important than ever, especially in the face of an unprecedented wave of antiwomen, antichoice attacks by nationalist and populist governments,” said Patrick Gaspard, president of the Open Society Foundations. “We are thrilled to have a visionary leader like Kavita N. Ramdas join our team during this catalytic moment, when women are advancing alternatives toward more open societies. I am confident she will bring an inexhaustible energy and conviction to a program that has already had success expanding health, economic inclusion, and building transformative movements around the world.”
Ramdas previously served as a strategic advisor to Ford Foundation President Darren Walker; directed Ford’s India office; oversaw Ford’s Sri Lanka and Nepal offices; and had a tenure at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, working on antipoverty programs. Ramdas also brings to Open Society Foundations an extensive expertise in working with boards, including at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Women’s Link Worldwide.
“I am excited to join with the new leadership at the Open Society Foundations and the board and staff of the Women’s Rights Program to take this work to the next level,” said Ramdas. “Open and democratic societies are simply unachievable when half the population is structurally excluded from full and equal participation in most nations across the world. I see the current global crisis of increased intolerance, illiberalism, and authoritarianism as deeply linked to patriarchy and misogyny; and I believe that fighting for a more democratic future will inherently require us to fight for a more feminist future.”
Ramdas obtained a master’s degree in public affairs, with a focus on international development, from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. She also has a BA in politics and international relations from Mount Holyoke College. While at Stanford University, she started the Program on Social Entrepreneurship at the Center for Democracy, Development and Rule of Law in the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Affairs. 
With her appointment as director, former Haitian prime minister and Women’s Rights Program board member Michèle Pierre-Louis takes over as board chair. Pierre-Louis also worked with the Open Society Foundations to establish the Fondation Connaissance et Liberte, which she directed for 13 years.
The Women’s Rights Program advances open and free societies by investing in women’s movements and organizations to ensure that girls, women, and gender nonconforming people have power, voice, and influence in all societies. The program works across the Open Society Foundations to support women’s leadership in fueling and sustaining a wide range of social movements—from labor rights, environmental justice, and land rights to peace-building, sexual and reproductive rights, and public health.

Women in Aviation International celebrate Girls in Aviation Day

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The India Chapter of Women in Aviation (WIA) International, in association with the Airport Authority of India (AAI), celebrated Girls in Aviation Day at Agartala Airport in Tripura on July 26. With the vision to encourage girls to take up aviation subjects and explore career opportunities in related industries, the initiative is aimed at showcasing opportunities in the aviation and aerospace sectors. This initiative also aligns with the Government of India’s Skills India initiative.

As part of the program, Women in Aviation International (India Chapter) invited 50 students from various schools for a tour of Agartala Airport. Visiting students were given an opportunity to explore, learn, and discover the various aspects of aviation and aerospace such as air traffic controller, airline dispatch, pilot, aviation maintenance technician, aeronautical engineer, or aviation management. In addition, the girl students were given a tour of the ATC Tower, Airside, Terminal Building, and AOCC, and all their queries and questions were answered by the officials working in the respective departments.

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Radha Bhatia, President of Women in Aviation International (India Chapter), shared: “This is the third year that the WAI India Chapter is celebrating ‘Girls in Aviation Day,’ and we are delighted to host the same at Agartala. This day is celebrated for the young girls to encourage them to choose aviation as a viable career opportunity. World over, India has the maximum number of female pilots, but there are many other avenues that are still unknown. With this celebration, our aim is to see girls from the state of Tripura explore exciting careers available to them as engineers, air traffic controllers, and dozens of other jobs within the aviation [field].”

“We will continue our endeavor to introduce young girls to role models and educate them in a fun and supportive atmosphere. We are very fortunate to be able to partner with Airport Authority of India for this initiative. Their efforts in leading youth into STEM careers is truly commendable,” added Mrs. Bhatia.

Post the airport tour, the students were given a small presentation about the industry and its intricacies. Also, a representative from the Women in Aviation India Chapter – Ambalika Saikia, Head of MAAS (Meet and Greet Service) BWFS India – organized an impromptu quiz competition addingt to the delight of the students who also won small tokens as prizes. Students also received an opportunity to interact with Shri Tathagata Roy, Governor of Tripura, who was the chief guest for the event, as well as Mr. S. D. Barman, Airport Director at Agartala Airport.

Women in Aviation International India Chapter is a non-profit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests. The India Chapter provides networking, mentoring, and scholarship opportunities for women who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.

Pooja Jesrani to lead Mission Control at NASA

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Pooja Jesrani, an Indian American will lead mission control for a variety of new operations at NASA, the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas along with Marcos Flores, Allison Bolinger, Adi Boulos, Rebecca Wingfield and Paul Konyha, according to a July 10 statement issued by NASA announcing its 2018 class of flight directors.

Jesrani was born in England and came to the U.S. as a child. She began interning with United Space Alliance before she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 2007.

While working with the alliance and NASA later on, Jesrani has supported the space station flight control team by managing the life support and motion control systems and has been a capsule communicator, speaking directly with astronauts who are in space.

Her recent work is to integrate mission operations for upcoming commercial crew flights. According to a NASA press release, the new flight directors will begin extensive training on flight control, vehicle systems, operational leadership and risk management, before they can start their mission.

“This is an outstanding group of future tactical leaders for the Flight Operations Directorate. We are excited to have them come on board,” Brian Kelly, director of Flight Operations at Johnson, was quoted saying in the press release.

The group will join the current 26 active flight directors and they will have the opportunity to oversee a variety of human spaceflight missions involving the International Space Station, including integrating American-made commercial crew spacecraft into the fleet of vehicles servicing the orbiting laboratory, as well as Orion spacecraft missions to the Moon and beyond.

They will also head teams of flight controllers, research and engineering experts, and support personnel around the world and make the real-time decisions critical to keeping NASA astronauts safe in space.

Don’t Quit Your Daydreams and Other Advice From Mindy Kaling’s Books

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“Let’s go over my plan, shall we?”, said Mindy Kaling into my ear. I was halfway into her second audiobook, “Why Not Me?”, and Ms. Kaling was describing her expectations for the show she was developing.

“My natural assumption was that NBC would put my new show on the air as part of a revitalized ‘Must See TV’ and make 200 classic episodes — no lazy clip shows — finishing with a 90-minute finale that everyone agreed was a sweet and satisfying send-off,” she said. “I would emerge from the show’s legacy as a modern version of Larry David and Mary Tyler Moore, retiring to a tasteful mega-compound on Martha’s Vineyard, where I would write plays and drink wine with Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen at least several times a week.”

The only thing her elaborate daydream didn’t prepare her for? “The slightest setback.”

Ms. Kaling’s books, “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns),” released in 2011, and “Why Not Me?” from 2015, aren’t self-help, but her anecdotes and advice helped ease much of my anxiety as a young professional woman of color.

“Confidence is just entitlement,” said Mindy Kaling in her memoir, “Why Not Me?”CreditKendrick Brinson for The New York Times

“Is Everyone Hanging Out” came out while Ms. Kaling was still playing Kelly Kapoor on “The Office” and includes reflections on her childhood and her early 20s, when she was still living in New York, trying to break into television. “Why Not Me?” is more emotionally candid; Ms. Kaling laments that, in her 30s, she often goes to weddings, which she hates (“when you are a bridesmaid, you are required to be a literal maid for the duration of the wedding”), just to see her friends. In another chapter, she explains her “weird as hell” relationship with B.J. Novak; “B.J. and I are soup snakes,” she said, an “Office” reference to a gaffe by Michael Scott, who misreads “soul mates” in his handwritten note to his love interest, Holly.

I’m also a consummate daydreamer. Just last week, I had one good idea, a snippet of dialogue that I might build a short story around, and my mind spiraled: I flash-forwarded a very realistic two years; my yet-unwritten debut novel had been published to critical and commercial success. The book was optioned for television, and I’d moved to Santa Monica, to an oceanfront apartment with a balcony, where I did all my writing. How I could afford this luxury did not come up.

Real-life trajectories are rarely as neat as the ones you map in your head. NBC, which aired “The Office” and had long been Ms. Kaling’s dream network, passed on her project. “It’s weird when you feel your dream slipping away from you,” said Ms. Kaling, adding the quip, “Especially when you have no other dreams.” Listen to a Sample of Mindy Kaling’s “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)”

When I started applying for jobs, I landed an interview at my dream magazine. For the first time, I was confident in my edit test, because I knew the publication, which caters to a diverse demographic, would see value in my ideas. After meeting with the editors, I was convinced I’d get the job; even more, I thought it was the only job in media I might have a chance of getting. But they didn’t hire me. I had a fixed view of my career, so the deviation felt like a setback.

I ended up at Glamour; Ms. Kaling’s show, on Fox, and later in “Why Not Me?”, after experiencing the whiplash of seeing “The Mindy Project” canceled and immediately picked up by Hulu, Ms. Kaling emphasized the importance of adaptability. She said that’s all show business was: “transitioning panics,” from losing a job to having more work than you can handle; from being afraid your dreams won’t come true to realizing they’ve changed.

In “Why Not Me?”, Ms. Kaling also addressed ambition and her conflicting feelings about wanting to leave “The Office.” “I had a dream job; was I ungrateful to wonder what more there might be for me? Or complacent if I didn’t?”, she asked. “And who was I to try to seek anything better?”

Ms. Kaling joked that she was finally experiencing “white people problems,” because of the privileged position she was in, but her feelings echo the struggle of many women of color in all-white spaces: to convince themselves they’re worthy of their dreams when their environment and society says otherwise. I struggle with this, too, and a recent study found that for people of color, the effects of impostor syndrome — feeling like a fraud in your field despite high achievement — are compounded with discrimination or a lack of representation in the workplace. These factors combined cause higher levels of anxiety and “discrimination-related depression.”

Ms. Kaling advises on dealing with impostor syndrome in the last chapter of “Why Not Me?” She recalls a Q. and A. in Manhattan a year earlier, when a young Indian girl asked her where she gets her confidence from and Ms. Kaling gave a lackluster reply. She reconsiders here, for the sake of “that girl who went out of her way to be vulnerable in front of so many people.”

“Confidence is just entitlement,” she said, adding that, though the word has gotten a bad rap, “Entitlement is simply the belief that you deserve something.” Ms. Kaling’s advice is to earn your confidence by studying your craft and working hard; “I’m usually hyper-prepared for whatever I set my mind to do,” she said, “which makes me feel deserving of attention and professional success.”

But what about the mental barriers to the work itself? I often find myself stuck in a failure loop, my mind sprinting laps around a story, a problem or an idea, to the point of exhaustion. I convince myself a story isn’t good enough before I even start it and am often preoccupied with questions of acceptance, representation and inadequacy. Is the only way to expel that feeling really just to work through it, as Ms. Kaling suggests?

Though in the introduction of “Is Everyone Hanging Out,” Ms. Kaling said she is only “marginally qualified to give advice,” I disagree. It was fun listening to her precipitate the events of her life in her essays. In “Is Everyone Hanging Out” she mentions the Ocean’s franchise when listing movies she’d like to reboot; she co-stars in the women-led version of “Ocean’s 8,” in theaters now. In “Why Not Me?”, she said that she hopes her next book will be about starting a family, as well as her “awesome movie career.” She now has a daughter, Katherine.

Her books teach, in a nutshell, that “it’s cool to want more,” and have helped me stop questioning whether the life I envision for myself is too improbable or far away. Her life is proof that I just might get there. Concepción de León is the digital staff writer for the Books desk at The Times. aSelf-Helped is a monthly column devoted to the books that have changed the way we live.

FETNA’s 31st national convention in Texas focuses on heritage, women and youth

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Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (http://www.fetna.org) an umbrella organization of more than 50 Tamil associations across North America held between June 29th – July 1st at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, TX, focused onHeritage, Youth & Women.

“The focus of the convention was multifold, and it also included an exclusive one-day entrepreneur conference and two days of Tamil heritage programs,” said Sriram Krishnan, one of the organizers. An estimated 5,000 people from all over the U.S. and some from abroad gathered in Frisco, Texas to reconnect to their roots, their culture and their tradition during the 31st National Tamil Convention.

The convention, among other things, celebrated the culmination of global efforts to raise US$ 6 MM to setup a Tamil Chair at Harvard University. Tamil language is one of the oldest classical languages of the world and the only Indian language to be recognized as an official and/or minority language in countries like Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Canada, Mauritius and South Africa. The founders and directors of Harvard Tamil Chair as well as several key volunteers were recognized. The 2018 convention also witnessed the resurrection of youth competitions and introduction of several new competitions.

FETNA’s 31st national convention in Texas focuses on heritage, women and youthThe convention also celebrated the 120th birthday of Thilliayadi Valliammai, the first woman from the Indian diaspora who worked with Mahatma Gandhi and gave her life for liberty and freedom in South Africa. It also celebrated Than Thai Selva, a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and politician who is considered a father figure among Sri Lankan Tamils.

The entrepreneur and business conference comprised of a Tamil Entrepreneurship Forum (TEF) that was attended by about 1,200 people. As many as 30 world-class business leaders, CIOs, social entrepreneurs and community leaders spoke at the daylong event. It was keynoted by C.K. Kumaravel, the founder of Naturals, one of India’s top hair and beauty salons. Kumaravel shared with the audience how his venture into uncharted territory led to success. Other speakers included Senthamarai Prabhakar, president of the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America; Lakshmanan Chidambaram, president of Tech Mahindra’s Americas Strategic Verticals; Muru Murugappan CIO of BNSF, a Berkshire Hathaway Company; Ganesh Radhakrishnan CEO of Wharfedale Technologies; Prashanth Ram, founder and CTO of Gold Coast IT Solutions, and Latha Pandiarajan, cofounder of MaFoi Consultants.

Arul Murugan of 11-11 Ventures awarded $5,000 in prize money to the winners of TEF Junior, a VC pitch contest for students 16 and younger. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthy (D-Ill.) delivered the closing address of the business conference, urging greater involvement in civic matters.

FETNA’s 31st national convention in Texas focuses on heritage, women and youthLena Kannappan, COO and head of Cloud IAM business for 8KMiles, announced the launching of the Dallas Chapter of American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association (ATEA). A serial entrepreneur with 24 years of software industry experience, Kannappan was instrumental in starting the TEF talk in such gatherings a few years ago to promote entrepreneurship spirit among Tamil entrepreneurs and to inspire the young generation.

One of the highlights of the convention was the recreation of the Thanjavur Brihadeeshwara Temple, constructed some 1,000 years ago by one of the greatest emperors of India, Raja Cholan. The location is a UNESCO heritage site. Several hundred volunteers worked for nearly nine months to recreate the temple that was the center of attraction at the convention.

The festivities included motivational speeches and discourses including one from the chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology, G. Viswanathan. A global Tamil hour program included participation by Tamil scholars. It also had performances by Narthagi Natarajan, award-winning play troupe Manal Magudi and Tamil Isai by Sanjay Subrahmanyan.

FETNA’s 31st national convention in Texas focuses on heritage, women and youthThe convention was conducted under the auspices of Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA) and organized by Metroplex Tamil Sangam, Dallas which celebrated its 50th year. The cultural programs at the convention included Mangala Isai, the traditional

Nadaswara performance, followed by Tamil Thai Vazhthu, American National Anthem and a mega Broadway style dance recital by nearly 150 children, trained under renowned Bharatanatyam exponent Narthagi Natarajan. There were also performances involving traditional Tamil art forms – Pambai, Parai, Silambam, Karagam, Gummi – and a discussion on Tamil heritage. There was also a light music performance by singer Karthik, drummer Sivamani and Shaktisree Gopalan.

Nearly 40 parallel sessions were held on a wide range of topics,including Thurumular Pranayama, art workshops, a science fair, continuing medical education and medical symposium, and Tamil Isai, a movement that promotes pure form of ancient Tamil music.

Jayshree Ullal, Neerja Sethi make to Forbes’ America’s Richest Self-Made Women List

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Jayshree Ullal and Neerja Sethi have made in into the latest Forbes List, “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” released on July 11, 2018.  In the 4th edition of the annual list by Forbes magazine, these 60 women have a record combined net worth of $71 billion.

Forbes said that net worth of these 60 women is up 15% from $61.5 billion in 2017 and that they have shattered ceilings and scaled new heights, making fortunes in everything from genetic testing to slimming shapewear. The minimum net worth to make Forbes’ fourth annual ranking of these top women jumped 23 percent to a record $320 million. Twenty-four of these women are billionaires, another record, up from 18 last year.

Indian-origin technology executives Ullal is ranked 18th in the list with a net worth of $1.3 billion and Sethi is ranked 21st with a net worth of $1 billion. Ullal, the 57-year-old president and chief executive officer at computer networking firm Arista Networks. The head of Arista since 2008, Ullal, of Saratoga, Calif., owns about 5 percent of the company’s stock, some of which is earmarked for her two children, niece and nephew, Forbes said. The company in 2017 recorded revenues of $1.6 billion.

Arista and Cisco, Ullal’s former employer, have been locked in a multi-year legal battle over alleged patent infringement, which Arista denies. Ullal, the Ernst & Young U.S. Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015 (see India-West article here), earned a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from San Francisco State University and a master’s in engineering management from Santa Clara University.

Sethi, the vice president of IT consulting and outsourcing company Syntel, which she co-founded with her husband Bharat Desai in 1980 in their Troy, Mich., apartment, came in at No. 21 on the list. The 63-year-old executive who resides in Fisher Island, Fla., has a net worth of $1 billion. She started out with an initial investment of a mere $2,000 which resulted in first-year sales of $30,000.

In 2017, Syntel, which now employs roughly 23,000 individuals globally – 80 percent of whom are in India – made $924 million in revenues. Sethi earned a bachelor’s in mathematics and an M.B.A. in operations research from Delhi University, and a master’s in computer science from Oakland University.

Topping the Forbes list was Diane Hendricks, the co-founder of ABC Supply, with $4.9 billion. Marian Ilitch of Little Caeser’s fortune ($4.3 billion), Judy Faulkner in the health IT industry ($3.5 billion), Meg Whitman of eBay ($3.3 billion) and Johnelle Hunt of the trucking industry ($3.2 billion) round out the top 5. Other notable individuals in the top 10 include Oprah Winfrey (No. 6, $3.1 billion) and Doris Fisher of the Gap (No. 8, $2.8 billion).

Kavita Rai, Anusha Tandon, Ina Bhoopalam selected as ‘Girl Up’ Advisers for UN Women Empowerment Summit

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Kavita Rai, Anusha Tandon, and Ina Bhoopalam, three Indian American teens, are among the 24 teenage girls selected as “Girl Up” advisers heading to Washington, D.C., for the upcoming United Nations Women Empowerment Summit. Rai, of Camillo, Calif.; Tandon, of Acton, Mass.; and Bhoopalam, of Lincoln, Neb., will join the 21 other teen advisers for the summit July 8 through July 11.

The purpose of the summit is to improve the lives of other girls, and Rai is hoping she can play a part in achieving that goal, according to a Camarillo Acorn report. “It’s important not to live in a bubble,” the 16-year-old daughter of Rajinder and Mukesh Rai said in the report. The teens were selected to head to the summit by Girl Up, an empowerment campaign of the United Nations Foundation, to speak at the organization’s annual summit on issues facing girls and women, the report said.

Some 400 girls from 17 states and five countries who are active in the Girl Up campaign in their communities applied to be teen advisers, the publication added. The advisers who were selected “share the common goal of supporting girls around the world and achieving global gender equality,” spokesperson Beth Nervig said.  Along with several adult speakers scheduled to appear at next month’s summit, the teen advisers will share their stories with about 400 other girls expected to attend, the report added.

Tandon, 17, is a senior at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Acton, Massachusetts and she first joined Girl Up in sixth grade because she wanted to use her voice to help people around the world, according to the Girl Up website.

“I was enticed by Girl Up’s unique format that allows girls to be at the forefront of change, because I had never seen a campaign that was basically run by girls. I helped found a club in my middle and high school, and have taken leadership roles ever since. I feel like I have grown so much over the years and I’ve loved seeing the amazing women in my club grow up along with me,” Tandon stated on the website.

Bhoopalam is a student at both East High School in Cornhusker State, Nebraska and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“My experience with Girl Up starts a little over a year ago, when I made a promise to myself that I would no longer stay silent in the face of so many problems. It was around that time when I heard about Girl Up from a friend and was immediately hooked,” Bhoopalam stated on the website.

Rai is a senior at Newbury Park High School in California and she started a Girl Up chapter at her school, two years ago. “My advocacy for women’s rights has been a passion of mine for years now,” she stated on the Girl Up website. Rai is involved in YMCA Youth & Government where has discussions on prison reform, gun control and women’s reproductive rights.

According to their website, since its launch in 2010, Girl Up has been partnering with the United Nations to support comprehensive programs that give adolescent girls in six developing countries including India, an equal chance for education, health, social and economic opportunities, and a life free from violence.

Dhivya Suryadevara appointed CFO of General Motors

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In an industry not exactly known for its diversity, an iconic American carmaker has appointed its first female chief financial officer (CFO). And she’s from Chennai, India.

General Motors (GM), the maker of Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet cars, said in announcement on June 13th that the 39-year-old Dhivya Suryadevara will take over as CFO in September. Suryadevara joined the company in 2005, and has held various positions over the years. Since July 2017, she’s been serving as its vice-president for corporate finance.

With Suryadevara’s appointment, GM joins a handful of companies, including Hershey Co and Signet Jewelers, that have women serving as both CEO and CFO. In 2014, Mary Barra became the first woman to make it to the top of a major automobile company as CEO of GM.

“Any time a woman is added to the C-Suite it’s something that should be celebrated,” Anna Beninger, senior director of research at Catalyst, a non-profit that tracks women in leaderships positions, told Bloomberg. “Given that the rate of change for women into the C-suite and into the CEO level has been so slow, any time we see one, it is certainly progress.”

As the vice president of Corporate Finance, Suryadevara has been responsible for corporate financial planning, investor relations and special projects, and as the vice president of Finance and Treasurer, she helped achieve ratings upgrades from all three credit ratings agencies, completing $2B notes issuance to fund discretionary pension contributions and upsized and renewed GM’s $14.5B revolver.

As the CEO and Chief Investment Officer for GM Asset Management, Suryadevara was responsible for the management of business and investment activities of GM’s $85B pension operations. Suryadevara has also worked on other projects for the company, including Opel divestiture, Cruise acquisition, Lyft investment and SoftBank’s investment in GM Cruise. She joined GM in 2005.

The move shows how far Suryadevara, who holds an MBA from Harvard University, has come from her childhood in Chennai. Suryadevara received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in commerce from the University of Madras in Chennai, India.

She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Chartered Accountant. “Dhivya’s experience and leadership in several key roles throughout our financial operations positions her well to build on the strong business results we’ve delivered over the last several years,” Mary Barra, the chairman and CEO of GM, said in a statement.

Suryadevara will move into her new job in September. She replaces Chuck Stevens, 58, who plans to retire next year after more than 40 years with the carmaker. Stevens will remain with the company as an adviser until his retirement, it said.

Miss America pageant will no longer feature a swimsuit portion

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The next edition of the Miss America pageant will scrap swimsuits and will be more inclusive to women of all sizes, the contest announced on June 5th. Gretchen Carlson, the chairwoman of the Miss America board of directors, announced on “Good Morning America” that the event will no longer feature a swimsuit portion.

Miss America will be a competition, not a pageant, Carlson said on the show Tuesday. “We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance. That’s huge,” she said. Carlson also said the new Miss America competition will be more inclusive to women of “all shapes and sizes.” The official Miss America Twitter account tweeted a short video of a white bikini going up in a puff of smoke with the hashtag #byebyebikini.

Reacting to the announcement, Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri, the first Indian American and South Asian to win the title of Miss America, took to social media to weigh in on the organization’s decision. “Miss America 2.0 is finally here. Since my time serving as #MissAmerica and beyond, I’ve been fortunate to experience many proud moments in my career & recognition for my advocacy work,” she wrote. “My swimsuit score had nothing to do with any of them.”

Davuluri wrote that she couldn’t be “prouder” to be a part of this evolution. “Today, the @MissAmerica organization moves into an era where we focus on inclusivity & empowerment by emphasizing what truly matters: substance within,” she wrote, adding hashtags like ByeByeBikini and CirclesOfUnity.

When the Miss America pageant started in 1921, having young women parade around in bathing suits seemed like a great way to get tourists to come to the Atlantic City Boardwalk after Labor Day. But how America views women has changed drastically since then, and the Miss America Organization is run by women who don’t think it’s such a hot idea.

Accordingly, when the pageant is held this September, nearly a year into the #MeToo era, it will no longer have a swimsuit competition. “We’re not going to judge you on your appearance because we are interested in what makes you you,” Carlson said in making the announcement June 5 on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” For decades, women’s groups and others had complained that the swimsuit portion was outdated, sexist and more than a little silly.

Instead of showing off in a bathing suit, each contestant will interact with the judges to “highlight her achievements and goals in life and how she will use her talents, passion and ambition to perform the job of Miss America,” the organization said.

Carlson said the evening-wear portion of the competition will also be changed to allow women to wear something other than a gown if they want. The talent portion of the contest will remain. “It’s what comes out of their mouths that we care about,” Carlson said.

The Miss America pageant is not the cultural event it once was. The 1988 broadcast was seen by 33.1 million viewers, according to the Nielsen company. Last year, 5.4 million people watched. Because many of the state and local competitions that decide the Miss America finalists have already begun, the dropping of the swimsuit portion will not take effect at those levels until next year’s competition, the organization said.

Share & Care raises $70,000 for programs to empower rural India

Staff ReporterCommunity, Education, Health, India, Women 0

Share & Care Foundation held its inaugural Make a Difference 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at Overpeck County Park in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

The event raised over $70,000 for Share & Care’s programs to empower rural India with opportunities for gender equality, healthcare, education, and sanitation and hygiene.

More than 340 people ages 1 to 80 participated in this family-friendly 5-kilometer race, which also included a 1K (1 kilometer) Kids Walk/Run, yoga and other wellness activities, and a charity drive benefiting two local nonprofits.

Attendees received complimentary T-shirts, and each child who participated in the 1K Kids Walk/Run received a medal. Additionally, the top runners in each category were honored during an awards ceremony.

“This is perhaps one of the most unique events held under the Share & Care banner in a long time,” says Victor Gurunathan, a member of Share & Care’s Board of Trustees. “The 5K has clearly emerged as a platform to usher in the much-needed participation of a younger generation of volunteers who can carry our mission into the future. Kudos to Share & Care Foundation members Shreya Mehta, Vipul Shah, Saumil Parikh, and their wonderful team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to pull off this joyous event with clinical precision, even under inclement weather.”

“The goal of any event organized by a nonprofit organization is always twofold,” Gurunathan explains. “One is to generate funds to support its causes and the other, no less important, is to propagate awareness of its purpose to many with the hope they will be fans and benefactors. The 5K has amply succeeded in both respects, which was clearly demonstrated by the huge number of registrants and participants along with the funds raised.”

The entire Share & Care team would like to express our sincere gratitude to the 45 volunteers and 30 sponsors who contributed time, energy, funds, and in-kind donations to make this event possible. Because of their help, and because of the support of everyone who attended despite rain and cloudy skies, the Make a Difference 5K Walk/Run accomplished what it was designed to do — make a positive difference for marginalized women, children, and families in rural India.

Anyone interested in volunteering at future events or becoming an ambassador for Share & Care in their own community (e.g., at a high school or university) is invited to contact Administrative and Operations Director Tejal Parekh at (201) 262-7599 or via email at tparekh@shareandcare.org.

The Share of Female CEOs in the Fortune 500 Dropped by 25% in 2018

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The number of women leading the largest companies has always been small. This year, it got 25 percent smaller, according to Fortune magazine. The reversal is leading to a search beyond the usual explanations for why women don’t become chief executives — things like not being competitive enough, failing to chase opportunities for promotion and choosing work-life balance over high-powered jobs.

That’s because evidence shows that the obstacles for female executives aren’t just because of their individual choices. There are larger forces at work, experts say, rooted in biases against women in power, mothers who work or leaders who don’t fit the mold of the people who led before them.

The 25 percent decline is so large in part because women’s numbers are so small to start with. There’s also a phenomenon known as the glass cliff, in which women are more likely to be put in charge of failing companies. But in many ways, the reasons the number of female chief executives is falling are the same reasons there aren’t more of them in the first place.

For many years, it seemed as if the share of women at the top of corporate America would slowly increase over time. The number of women leading companies in the Fortune 500 had grown to 6.4 percent last year, a record high, from 2.6 percent a decade earlier.

After reaching an all-time high of 32 in 2017, the number of female Fortune 500 chiefs has slid back down to 24. That’s a one-year decline of 25%. The drop is due primarily to a number of powerful women leaving their corner offices. In the past year alone, more than a third of those women (12) have left their CEO jobs, including a few long-time veterans of the ranking.

As the Fortune 500 list went to print last week, Campbell Soup Co. CEO Denise Morrison announced she was retiring, effective immediately (thus, while Morrison appears on the June 2018 ranking, she is no longer in office). The company did not explain her abrupt departure and did not take questions from analysts on the matter. The 64-year-old had been at the helm since 2011; she was with the company for 15 years.

There were also some newcomers to the—far too exclusive—club this year: Ulta Beauty’s Mary Dillon, Kohl’s Michelle Gass, Yum China’s Joey Wat, and Anthem’s Gail Boudreaux. Dillon, who appeared on Fortune‘s list of Most Powerful Women for the first time last year at No. 48, has been running the cosmetics company since July 2013, though this is the first time that Ulta has appeared on the Fortune 500. The other three CEOs have been appointed in the past year.

Women in business start out equal to men in terms of jobs and pay. But at each level, they disappear. Only 22 percent of senior vice presidents are women. And of those, just 21 percent have roles related to generating revenue, which generally lead to C-level jobs, according to the annual Women in the Workplace study by Lean In and McKinsey. The drop-off starts with the first promotion to management: Women are 18 percent less likely to be promoted to manager than their male peers.

“Men and women are all going into high-powered jobs,” said Robin Ely, a professor at Harvard Business School and chairwoman of its gender initiative. “The question is what happens to them down the road, and that’s a messy story. People say they’re opting out, they want work-life balance, but we know from a lot of research that it’s not as simple as that. They’re not given opportunities.”

BAPS holds women’s conferences in 14 cities across US

Staff ReporterCommunity, Culture/Religion, Women 0

Unity is strength. This was the simple yet powerful subject of conversation at this year’s annual women’s conference of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS held at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs across North America in 14 different locations on dates between April 21 and May 5.

Held in 14 cities across North America, this conference aims to inspire its attendees to bring about change through dialogue and reflection and this year was no different.  At the conferences across the nation, women from different backgrounds and of different ages stressed the power of humility and positivity in creating a unified nation and global community. Organizers said an estimated 2,000 women attended the conference at different centers, including in New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, speaking at the Washington conference, Amita Shukla, CEO of Vitamita, emphasized the importance of the mindset in achieving unity. “Positivity is simply surrendering our fears, humility is surrendering our ego, and unity is becoming one with the elements and seeing everything as an interconnected whole,” she said.

At the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford, Texas on April 21, 2018, the conference dwelt on unity as it is currently on the minds of many in society, and separation due to differences natural, the conference instead focused on the individual’s role in creating a unified nation and world. The speakers delved into the qualities of humility and positivity and their roles in initiating a more unity-centered mind-frame.

At the conference in Robbinsville, New Jersey, the state’s first lady Tammy Murphy, State Sen. Linda Greenstein and New York Assemblywoman Nily Rozic were among the speakers. “It doesn’t make you less powerful to be united. It adds great strength to anything that you’re doing. The unity within us enables and fosters the unity around us,” said Greenstein (DMiddlesex).

The conference covered three key concepts: importance of unity, power of humility and power of positivity and provided an opportunity for attendees to understand the significance of unity as a global concept while also discussing the little steps everyone can take toward this goal.

Another New Jersey speaker, nephrologist Tamanna Kalra used an evidence-based approach to affirm that humility is not a fixed trait, but one that should be practiced and developed. Dr. Priya Patel, a resident in ob-gyn, closed out the conference with a talk on the power of positivity. Her story of a cancer patient’s calm, thoughtful, and positive response to a life-ending diagnosis inspired the attendees.

Naimi Patel, closed out the conference with a compelling talk on the power of positivity. Giving a simple yet practical piece of advice, she said, “You can turn a negative situation into a positive situation through a change in perspective.”

Gauri Chandna, author of the book “Sparks” said at the Westborough, Massachusetts location: “Women play a great role in the growth and development of society making it an advanced and modern society,” and offered a quote often attributed to Brigham Young, a Utah politician and leader in the Latter Day Saint movement: “You educate a man, you educate a man. You educate a woman, you educate a generation.”

International Women’s Day celebrated at Indian Consulate in New York

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The annual International Women’s Day held at the Indian Consulate in New York on March 8th, five illustrious Indian American women were among those who had addressed the nearly 100 participants who had come to celebrate women for their success, contributions to the society and for leadership.
Miss India USA 2017 Shree Saini who spoke on the occasion, said, “empowerment begins with a child, whether it is a male or a female. We need to give our children the unconditional love and support to build their self-esteem as only then they will they feel empowered to conquer any obstacles in life.”
The event was organized by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), whose president Srujal Parikh said “I’ve always been surrounded by powerful women; my mom, my wife, my daughter and my friends,” before he recognized the group of women who have been the backbone of FIA who always “work so hard to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
In his opening remarks, Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty said, “Today when we are celebrating the International Women’s Day. I pay my tribute to women all over for their courage, hard work and daily toil in making the world a better place. While women constitute half of humanity they are responsible for bringing up the other half. (*). We are delighted and honoured by the presence of incredible panelists for today’s conference on Women Leadership. I will introduce them later. I also take this opportunity to thank FIA and its dynamic leadership of Ramesh Patel and Srujal Parikh for joining hands with us in celebrating this important day.
According to the Indian Ambassador, International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate womanhood, their social, political, cultural, political, economic achievements and their significant contributions to society, while laying importance on gender equality. People across athe world come together to commemorate women — not just well-known personalities, but also each woman who plays a pivotal part in the shaping of their lives. The day has come to be increasingly associated with feminism and equal rights for women. It asserts the equal freedoms and rights that women have access to just like men.
“International Women’s Day was initially celebrated as International Working Women’s Day and the earliest celebration is believed to be held at a socialist political event in New York City in 1909. In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on 8th of March. This year, International Women’s Day comes on the heels of unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice. Sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women has captured headlines and public discourse, propelled by a rising determination for change.
“International Women’s Day 2018 is an opportunity to transform this momentum into action, to empower women in all settings, rural and urban, and celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realize their full potential. UN has introduced the theme for this year’s Women’s Day as ‘Time Is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women’s Lives,” He said.
The Consul General also welcomed the five women who spoke on the occasion, including TV anchor Nisha Mathur, author Myra Godfrey, social worker Eshita Chakrabarti, musician and entrepreneur Chandrika Tandon and Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak; as well as violinist Daisy Joplin, who gave a moving performance. Eight female pilots from Air India were felicitated as well.

Air India’s all-women-crew pilots get a rousing welcome at Indian Consulate, New York

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Air India says it has become the first airline to fly around the world with an all-female crew, just ahead of International Women’s Day.

“Air India scripted history by flying an all-women crew flight around the world,” the airline said in a statement on Facebook, after Flight AI 174 touched back down in New Delhi on Friday.

The Boeing 777 flew from New Delhi to San Francisco last Monday, traveling over the Pacific Ocean. The crew completed a mandatory rest period before flying over the Atlantic back to New Delhi, completing the round-the-world trip.

“Literally with high flying women. All 4 Air India flights into US today, JFK, Newark, Chicago & SFo were commandered by women pilots. We were delighted to honour 8 women pilots at the Consulate on #Internationalwomensday .Big thanks to Vandana Sharma of @airindiain & FIA,” tweeted Consul General of India, New York, Sandeep Chakravorty.

In addition to the four flights to the US, the airline flew all-women-crew flights to destinations including Milan, Frankfurt, and Singapore.

“The national carrier has planned several flights on its domestic and international sectors operated only by its women employees to salute woman power,” the airliner had said last week in a press release. It had announced that the all-women-crew flights that the company intends to operate to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day will have women pilots in addition to women cabin crew, check-in staff, doctor, commercial staff, ground operators to technicians, engineers, flight dispatchers and even safety and quality auditors.

Air India reiterated that by flying all-women-crew in its flights it wants to stress on its constant efforts to encourage women by giving them an equal opportunity in the workplace.

The schedule for the crews was also planned by a woman – Amrita Sharan, Executive Director Integration and Industrial Relations and in charge of Crew Management, announced the carrier.

Smiling members of Air India’s crew, wearing saris and jackets, posed for selfies in San Francisco International Airport last Monday before setting off on the final leg of the trip.

Every member of staff — from the flight’s captains to the cabin crew, check-in and ground handling staff — were women. Even the engineers, who certified the aircraft, and air traffic controllers, who cleared its departure and arrival, were women, the company said.

An Air India spokesman told the media that the airline has applied for a Guinness World Record to mark the occasion, part of a series of all-women flights scheduled to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.

Forbes India Names 25 Women ‘Trailblazers’

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Forbes India has released a its “W-Power Trailblazers” issue, featuring 25 women who are rising stars in business, including Chiki Sarkar, publisher, Juggernaut Books; Adhuna Bhabani, founder-director, Bblunt; Anupriya Acharya, CEO (India), Publicis Media; Kavitha Sairam, co-founder, FIB-SOL Life Technologies; and Dina Wadia and Shivpriya Nanda, joint managing partners, J. Sagar Associates, among others.

“We need to specify that this is not a ranking but a qualitative selection – a grouping of ground breakers, game-changers and innovators working across diverse sectors such as technology, law, banking, insurance, media, biotech and the startup sector,” Forbes India said in a statement.

“Mandated quotas smack of tokenism, and we have as many women who favor reservations as those who would like merit to be the decider,” said Brian Carvalho, editor of Forbes India, referring to the lack of women on company boards.

“With the overwhelming response that we received for the first edition of W-Power last year, a second edition was imminent. This issue is unique because of the methodology used in selection of the leaders. We believe that this list cannot be ranked hence we adopt a qualitative approach,” said Joy Chakraborthy, CEO-Forbes India and president, revenue, Network18. The final list of 25 was based on jury votes.

Woman Empowerment……the need of the hour

Staff ReporterEditorial, Women 0

I had the honor of representing India at the prestigious World Summit for Entrepreneurs held in Washington DC. In fact, I spoke on woman empowerment and received a standing ovation. I recalled my journey from one herbal salon to a global chain of franchise salons, and how I started a network by encouraging ordinary women to start salons in their own homes in a small way, to enable them to achieve financial independence. Education, of course, is the most important aspect of women empowerment. Mahatma Gandhi had said, “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate an entire family.”

Yes, in a developing country like hours, education of women is the need of the hour, especially in rural areas. In fact, education helps to highlight a woman’s strength and how much she can do to better the life of her children. I believe that it would help to improve the quality of life of women in the rural areas, paying particular attention to education and health care of women and children. In fact, I feel that special attention should be given to extracurricular activities for girls and women in rural areas. An exercise and diet regime would help both mental and physical health.

Great emphasis should be given to every mother to empower her financially and mentally, so that she can educate her girl child of her rights and also inculcate the values of good health, nutritious diet and education. I believe that woman empowerment means financial independence and selfreliance for women. If women are encouraged to go out to work, the family can benefit from the earnings of two members. The quality of life of their children would definitely improve. I also believe that the development of skills and vocational training are very important for financial independence. I have been committed to vocational training of the speech, hearing and visually impaired, through my free beauty training courses for them.

Today, I feel proud that women have achieved so much. But we still have a long way to go. Woman empowerment is not just about one day in the year. It should be an on-going process, so that each of us can focus on the areas that need change and do our bit. The woman has to realize her own potential and strength as an equal member of society. In fact, the educated and selfreliant mothers can also bring about change in the mindset of society and teach their sons to honour and respect women.

Empowerment is also about women realizing that they should embrace change. Creating awareness is so important, drawing public attention to instances of injustices towards women. Educated women and professionals can work together to focus on issues – like literacy, learning of skills and opportunities for entrepreneurship, through kitchen and cottage industries. They can also participate in programmes on social issues and health care.

The “Pulse Polio” program, for instance, is a successful example. Changes cannot come from outside and by force. It has to come from within the society. The change can be complete when society recognizes that the woman has a separate identity, her own dreams and ambitions and every right to fulfill them. To women, I also want to say “Believe in yourself and your own abilities. Keep learning. Do you dream of being successful? Don’t stop! It is important to dream. Then have the faith and courage to take the first step towards realizing the magic of your dreams.” Indeed, let each woman redefine her place in the world, giving it her own color and fragrance. It would make this world a better place.

The theme for International Women’s Day in 2018 is “Press for Progress.” So this year, let us consider the roles played by women, all over the world, in economic development and social causes. Today is the day to appreciate women for their achievements, so that it inspires all women towards further progress. I feel that each and every one of us can take steps forward in different areas, like education, vocational training, skill development, gender bias, as well as women’s safety and security. We need to come together to help women move forward and realize their limitless potential and strength as an equal member of the family and society. So, this International Women’s Day let us all contribute at an individual level or collectively to Press for Progress!

“With empowerment, women can be a force to reckon with”

Staff ReporterWomen 0

Long ago, I had written, “A woman was created to blossom and bloom, in the colours and fragrance of her choice. The way an unwatered plant becomes parched and dies, so does the personality of a woman who is struggling to break through the shackles of social conditioning and achieve recognition as an individual. The change will be complete when society recognizes that it cannot benefit from preventing the emergence of the pearl from the oyster.” Women have made their mark in every field. On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women achievers. I have always believed that there is no such thing as Destiny. We make our own Destiny. You will be what you will yourself to be. I am reminded of what The Washington Post had said, “Shahnaz Husain has done so much for her country’s image abroad that she deserves the sobriquet of India’s Beauty Ambassador.”

It was an honor. When I represented India at President Obama’s summit for entrepreneurs, I spoke on woman empowerment and got a standing ovation. I also felt honoured when I became the first woman in 107 years to receive the “World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur” Award from the U.S. based Success magazine. For the last four decades, I have promoted India’s herbal heritage worldwide, becoming a Harvard Case Study for International Brand Creation. Now I am a Subject at Harvard and part of the curriculum for “Emerging Markets.” There is no doubt that a woman can and will be a force to reckon with breaking the glass ceiling.

Mona Das to run for Washington state’s 8th Congressional District

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Profiles, U.S., Women 0

Mona Das, an Indian American woman from the state of Washington, has announced her plans to run for the Democratic nomination representing Washington state’s 8th Congressional District. If elected, she will replace Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, who is serving his seventh term as the U.S. Representative for the state’s 8th District.

Das said her passion for working for positive change is fueled by the Bernie Sanders movement and the new energy it ignited. “I am honored and excited to be running for Congress from the 8th District and to represent voters in both Eastern and Western Washington,” Das said in a statement. “Sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option. Unlike the current representative, my voice will be powerful and inclusive.”

Das is running one district over from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, who was elected last fall to her first term in the House. Interestingly, in the Seattle/Pugent Sound area, eight Indian American women are running for various elected offices, or have been elected, including Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant, and Jayapal. Jayapal is the first Indian American woman to serve in the House; Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat from California, is the first Indian American to serve in the Senate.

Das immigrated from India to the U.S. with her parents as a child. She launched her career with international and domestic software companies in the Pacific Northwest. Thirteen years ago, she started her own mortgage company and built it into an award-winning lender in 50 states, serving a population of homebuyers typically ignored by other lenders, according to a Das campaign news release.

“My focus in business has to been to reach out to underserved homebuyers, to educate them, and to champion their home ownership dreams,” she said. “As a community leader, I advocate for those who need a strong voice – immigrants, women and others in our communities who are often overlooked.

“Americans are dissatisfied with government. They want to see more unification, less division,” she said. “In my travels around the district I’ve been hearing that voters have had enough. Enough of absentee leadership. Enough indecisveness. I am a listener, a consensus-builder, a fighter, and I intend to bring it all to this office on behalf of residents in the 8th District.”

Jayshree Ullal, Neerja Sethi on Forbes’ List of ‘America’s Richest Self-Made Women’

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Jayshree Ullal and Neerja Sethi are tow Indian Americans on Forbes third annual edition of “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” list, released on May 17.  Both Jayshree Ullal and Neerja Sethi had made the list a year ago.

According to reports, Ullal, who has made her $840 million fortune in the technology industry, came in at No. 21 on the list. At No. 24 on the list, Sethi has a net worth of $750 million. The minimum net worth needed to make this year’s list is $260 million, up from $250 million in 2016.

Ullal, the 56-year-old chief executive officer of computer networking firm Arista Networks, where she has been since 2008, was born in London and raised in India before settling in California.

The former Cisco employee helped Arista go public in June 2014. The company reported $1.1 billion in revenues in 2016, according to Forbes. Ullal owns 7 percent of Arista’s stock. Ullal’s former employer, meanwhile, is suing Arista for alleged patent infringement, which the company steadfastly denies. Ullal won the Ernst and Young U.S. Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2015.

The Florida-based Sethi, 62, is the vice president of IT consulting and outsourcing company Syntel, a company she founded with her husband Bharat Desai in 1980 in their Troy, Mich., apartment.

Syntel started with an initial investment of $2,000 and made just $30,000 in first-year sales. Today, Syntel has $966 million in sales and about 23,000 employees across the globe — 80 percent of whom are in India.

Topping the 60-person list was Marian Ilitch of Michigan. The 84 year old earned her $5.1 billion net worth from Little Caesers. Rounding out the top five were Diane Hendricks of the roofing industry, Judy Love of retail and gas stations, TV mogul Oprah Winfrey and Doris Fisher of Gap, who earned $4.9 billion, $2.9 billion, $2.9 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively.

The 60 women, who have a record combined net worth of $61.5 billion, have created their own fortunes, deploying invention and innovation and achieving unparalleled success, Forbes said.

“These 60 entrepreneurs, innovators and entertainers made their fortunes in everything from makeup and music to fashion, food and finance,” said Luisa Kroll, Forbes’ assistant managing editor of wealth, in a statement. “A number of them saw their fortunes increase as investors and corporate buyers rushed in.”

 

Sakhi to honor Reshma Saujani, Yasmeen Hassan at annual gala

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Sakhi for South Asian Women, an anti-domestic violence organization that works with the South Asian community in the New York metropolitan area, will honor two South Asian gender equality activists at its annual gala next month. Reshma Saujani, CEO and founder of Girls Who Code and Yasmeen Hassan, Global Executive Director of Equality Now will be honored at the May 4 gala.

Themed “Gender Justice: A Future For All”, the gala will be held at Tribeca Three Sixty and will celebrate 28 years of Sakhi’s service and advocacy. Sakhi for South Asian Women has fought to unite survivors, communities, and institutions to eradicate domestic violence and form healthy communities.

Sakhi’s philosophy of empowerment has always centered first on supporting women’s agency and empowering survivors to regain charge of their lives and see themselves as positive agents of change, according to a Sakhi press release. Hassan is a longtime advocate for women’s rights and notably authored the first study on domestic violence in Pakistan. “In such a critical time for women’s empowerment and gender justice, I am thrilled to be part of Sakhi’s 2017 gala,” she said.

Girls Who Code is a national nonprofit working to close to gender gap in technology and equipping young women from all walks of life with the skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. “As a passionate advocate for the rights of women and girls, I’m so excited to be part of Sakhi’s 2017 gala and participate in a much needed conversation about the future of our movement,” Saujani said.

The “Gender Justice: A Future For All” celebration will be emceed by Arun Venugopal, journalist and host of “Micropolis”, WNYC’s ongoing examination of race, sexuality, and identity. “This is an exciting year for Sakhi for South Asian Women,” says Executive Director Shalini Somayaji. “I’m looking forward to celebrating so many different groups and individuals who have been intrinsic to our success as an organization.

“As we continue to grow and adapt to better serve and advocate for New York’s South Asian women and immigrant communities, I’m grateful to take a moment to celebrate as well as look ahead to our future, and the work that must be done in our community and beyond,” the press release quoted her as saying.

Nikki Haley booed at Global Women’s Summit Over Trump, Russia

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Women 0
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley received an icy reception at the Women in the World summit in New York City Wednesday, April 6th. Nikki Haley, the tough-talking and blunt U.S. Ambassador to the UN, was heckled during an annual summit on women as she spoke about President Donald Trump and Russia. The Indian American envoy was speaking on April 5 at the ‘Women In The World’ summit, a premier annual gathering of influential women leaders, politicians and activists organized by media personality Tina Brown in association with the New York Times.
Following a panel discussion that featured two doctors who’ve been on the front lines of the Syrian civil war and have witnessed the Assad regime’s attacks on hospitals, Haley expressed outrage over the “heartbreaking” situation in Syria and, once again, pointed the finger at Russia. “If they supposedly have so much clout in Syria, they need to do their job,” Haley said of Vladimir Putin’s government, as a largely nonresponsive crowd began growing restless.
“Keep in mind I work for the Trump administration,” Haley said, as a wave of boos rippled softly through the audience. “I have hit Russia over the head more times than I can count,” she continued, despite rumblings from the crowd. “Because if they do something wrong, we’re gonna call them out on it.”
Haley, who said that she had spoken to the president earlier in the day, insisted that Trump is concerned about Russia, an assertion that further incited the audience. As she was answering questions during the session titled ‘Trump’s Diplomat: Nikki Haley’ moderated by MSNBC anchor Greta Van Susteren, Haley was booed and heckled on several occasions. At one point someone in the audience shouted “what about refugees” while another asked, “when is the next panel.”
She was heckled again when asked how America deals with some of the world leaders who are dictators. “You call them out when they do something wrong and you work with them when you can find ways to work with them,” Haley said.
As some members of the audience shouted at her remarks, Haley said, “we have to express America’s values. We are always the moral conscience of the world,” to which someone from the audience shouted “what about the refugees,” cutting off Haley. Haley went silent. Van Susteren paused, and then said, “Moving on.”
At the end of the day’s program, Brown commended Haley for attending the event even as she got a “boisterous reception” and for remaining gracious as she was heckled. “We often complain and sneer and say Republicans never want to come on any kind of forum except Fox News or places where they can be asked questions that are soft,” Brown said, adding that Haley did not put on any pre-conditions and sat very “graciously” while the audience heckled. “She didn’t get agitated about it, and she’s in the middle of a lot of world crises. So I feel that we should really applaud the fact that she did come.”

BAPS hosts conferences In North America to inspire, empower women

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Committed to the progress and growth of women worldwide, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha celebrated its sixth annual Women’s Conference in ten locations across North America on March 30, 2013.  Building on past topics related to Hindu teachings, this year’s focus was on “Timeless Traditions: Celebrating the Past, Cultivating the Future”.  The conference focused on understanding the glory of Hindu traditions, building bridges by communicating them with pride, and nurturing future generations by transmitting a priceless culture and traditions. 
Connecting with the audience through their personal experiences and thoughts, the speakers refreshed an age-old subject in everyone’s mind. While Hinduism is rooted within scriptures, it is simultaneously relevant in every aspect of a Hindu’s life. Focusing on this quality of Hindu tradition, the speakers touched on maintaining pride for one’s culture and filling the role of being an ambassador of one’s culture to others. 
They also touched on the importance of keeping traditions alive and passing them on to future generations by learning to balance the speed of the future with the richness of the past.
Women of all generations attended the conference, each group finding inspiration in the talks for the current phase of their lives and finding priorities to help shape their future.  Not only did the attendees experience a rejuvenation of pride in their heritage, they felt more informed to be able to better represent their faith and values.

BAPS, drawing inspiration from His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, hosts this annual conference as a stage to allow discussion of various topics important to women in society and to serve as a conduit for empowering women of all ages.  Many women felt enriched by the discussion and identified the importance of implementing the message in their lives, particularly with their future generations.  
The conference was organized by local youth and women volunteers of BAPS who dedicated weeks of their time leading up to the conference to organize a professional forum where women could share their strengths and empower one another. The diversity of speakers invited to present at the conference appealed to a wide variety of interests among audience members. Their personal experiences and adherence to cultural values inspired young women to strive for success while imbibing spirituality into their daily lives, the press release said.
Conferences were held across North America including Robbinsville and Edison in New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Long Island, New York. Some of the speakers were Bianca Pujara, Dr. Gopi Mukhavalli, Middlesex County Freeholder Shanti Narra, Satwant Khanalia, First Secretary at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., Dimple Shah, Assistant Secretary at the Dept. of Homeland Security; and Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation.

Shabana Azmi honors women achievers

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Actress and activist Shabana Azmi believes that no society can claim to be a progressive society until and unless the women in that society are given their worth, are empowered. “A health or wealth of a nation cannot be determined by its GDP alone, but by its human development, in which the empowering of women is a very important yardstick,” she said. Azmi was speaking at the Indian Academy Women Achievers Award, held March 26 at The Marigold here. Indian-American women from all walks of life, as well as student achievers were honored for their contributions in the field of medicine, performing arts, education, finance and social service.

To commemorate International women’s day, Indian Academy Awards launched IAA WOMEN ACHIEVERS AWARDS; a campaign urging NRI women to share their personal success stories so that they could be rewarded and felicitated.

IAA aims at felicitating those women holding positions of decision making. We are requesting NRI women to share their real life stories in their respective field with the intention to empower the women of today.

Conceptualized by Vandana Krishna, director of Brainstorm Entertainment, the awards, an initiative of the Indian Academy Awards, aimed to share the success stories of real women to encourage and inspire the community here. “True stories of women entrepreneurs are an inspiration to change the world,” Krishna said. Today’s women are making the difference with their innovative ideas, seeking solutions and reclaiming their status as equals,” she said, adding, “We want to create a platform to honor these women and to share their success with the world.”

The IAA had invited Azmi’s NGO, Mijwan Welfare Society, to showcase the exquisite hand embroidery called Chikankari by the women of Mijwan. Along with honoring women achievers, the highlight of the evening was a fashion show by well-known designer Manish Malhotra, who showcased the ‘Mijwan Summer Couture 2017’. The fashion show was a fundraiser and the proceeds collected at the event were donated to the NGO to support education and empowerment of the girl child.

Through this event, the IAA is gearing up for its flagship event to be held in the Bay Area this June. Earlier, the academy celebrated the first of its kind, The Indian Worldwide Academy and all that it stands for. The event was announced by superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Mumbai and the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai and in January it was launched by Madhuri Dixit in California. From exchanging cultures to building bridges for tourism, engaging cinema lovers to creating a platform to identify potential talent for the Indian film industry, the IAA, is a real-time celebration for cinema lovers, by cinema lovers and of cinema lovers across the world.

Managed by Asia’s largest production company Cineyug and choreographed by Shiamak Davar, this extravaganza, will bring the best of Hollywood, Bollywood and Tollywood together to create history in the entertainment world and will be hosted at the Oracle Arena in San Francisco.

The Indian Academy will now celebrate woman empowerment through nominations and authenticated online voting process. Women achievers will be honored for their achievements as strong Indian-American women.

Lata Krishnan given 2017 Distinguished Citizen Award

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

AIF Co-Chair Lata Krishnan received the 2017 Distinguished Citizen Award for her positive contributions to society with enduring impact, and her embodiment of qualities that make an individual’s life worthy of admiration: generosity, ability to inspire and desire to make a difference in our world today and in our future tomorrow. Lata received the award from the Commonwealth Club, the leading national forum for discussion of public issues.

The Commonwealth Club’s 114th Annual Dinner and 29th Annual Distinguished Citizen Gala was a dual celebration, reflecting on the last year of the Club’s events and accomplishments, as well as honoring outstanding members of the community who exemplify the Club’s values by presenting them with the Distinguished Citizen Award, an award reserved for those whose professional and humanitarian endeavors and accomplishments are worthy of recognition and celebration.

Recipients of this award have included local and global leaders whose contributions to society have had a positive and enduring impact, and who embody the qualities that make an individual’s life worthy of admiration: their generosity, their ability to inspire and their desire to make a difference in our world today and in our future tomorrow.

As the Chair of AIF, Krishnan’s responsibilities include developing global outreach programs and a strong group of trustees and volunteers, building partnerships with US and India based non-profits, and developing communications strategy and project selection. She is one of the leading women entrepreneurs in the Silicon Valley, the co-founder of SMART Modular Technologies, Inc., and a member of the Angels Forum in Northern California. Her community efforts include being on the Board of Directors for the San Jose Tech Museum, Children’s Discovery Museum, San Jose Repertory Theater, The Indus Entrepreneur (TIE) Silicon Valley Chapter and a Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. She is also on the Advisory Board for Narika (Shelter for Abused Women in the Asian Community) and the Indian Business & Professional Women’s Association. Ms. Krishnan received a Bachelor of Science degree from the London School of Economics.

Byy the age of 40 Lata Krishnan had co-founded a tech company that was sold for $2 billion, won recognition as Silicon Valley’s highest paid female executive, had two kids, beat cancer, co-founded a booming tech investment firm and served as founding president of American India Foundation, the leading foundation by which desis funnel aid to India. Today Krishnan remains a happy homemaker who has established herself as a leading light in the Indian American community while serving as CFO of Shah Capital Partners which she co-founded with husband Ajay Shah. An example of the kinds of deals that have helped SCP thrive: in 2004 it led the $100 million buyout of Smart Modular Technologies, the same company Krishnan had co-founded in 1988 and sold to Solectron for $2 billion in 1999.

Lata Krishnan was born 1961 in Palghat India. After spending a part of her childhood in Kenya, she attended the London School of Economics. She graduated in 1982, then stayed in London to work as an auditor for Arthur Andersen and Hill Vellacott. In 1986 she moved to San Francisco to become a financial analyst at Montgomery Asset Management. Two years later Krishnan, her husband Ajay Shah and Mukesh Patel co-founded a quick turnaround chipmaker to take advantage of the booming demand for commodity memory chips. In 1995 Krishnan organized Smart Modular’s wildly successful IPO that won it recognition as one of the nation’s most promising companies.

By 1998 Krishnan’s $3.9 million salary and options earned her the distinction of being the highest paid female executive in Silicon Valley. By 1999 Smart Modular had $1 bil. revenues and was profitable enough to catch the attention of competitor Solectron. That OEM chipmaker paid $2 billion to acquire SMT which was then 35% owned by Krishnan, Shah and Patel. Krishnan and Shah used a small part of the proceeds to seed Shah Capital Partners which has acquired a controlling interest in a half dozen promising tech companies.

Krishnan lives with Shah, a son and a daughter in Fremont, California. Since the 1990s she has devoted much of her energies toward good works, inspiring others to do the same. “Children can be molded into good, caring people,” she said. “They lose their way for a variety of reasons, broken homes, financial instability, etc. If I can help one child have a better future, it is meaningful. This is what I want to be remembered for. These are more notable than the sales and stock figures.”

A joyous celebration of womanhood at ATA women’s day

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Chicago IL: American Telugu Association -ATA celebrated International women’s day (IWD) on March 19, 2017 at Royal Palace Banquets, Chicago Ridge, IL. International Women’s Day is is celebrated every year on March 8th since 1913.

ATA celebrated women’s day with great dignity & pride to honor women’s rights & celebrate the accomplishments of women in geo, political, economic and social sectors as well as great enthusiasm to showcase the achievements & issues facing women of their respective cultures and to come up with better solutions for a better tomorrow. The venue was packed with almost 250 exuberant women who actively participated in various activities. The theme of International Women’s Day was “Be Bold for Change” resonated with everyone.

The event started with a prayer song and lamp lighting ceremony followed by welcome speech and history of IWD by Sunitha Reddy and opening remarks by Dr. Meher Medavaram speaking on importance and the theme of the women’s day stressing the need for women to come together to work towards reducing the gender parity and recognizing IWD’s important agenda to call to action for gender parity, offering clear actions and solutions to help both individuals and organizations to create inclusive spaces for all the people all over the world.

They also had prominent Physician Dr. Sheela Konda- Vice chair of Radiology, Amita health care speaking on breast cancer awareness which was very informative and educational. She made a slide presentation on facts relating to breast cancer screening and prevention.  This was followed by Mary Bedel, President of National Alliance on Mental Illness from Indiana, who spoke on the importance of recognizing the signs of mental illness and how women can reach out to help themselves and their families. She shared community resources that are available for the treatment of mental illness. Swapna Reddy an Attorney and Co-Director of ASAP at Urban Justice Center spoke on the burning issue of Immigration and her work with the refugee population.

The event included various games, like Jeopardy and Telugu speaking competition. Women enthusiastically participated and winners were awarded prizes.  Women were entertained by Hari Madhuri with her live singing and they danced to the beats of the DJ. It was an overwhelmingly successful and memorable event made possible with active participation and help of the entire ATA Chicago team. Women from all walks of life shared a wonderful afternoon of learning, networking and empowering themselves.

Indian American Forum to honor Outstanding women at Gala

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The Indian American Forum (IAF) will honor Ranju Batra, Chair DIWALI STAMP; Kalpana Patel, CEO Unique Comp Inc; Binita Shah, MD, FAAP Distinguished Professor; and, Vandana Sharma, Regional director of AIR INDIA during the sixth annual Outstanding Women’s Achievement Gala.

This program is part of the National Women’s History Month Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, Commitment and Accomplishments. The annual Gala Banquet will be held on Friday March 24, 2017 at Antuns by Minar, 244 West Old Country Road, Hicksville, NY 11801, (516) 681 3300. The Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the Gala will be Hon. Madeline Singas, Nassau County District Attorney.

Shilpa Shetty to lead International Women’s Day event in New Jersey

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Bollywood actress and entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty-Kundra will attend a women’s empowerment gala in the U.S. The actress earlier in the week took to Twitter, where she shared a poster of the event and also the tour dates. Shetty will be starting her tour from Feb. 26 through March 26.

“Ok America here I come… Starting with Orlando… Looking forward,” Shilpa captioned the poster. The poster also read: “Celebrating Women’s Day and creating awareness for various non-profit organizations.”

In New Jersey, she will headline the Women Empowerment Gala 2017 at Royal Albert’s Palace in Fords, March 5. The event is hosted by Priyanka Shah of Royal Events and Entertainment and Business NJ. The event will honor women achievers Miss New Jersey 2016 Brenna Weick, Mani Kamboj and Rashmee Sharma of Roshnee Media; Pratibha Kataria, principal owner of Allstate, N.J.; Rashmi Gupta, entrepreneur -in-residence and advisor of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Janhavi Rane, president and CEO of Rane’s Dental Group; Dr. Kavita Gupta, chair of the American India Foundation, Pennsylvania chapter; Usha Krishnakumar, senior partner, New York Life; Dr. Anju Madnani, CEO, Kaaya Med Spa; among others.

On the work front, Shetty-Kundra was last seen on the small screen judging children dance-based reality show “Super Dance” with director Anurag Basu and choreographer Geeta Kapoor. Meanwhile, the Government of India has roped in Shetty-Kundra as a Swachh Bharat brand ambassador. The 41-year-old actress will feature in television and radio campaigns aimed at discouraging people from littering on roads.

Shetty is the latest entrant in the list of the mission’s ambassadors like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shankar Mahadevan and Sachin Tendulkar. Shilpa Shetty is currently in San Jose, California, with her team attending a couple of events.

“While she kicked off the NBA game in Orlando, the best part of her tour has been her visits to the Google and Facebook offices. When she went to the Google headquarters in San Jose, she was pleasantly surprised when their cafetaria gave her a menu of her film songs. They had put in a lot of effort. Shilpa was taken on a tour of Google and found it to be a city within a city. She was stunned at the kind of facilities that are offered to the employees there. Everything there is free –— from food to spa, massages, dentists and vending machines where you get from the smallest to the biggest of things. Shilpa took a yoga class with some Google employees and taught people in FB how to do the Pranayam.”

 

New York Asian Women’s Center (NYAWC) Changes Name to Womankind

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(New York, NY – January 26, 2017) The New York Asian Women’s Center, a leader in providing innovative and award-winning multilingual and culturally responsive services to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual violence and later in life abuse, officially changed its name to Womankind at a press conference in Manhattan on Tuesday.

“We changed our name to create an identity that speaks to the power of our unique ways of thinking and doing – changing paradigms, building and healing,” said Larry Lee, executive director of Womankind. “And to show that we are more inclusive and transforming. We changed because we had outgrown our name.”
For 35 years, Womankind has helped Asian women and their children rise above trauma and build a path to healing through counseling, safe and confidential emergency housing, immigration and legal services, economic empowerment programs and so much more.

Representatives from the organization also revealed the trailer of a short film by director Benjamin Ross called “Rise Above,” which premiered during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, last weekend. The virtual reality (VR) film focuses on Brittany, a South Asian youth survivor of sexual violence, and was produced by Oculus’ “VR For Good” initiative.

“It was great to be able to tell my story of abuse through the medium of virtual reality and to be able to share the film through social media,” said Brittany. “I hope the film encourages more people from my generation to report abuse and speak out against violence.” The “VR for Good” initiative will make its rounds through the film festival circuit and will, eventually, be available to view in its entirety on the organization’s recently revamped web site, www.iamwomankind.org.  The organization also announced the opening of a new community office in Brooklyn, which will allow advocates to provide services for double the number of victims from that community. The Brooklyn Center makes for a total of THREE community offices and TWO emergency residences that Womankind manages in New York.

Indie rock artist Queen V ended the press conference on a high note by performing her rendition of “Broken Wings,” which is now available on I-tunes. Proceeds from the sales will benefit Womankind.

Hina Trivedi honored with Asian Exemplary Civic Service Award 2016

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Chicago:  Hina Trivedi, a Gujarati community leader, President of Indo US Lions Club and a Trustee of Federation of  Indian Associations Chicago, has now two more feathers in her crown, receiving  Prudential Gold Medal from Washington DC and Asian Exemplary Civic Service Award 2016 for her exemplary community services for the past thirty years.

Hina received this Award along with other Asian community members. The award ceremony took place on November 20, 2016 at a dinner banquet at Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 10249 W Irving Park Rd, Schiller Park, IL where more than 200 guests mostly Asian Americans of Chicago & its Suburbs attended the event. The program included musical entertainment and dances. Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White was the chief guest.

President Barack Obama in his letter addressed to Hina Trivedi congratulated her for getting the President’s Volunteer Services Award for 2016 which was presented to her by Secretary of State, Jesse White during the event.
For the last fifteen years, in the month of November The Asian Humanitarian Award is given annually by the Asian Chronicle TV channel to individuals and families who are cohesive and positive role models for others to emulate, extend numerous civic and community services here and/or in their native countries, and they impact the positive image of Asians in America. Asian Chronicle TV channel is a very famous and popular Asian TV Channel in Chicagoland area.

Asian Chronicle USA, a television program on public access cable broadcast in many suburban communities of Chicagoland, had chosen Hina for the Asian Exemplary Services for being a bridge between India and USA serving the community with her command over seven languages and active association with local service organizations.

Hina Trivedi is the president of Indo US Lions Club, a bridge between India and USA. She is multilingual speaking seven different languages and has served more than thirty years in various communities, serving as translator for citizenship interviews, helping people register to vote and assisting seniors in applying for Medicare or Medicaid, and housing.  She tutors children in order for them to be busy and off the streets at CEDA and LIFHITE.

She is also the president of the Federation of Indian Associations, founding member of GOPIO Chicago, Executive Board Member of AIA and MAFS. She has attended many public awareness and social services conferences across the globe and has received many honors and awards from President Barack Obama, Mayor Richard M. Daley, IL Secretary of State Jesse White, Congressman Danny Davis, Representative Jan Schakowsky, and other locally and in India.

In an interview with Asian Media USA after Hina Trivedi received the award she said, “We must care for kids because they are our future, so we must guide them to the right direction and do whatever we can to help them to become proud Americans. It’s an honor and privilege to serve Asian American community. I am always looking for ways to serve our Asian American community and other American community and help improve them. I will continue taking this challenging, exciting, collaborative, and positive attitude to help everyone. I am a cancer survivor. I believe that God gave me a second chance in life, for a reason. Because of this, I am dedicating my life to serving the needy. A smile on the face on a person means a lot to me”.

34th Anniversary New York Asian Women’s Center’s (NYAWC) Gala Raises $400K For Survivors of Violence

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More than 300 of New York City’s philanthropists, activists and community members from the corporate, finance and entertainment sectors joined forces to raise close to $400,000 at the 34th Anniversary New York Asian Women’s Center (NYAWC) Gala at the Essex House on Thursday night. Themed “Brightening Our Future Together,” the NYAWC Phoenix Awards honored author and journalist Sheryl WuDunn, the first Asian American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize, for her commitment to the plight of abused women and children around the world (WuDunn’s husband, New York Times journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Nicholas Kristof, was also at the event to support the cause).

NYAWC is the largest Asian American domestic violence organization in the country, and for the past 34+ years, it has helped women and their children overcome domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual violence and other forms of abuse by empowering them to govern their own lives. More than 1400 women and children are served by NYAWC every year.

“This is the most money our organization has ever raised at a fundraising gala,” said Board Chair Karen Elizaga. “Our community has been tremendously supportive, especially since we have witnessed 50% growth, both in the size of our staff and budget, in the last year and a half.”

The masters of ceremonies at the gala were Nina Pineda of WABC-TV and Ernabel Demillo of CUNY-TV/Asian American Life. Speakers included gala co-chair Yogesh Bahl and executive director Larry Lee. Special guests and performers were auctioneer Charles Antin, comedian Aparna Nancherla and indie rock artist Queen V.

Live and silent auctions engaged the audience and helped raise funds. Some of the highest-bid lots included a wine tour at the Napa vineyard of Yao Ming, former NBA athlete for the Houston Rockets, and two tickets to the Broadway show Hamilton.

“Woman is a powerful force that can move everything” Chandrika Tandon tells at AAPI’s Women’s Forum

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Women 0

New York, NY: July 3rd, 2016: As women, you burn yourselves in the process of accomplishing things in life, Chandrika Tandon, a 2011 GRAMMY nominated artist and a Billboard Nominee for top 40 Women in Music 2011, told a packed audience at the Women’s Forum during the 34th annual Convention of 34th annual convention of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square, New York City on July 2nd, 2016.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Seema Jain, adhered to the 4 Es, she had presented as the major themes on her inaugural day a year ago, Excellence of Education, Enlightenment, Evolution, and Empowerment of women, stated that “There is a need for empowerment of women, which means women should be respected at work and at corporate and Boardroom table. One would treat them with respect just as you would treat your mom, wife, sister, and daughter.”

Chandrika Tandon addressing the audience
Chandrika Tandon addressing the audience

Stating that she is the 3rd woman president in the 34 year-old long history of AAPI, Dr. Jain said, “In spite of the many challenges, we have been able to achieve great things.” Reminding the audience about the tradition of woman being considered a goddess in the Indian tradition, she said, “You go to the temple to pray to the goddess, and that devotion to women must be translated into real life.”

Dr. Rita Ahuja, Chairwoman of the convention said, “For the very first time in the history of AAPI, both the President and the Convention Chair are women. We are so fortunate to have Dr. Seema Jain as the President of AAPI.”

Tandon, who was the keynote speaker at the Women’s Forum, is Chairman of her financial advisory firm, Tandon Capital Associates, Inc. She has worked with more than 40 financial and service institutions all over the world and has spearheaded projects that involved major financial and operational restructuring, global and domestic strategy, and broad-based culture change. Prior to that, she was a partner at McKinsey and Company.

Being a wife, mother, businesswoman, artiste, each role she plays is so demanding. But, Tandon said, she was able to all of them. “I made major tradeoffs. Life as founder-chairman of my company was brutal: Restructuring an Australian company, I’d fly 32 hours to Brisbane, stay nine days, talk to my nine-year-old via nightly video-conference, micro-arranging her schedule. Returning home, I’d talk to my Brisbane team and work non-stop negotiating other clients. I wasn’t the emotionally available mother I wanted to be. Flying 32 hours every nine days took a toll. Then, I was offered a multimillion-dollar deal, spending four days a week in Europe. I considered it, crying non-stop. I had done mega jobs, working with billionaires, flying on private planes. It was emotionally and intellectually heady. Professionally and personally, it was catastrophic. Suddenly, I had no identity: a top businesswoman, unsure I even had a business. I went into myself, came to a new way of seeing “success” as freedom to do what I wanted. I got into spirituality, searched for answers, for purpose. My life had been other-directed. I re-examined my values: What’s important?”

Organizers and AAPI leaders at the Women’s Forum, during AAPI’s 34th convention in New York
Organizers and AAPI leaders at the Women’s Forum, during AAPI’s 34th convention in New York

Kim Guadagno, Lt. Governor of New Jersey, a panelists on the Women’s Forum stressed the need for women to be more educated than men. She drew the attention of the audience to a New York Times story stating that there are there are more Johns in higher positions in healthcare than all women put together. When asked about the need for legislation, she said, “There are enough policies but, all of us need to implement those policies to avoid discrimination.” She underscored the need “knowing your rights and use them always in the right way is so important.” While stating that “It’s a challenge to play multiple roles,” she shared with the audience about her own personal life when she stayed home for eight years to take care of her three children, she said, ”I gave up my job to care for the family needs.” But it worked well.” According to her, “The biggest challenge is to keep fighting. Women need to support each other and applaud each other’s victory. If you are not doing it no one is going to do it for yourself,” she told the audience.

Dr. Sherine Gabriel, Dean  of Rutgers RWJM School & CEO Rutgers RWJM Group, another panelist said, “We have come a long way. There are about 50 percent women in med schools, but the irony is that the board rooms do not have enough women. We have a long way to go on that end.” Her tips for women to succeed and be independent and be able to take charge, are: Be authentic; Be passionate; Be prepared to walk an extra mile; and, Be unstoppable in spite of hurdles. “You know where you want to go and never give up. Choose your partner wisely, who is wlling to share responsibilities with you and someone who can always willing to step up to the occasion.” Stressing the need for compromise, she said, “I strongly believe in promoting equality. You are the role models for all of us here. Keep fighting and  support one another.”

Aroon Shivdasani, President of Indo-American Arts Council, shared with the audience her own personal experiences of being called by people as “Fakir of New York City,” who always for the sake of art, and for the sake of the not -for-profit organizations, appeal for financial support. “I lead a not-for-profit and being a woman I am not taken seriously because I am always begging. When you lead a nonprofit, you get to lead and touch so many lives. A lot of people who come out and do these noble endeavors, they do this out of need. It’s not a hobby,” she said.

When asked about the need to choose one’s partner wisely, she said, “Being an Indian woman is so different.” She recommended that  “Be sure of what you want to be and be passionate about what you want to achieve. Believe in yourself and go ahead and do it.” She admitted that “women have the corner on guilt. We do it to ourselves. We all need to have a sense of humor, especially when you have so many roles to play in life and each one is so demanding.”

Standing ovation for the women speakers during Women’s Forum
Standing ovation for the women speakers during Women’s Forum

Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, Co-Chair of Women’s Forum, who moderated the panel discussion pointed out how women are being judged differently than men in almost every aspect of life. “People’s expectations are weaved into the culture. There is an unconscious gender bias. And I tell my son, not to dependent on women in life.”

Sunanad Gaur, Co-Chair of Women’s Forum, in her opening remarks, stated that there are as many as 70% of the healthcare jobs are held by women, but only a handful of jobs in Board “there is an unconscious structural bias. There is a need for looking within and identify ways to move forward in order to be agents of change from within.

Dr. Udaya Shivangi, Co-Chair of Women’s Forum, stressed the need for enhancing professional growth without compromising one’s family, values and interests in life. She shared with the audience how how her mother inspired her to dream and work towards realizing her dreams.

Sharing with the audience about her own life story, which has been an inspiration to millions, Tandon said, “We lived with my grandfather who read to us every night — Shakespeare, English poetry. He made you feel you can be anything you want. It was inconceivable that I’d apply to IIM, or get in. What I got from my grandfather was inner unstoppability. Many people are smarter, more talented. I have inner strength.”

It had been a struggle at every stage of her life. “I fought to go to college, went on a hunger strike for business school until my mother agreed to let me go. A I’d followed my career mindlessly — among the youngest in my IIM class, accepted into Citibank (which took three out of 116 applicants), then McKinsey’s, and my own business. I never stopped. But I wasn’t focused on the lack, I focused on the possibility.”

Organizers and AAPI leaders at the Women’s Forum, during AAPI’s 34th convention in New York
Organizers and AAPI leaders at the Women’s Forum, during AAPI’s 34th convention in New York

After much soul searching, she said, “My happiest times were around music.” Despite dizzy business success, Chandrika Tandon’s first love remains music, a passion which came from her mother. She remembers that he mother would switch on the radio at 5 am in the morning.
In the US, to learn music from a master she would leave home at 4 in the morning for a two hour session between 6 to 8 am. She wanted to be home by the time her daughter woke up. Then she started travelling with her music teachers and would squeeze in lessons between business meetings. She was nominated for GRAMMY for her album. Her philanthropy has been inspirational. “support education, wellness and arts. It’s about making life full and enriching in one’s days here. I’m happy I turned away from the work. I’m blessed to have the freedom to choose how I want to spend my days.

Tandon suggested that everyone needs to have the courage that comes from competence; the courage that comes from compassion; and, the courage that comes from contemplation.” Indian women give up anything for others, she said. “Compassion and karma are tied together. We cannot change others. If you cannot take yourself seriously how can others take you seriously?” she asked the delegates. She told the women in attendance, “We are technically brilliant. But our soft skills are terrible,” noting that “our emotional intelligence is the real problem.” She said, “Woman is a powerful force that can move everything. One must believe that I am the power. I am the light.”

Freida Pinto, Michelle Obama join hands for ‘Let Girls Learn’ initiative

Ajay GhoshEditorial, Social Media, Women 0

Actress Freida Pinto has joined hands with the Michelle Obama, the First Lady for Let Girls Learn – a government initiative aimed at helping girls obtain quality education. Freida, along with Michelle Obama, her daughters Sasha and Malia, their grandmother Marian Robinson – will travel to Liberia, Morocco and Spain at the end of June and early July as part of the Let Girls Learn initiative, a statement issued on behalf of the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ actress, stated.

The focus of the trip, which includes Monrovia, Marrakesh and Madrid, is for them to speak to young girls about the importance of education and staying in school. Starting with Liberia, Freida and Michelle will take part in a discussion which will cover the educational barriers girls face in the country.

In Liberia, Pinto, 31, and Obama will take part in a discussion, which will cover the educational barriers girls face in the country. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will meet with the First Lady and Pinto. Next, in Morocco, Hollywood star Meryl Streep will be seen joining Michelle and Freida to discuss the challenges women in the African country deal with on a regular basis.

Freida Pinto, Michelle Obama join hands for 'Let Girls Learn' initiativePinto, who became popular after her award winning role in Slumdog Millionaire, recently launched a women’s empowerment project at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival. As Plan International’s Girls’ Rights Ambassador, Freida Pinto is fast following in the humanitarian footsteps of Hollywood starlets like Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson and Beyonce, using their fame to help shine a spotlight on issues affecting women and girls around the world.

In a recent interview, Pinto said, “There are events in history that should have shaped the future for women differently, but they haven’t so far and that’s been frustrating. But now there’s a huge amount of awareness and technology has made it possible for people to come together and not isolate their struggles. The struggles of a girl from Africa aren’t that different to those of a girl in India, and in turn, a girl in America. No matter how modern and educated she might think her community or society is, there’s still sexual violence against women, there’s still rape. I think technology has made it easier for people to come together, and their voices are united and louder than ever before.”

Acknowledging that she always knew that she was “born more privileged than some of the girls who I’ve met through Plan,” Pinto believes that she feels “that protection, comfort and privilege I had growing up is something that every girl should have. We’re not asking for a luxury car or a big home, we’re just saying that girls should be able to go to school. That’s not a big ask. There’s a domino effect that may start small but before we know it, we can have an impact on a whole community, then a whole nation, then the world will catch up. We have to start small though.”

Pinto, who had travelled to some of the poorer nations advocating for women’s ruights and education, recalls her earlier trip to Sierra Leone, “where I met one little girl at a school, during a class discussion about what the children wanted to become when they were older. This girl said to me that she’d like to become a finance minister. I was like, ‘Wow, that’s kinda boring but great!’ I asked her why and she said: ‘Because my country does not know how to spend their money on what they should be spending it on, and I would like to help them do that.’ These girls have no choice but to be aware of what’s going on around them and so many of them are using this knowledge to their advantage, which is really inspiring.”

Reshma Jagsi’s study finds that 30 percent of female doctors in US sexually harassed

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Women 0

New York: Every seventh patient seen in the country are by physicians of Indian origin. The largely influential Indian American community boasts of its success in Medicine, Academia and Research. Now, a new report claims that a third of high-achieving female physicians or scientists in the US have been victims of sexual harassment, say researchers led by an Indian-origin scientist. In addition, 30 percent of women compared to four percent of men said they had experienced sexual harassment in their professional careers.

The findings showed that women were more likely than men to report both perceptions and experiences with gender bias. Gender bias was perceived by 70 percent of women as against 22 percent of men and 66 percent of women said they experienced gender bias compared to 10 percent of men.

“The perception among many of us is that this type of behaviour is a thing of the past. So it’s heartening to see quite how many relatively young women in this sample reported experiences with harassment and discrimination,” said study author Reshma Jagsi, associate professor at the University of Michigan Medical School.

“This is a sobering reminder that our society has a long way to go before we achieve gender equity,” Jagsi added.  The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that the situation reflects a larger societal problem.

Women who experience these types of harassment may be less likely to report these incidents if they feel they are unique and aberrational. “We need to recognise the degree to which sexual harassment and gender inequality continue to be an issue in academic medicine,” Jagsi noted.

Researchers surveyed 1,066 men and women who had received a career development award between 2006-2009 from the National Institutes of Health. The physicians were asked a number of questions about their career experiences, including questions about gender bias, gender advantage and sexual harassment.

Medicine is a notoriously grueling career, with punishing hours, rampant burnout and the threat of crippling student loan debt. And for women, the landscape can be even bleaker. New findings suggest that 30 percent of top women clinician-researchers have experienced blatant sexual harassment on the job.

The study, published in JAMA included more than 1,700 men and women who’ve received K-awards, prestigious career development awards handed out by the National Institutes of Health.

Sixty-six percent of the women who responded to the survey said they’d personally experienced some form of gender bias in their career, compared to just 10 percent of men. And 70 percent said they perceived gender-based biases against women in the the field, though not necessarily personally.

Perhaps more shocking, 30 percent of the women said they’d experienced outright sexual harassment, including sexist remarks or behavior, unwanted sexual advances, bribery, threats and coercion.

“I had a misperception that overt sexual harassment was largely a thing of the past, a vestige of another generation,” admitted study author Dr. Reshma Jagsi of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, who frequently lectures on why relatively few women reach the senior ranks in academic medicine.

In a survey of academic medical faculty conducted in 1995 (but published in 2000), more than 50 percent of women said they’d experienced harassment in their careers, compared to just 5 percent of men. Jagsi said she had expected to see a significant dip in incidents of sexual harassment in the latest survey, particularly given that the makeup of medicine has changed so much and women now make up roughly half of all medical students.

Kshama Sawant Seeks Crucial Support From New Yorkers For Bernie, ‘The Real Feminist In This Race

Staff ReporterPolitics, Women 0

New York, NY: Kshama Sawant, the only Socialist on the Seattle City Council, traveled to New York seeking support for Bernie Sanders On April 9th. Sawant, a member of the Alternative Socialist Party, identifies with Sanders who describes himself as an avowed Democratic Socialist with the watchword “political revolution” as his main campaign slogan.

In a “Clinton v Sanders” New York proxy debate between supporters of Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Sanders, held at the Judson Memorial, a radical church on Washington Square in the Big Apple, opponents lined up in a vehement debate about their respective candidates’ positions, Slate.com reported. Seated among prominent nationally recognized personalities, Sawant, sought New Yorkers to support the Vermont Senator to be th next President of the nation.

Kshama Sawant had addressed one of Bernie Sander’s biggest rallies to date last month, the evening before Washington State voters delivered a whopping 73% victory for Sanders. Kshama Sawant fired up the crowd with a fist of solidarity before saying “Sisters and brothers, are you feeling the Bern?!”

She went on to say, “It’s really amazing how Bernie’s campaign has transformed the entire landscape of US national politics. His anti-corporate insurgent campaign has made gains that have been stunning enough to deny Hillary (the Wall Street and Wal-Mart candidate) the straight up coronation she thought she deserved….It’s not just young people in general, it’s young women. Women who were told by Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, ‘If you don’t support Hillary, you’re becoming complacent about reproductive rights.’ Women who were told by Madeline Albright that ‘there was going to be a special place in hell for them’ if they supported Bernie against Hillary.’ I think there’s a special place in hell for Madeline Albright. Look at the results in Michigan which defied all polls, where both black and white working class people, when they cast their vote for Bernie, spoke out against the massive de-industrialization that has gone through the mid-West because of NAFTA and those shitty trade deals the Clinton’s were responsible for. And Arab Americans, Muslims, voted in large numbers for Bernie, because they respect a real challenge to imperialism. But, my sisters and brothers, the most profound sign of our times, is the support for Socialism. This is America, this is the belly of the capitalist beast and we have millions of people saying socialism is not a dirty word, capitalism is a dirty word.”

Writing in the Huffington Post on March 2, under the headline, “Bernie vs Hillary, What’s a Feminist to do?” Sawant argued fervently for Sanders. She sees women’s rights clashing with ‘corporate interests’ time and again, she said, even on issues such as $15 minimum wage where women council members voted for ‘sub-minimum’ wages most affecting women. “Do these women not consider themselves feminists? I think they do, though I won’t speak for them.”

“If the question is one of policy and not of identity, can there be any doubt that Bernie Sanders is the real feminist in this race?” Sawant proclaims, declaring that “Feminism, solidarity and socialism are interconnected and inseparable.”

Ruchi Shah, Suhani Jalota On Glamour Magazine’s College Women Of The Year

Staff ReporterEntertainment, Women 0

Ruchi Shah and Suhani Jalota, two Indian-American women are among Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 College Women of the Year. Each of the go-getting women chosen for their leadership qualities and humanitarian work gets $20,000 in prize money.

Ruchi Shah, a biology major at Stony Brook University, was moved by problems she saw during her visit to India and  applied her expertise to create a solution for real-world problems. Shah is CEO of Mosquitoes Be Gone, an all-natural mosquito repellent which could combat disease in third world countries; she has also been recognized by the American Association for Cancer Research for her research on improving cervical cancer diagnoses.

The anti-mosquito product she developed was a result of her trip to India to see her uncle when she was 15. “He was suffering from dengue fever, a disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. Yet right outside the clinic, people were getting dozens of mosquito bites! So I decided to develop my own bug repellent.”

Once back home, she began by collecting sweat samples from athletes at school — “that wasn’t awkward at all” she quips. She built a test chamber I built in the family garage with supplies from Home Depot, and studied exactly what most attracted the bugs. After hundreds of failed compounds and many bites later, she found the winner. “Mosquitoes Be Gone is the first repellent to neutralize nitrogen-based compounds in sweat. And it’s all-natural,” she is quoted saying in Glamour. She is now at the stage of finalizing safety testing and bottle design, and expects the product on shelves within a year. She currently has a team of nine interns working to bring the repellent to the market, according to a press release from Stony Brook University.

Shah has many other accomplishments to her name. Recognized by the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Forbes, and the AXA Achievement Award, she has worked in a cancer research lab with a team that discovered a protein that can predict cancer patient survival better than the tools doctors currently have. She was a science writing intern at the National Institutes of Health. The Ronkonkoma, NY resident is also minoring in journalism.

Twenty-one-year-old Suhani Jalota of Duke University and 22-year-old Stony Brook University student Ruchi Shah have found a place in Glamour magazine’s “Top 10 College Women of the Year” list for their leadership qualities and humanitarian work. Each Indian American undergraduate will receive a grand prize of $20,000.

 

Jalota, an economics and global health major, has been working to reform public health in India’s slums since she was 15. With her winnings she hopes to expand her start-up, Myna Mahila Foundation — which seeks to increase accessibility to menstrual hygiene products and public health infrastructure for economically disadvantaged women in India — to other countries.

She told Glamour magazine: “In India, where I grew up, menstruation is considered impure, and even saying the word period is taboo. It’s hard to imagine. I wanted to chip away at that stigma, but how do you change something people aren’t even willing to talk about?”

Ruchi Shah, Suhani Jalota On Glamour Magazine’s College Women Of The Year

Staff ReporterCommunity, Women 0

Ruchi Shah and Suhani Jalota, two Indian-American women are among Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 College Women of the Year. Each of the go-getting women chosen for their leadership qualities and humanitarian work gets $20,000 in prize money.

Ruchi Shah, a biology major at Stony Brook University, was moved by problems she saw during her visit to India and  applied her expertise to create a solution for real-world problems. Shah is CEO of Mosquitoes Be Gone, an all-natural mosquito repellent which could combat disease in third world countries; she has also been recognized by the American Association for Cancer Research for her research on improving cervical cancer diagnoses.

The anti-mosquito product she developed was a result of her trip to India to see her uncle when she was 15. “He was suffering from dengue fever, a disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. Yet right outside the clinic, people were getting dozens of mosquito bites! So I decided to develop my own bug repellent.”

Once back home, she began by collecting sweat samples from athletes at school — “that wasn’t awkward at all” she quips. She built a test chamber I built in the family garage with supplies from Home Depot, and studied exactly what most attracted the bugs. After hundreds of failed compounds and many bites later, she found the winner. “Mosquitoes Be Gone is the first repellent to neutralize nitrogen-based compounds in sweat. And it’s all-natural,” she is quoted saying in Glamour. She is now at the stage of finalizing safety testing and bottle design, and expects the product on shelves within a year. She currently has a team of nine interns working to bring the repellent to the market, according to a press release from Stony Brook University.

Shah has many other accomplishments to her name. Recognized by the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Forbes, and the AXA Achievement Award, she has worked in a cancer research lab with a team that discovered a protein that can predict cancer patient survival better than the tools doctors currently have. She was a science writing intern at the National Institutes of Health. The Ronkonkoma, NY resident is also minoring in journalism.

Twenty-one-year-old Suhani Jalota of Duke University and 22-year-old Stony Brook University student Ruchi Shah have found a place in Glamour magazine’s “Top 10 College Women of the Year” list for their leadership qualities and humanitarian work. Each Indian American undergraduate will receive a grand prize of $20,000.

Jalota, an economics and global health major, has been working to reform public health in India’s slums since she was 15. With her winnings she hopes to expand her start-up, Myna Mahila Foundation — which seeks to increase accessibility to menstrual hygiene products and public health infrastructure for economically disadvantaged women in India — to other countries.

She told Glamour magazine: “In India, where I grew up, menstruation is considered impure, and even saying the word period is taboo. It’s hard to imagine. I wanted to chip away at that stigma, but how do you change something people aren’t even willing to talk about?”

5th Annual Outstanding Women’s Gala On Long Island Held

Staff ReporterWomen 0

By Indu Jaiswal

5th Annual Outstanding Women’s Gala On Long Island

Long Island, NY: The Indian American Forum (IAF) honored five women leaders for their leadership and contributions to the larger society and humanity during the 5th annual gala organized on Long Island, New York. As Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth, Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Town of Hempstead Clerk Nasreen Ahmed (Among many other VIPs) walked into Antun’s of Hicksville on Thursday March 24, they all very well felt the pride and achievement in the air. The Grand ball room was full of so many accomplished and elite, who’s who of the society gathered for one singular purpose, to be the part of and celebrate 5th Outstanding Women’s Achievements Gala, part of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day Celebrations.

IAF, led by Indu Jaiswal, known for her strong commitment and dedication to the community cause was the organizing force behind the gala.  This year well known business woman Vandana Govil was the Chairperson of the Gala. And of course the hall was beautifully decorated with spring flowers and theme.  Evening started with prayers led by Amita Karwal and Sunny Marerkar. Indu Jaiswal Chairperson of IAF in her remarks welcomed all the guests congratulated all the honorees and praised their efforts in achieving such success. Vandana Govil congratulated all the honorees and also thanked all the guests

American National Anthem was sung by Gurbani Kaur Sethi and Indian National Anthem sung by Amita Karwal… Master of Ceremonies Mr Anuj Rihal and Chanbir Kaur Sethi made the evening enjoyable. Chanbir Kaur coordinated a brief Q&A session with the honorees discussing and emphasizing their accomplishments

In addition to Judi Bosworth who was also presented with an award, 5 other distinguished women who had excelled in their profession and community services were presented with Outstanding Women’s achievements Awards

Dr Manjeet Chadha   for dedication in medicine and community Services. Dr Chadha is Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Icahn School of medicine at Mount Sinai , and the Director of the Department at mount Sinai Beth Isreal. She also served as the Director for Breast and Gynecologic cancer programs for Radiation Oncology at Continuum Cancer enter. Dr Chadha is a fellow of the American Society of Radiation Oncology, an honor bestowed on highly select oncologist

Jyoti Gupta for dedication in Music and cultural promotions. Jyoti is extremely involved in social and cultural activities, which include singing shabads, acting, dancing, comedy and helping others. Jyoti is in active member of India Association of Long Island and IDPUSA. As chair of Sangeet Forum of IALI Jyoti organizes monthly musical programs for seniors and adults.

Sunita Sadhnani for dedication in Business Development and Community Services. Sunita is the Founder of Bollywood Preforming Arts, long island’s first ever entertainment and dance studio to promote Indian traditional and Bollywood dance… Sunita also started and she founded Glamorous Event Planners for entertainment and special big events. Sunita is a member of most event and Planners associations, and stays on top of trends by regularly attending national Conferences, She is also a member of the Rotary of the Jericho Sunrise Rotary Club, and she is also an accomplished singer

Dr Runi Mukherji Ratnam for dedication in education and Social Services. Dr Ratnam is professor of Psychology in the department of Psychology, State University of New York Old Westbury. She has served as its chair for almost a decade. She has been actively involved for many years with the Center for the study of Asian American Health, Langone Medical Center, New York School of Medicine, Center for immigrant Health, the Montefiore Medical Center as well as the university Hospital at Einstein College of Medicine. Runi is the President of SACSS and Founder of Young Indian Culture Group.

Meera T Gandhi for dedication as Humanitarian and Social Promotions. Meera T Gandhi id the CEO of and founder of Giving Back Foundation. She is an international community leader committed humanitarian and philanthropist dedicated to solutions to human suffering and deprivation around the globe. The foundation is based in New York and has offices in India HK, and London. Transformational Education of the girl child is the primary mission of the giving back foundation.

Judi Bosworth was all in praises for the efforts of Indian American Forum and Indian American Community. She congratulated all honorees and stressed the importance of role women are playing in this world. Citations of behalf of Nassau County Executive Edward P Mangano were presented by Zahid Syed, Chairman of Human right Commission Nassau County to all honorees. Syed praised their efforts and congratulated them for their achievements. Citations were presented from the town of Hempstead Supervisor Anthony Santino by Councilwoman Goosby and town Clerk Nasrin Ahmed. New York State Senator Jack Martins also sent citations for the honorees

Among those present during the event were Bobby Kalotee Founder of IAF, Nassau County Human right Commissioner Sharanjit Singh Thind, Dr Ajay Lodha, Incoming President National AAPI,Beena Kothari, President of India Association of Long Island, Sher Madra , Shammi Singh and Peter Bheddah, Board of Directors of Nargis Dutt Foundation,  Shashi Anand well known business woman, Hassena Moopan from Domestic Harmony Foundation, Rizwan Qureshi from HAB Bank, Roopam Maini from Indus American Bank, Sudesh Mukhi from Arya Semaj of Long Island, Sangeeta Bahl, President of Rotary Club, and several other dignitaries were present

Vocal performances presented by Sunny Marerkar and Amita Karwal, Dance performances presented by Bollywood Performing Arts and  Shilpa Jhurani and her students from Arya Dance academy. Mr Mohinder Taneja and Animesh Goenka gave special thanks for all of our sponsors and media partners…

Board of Trustees Dr Bhupi Patel, Surinder Rametra, Bobby Kalotee, Dr Ved Kawatra, Animesh Goenka, Volunteers Nirmala Rametra, Jaya Bahadkar, Anu Gulati, Dr Meena Jaiswal, Vijay Goswamy, Tejal Kamath and Many other helped in making the event a grand success. It was indeed a very successful evening, showcasing and honoring outstanding women achievers, who are successful in business, cultural, professional, education, and medical. Community and social services.

Ekal Vidyalaya & Indian Consulate Hosts ‘Beti Bacho – Beti Padhao’ Event

Staff ReporterCulture/Religion, Women 0

By Nishu Aggarwal

New York, NY: “Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation” and “Indian Consulate, New York” jointly celebrated ‘International Women’s month’, focusing on, Women’s Empowerment through education on March 24. The event also provided the first opportunity for newly appointed Consulate General (CG), Riva Ganguly Deb to interact with the diverse Indian community for vibrant exchange of ideas. Dr. Anila Midha, a prominent Physician who took the helm for the evening explained to the capacity-gathering the main objective of the event and introduced various participants.

In her welcome address, Hon. CG Das, provided an overview of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao as a flagship initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whereby a third of  ‘Village Panchayats’ have been decreed to have women in responsible positions. She acknowledged that, though great strides are being made to empower women, a lot yet to be done to change age-old attitudes and beliefs affecting women in our society, and especially in rural areas.  She expressed hope that the grass-root organizations like Ekal, with presence in 60,000-plus villages can play an important role in it.

Aroon Shivdasani, the President of the Indo American Arts Council gave the Key note address. She stressed the importance of educating men as much as women to create an environment in families where self-esteem of individuals is not compromised and women have equal opportunity in all walks of life.

ITV’s famous anchor woman, Renee Mehrra, moderated the panel discussion among three successful women of Indian origin from different backgrounds and family values. Ranjani Saigal, Executive Director of ‘Ekal Vidyalaya’, touched on the need to uphold the standards set by parents who precipitated her own academic success at IIT and MIT. She further elaborated a story how during a visit to a rural area a girl asked her, “what can I do in my village what you have done out there?” According to her, the question has dogged her ever since while she is working at Ekal. She informed that Ekal puts special emphasis on educating girls and making them self-reliant though various skills-training,  in rural-tribal areas.

Dr. Urmilesh Arya, C.O.O at Gastroenterology Associates in Brooklyn and a trustee of Hindu Center in Flushing, brought to fore a critical challenge for girls in accessing education – the fear that their daughter would get romantically entangled with a boy, which may bring shame to the family. She herself overcame this challenge and many others with self-conviction and courage.

Dr. Sunita Saini, and Director of South Shore Psychological Services and Long Island Psychology and Psychotherapy Services, highlighted the importance of having a supportive family who, regardless of gender, value building their children’s career more rather than acquiring material assets.

There was a resounding agreement that when a woman is educated, she educates her entire family. The ensuing discussion highlighted the relevance of good health for women as a strategy towards empowerment. The panel cautioned that overcoming the socio-cultural biases that promote female infanticide and the perception that a girl is a burden are major stumbling blocks in restoring dignity of women in our society.

Vinod Jhunjhunwalla the President of Ekal Foundation, USA and Prof Subash Midha, the main Ekal coordinator for the event thanked the Indian Consulate, for their support in hosting this event.

5th Outstanding Women’s Achievements Gala Held On Long Island

Staff ReporterCommunity, Women 0

Long Island, New York: As Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth, Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Town of Hempstead Clerk Nasreen Ahmed (Among many other VIPs) walked into Antun’s of Hicksville on Thursday March 24, they all very well felt the pride and achievement in the air. The Grand ball room was full of so many accomplished and elite, who’s who of the society gathered for one singular purpose, to be the part of and celebrate 5th Outstanding Women’s Achievements Gala, part of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day Celebrations

IAF (Indian American Forum) led by Indu Jaiswal, known for her strong commitment and dedication to the community cause was the organizing force behind the gala.  This year well known business woman Vandana Govil was the Chairperson of the Gala. And of course the hall was beautifully decorated with spring flowers and theme.  Evening started with prayers led by Amita Karwal and Sunny Marerkar. Indu Jaiswal Chairperson of IAF in her remarks welcomed all the guests congratulated all the honorees and praised their efforts in achieving such success. Vandana Govil congratulated all the honorees and also thanked all the guests

American National Anthem was sung by Gurbani Kaur Sethi and Indian National Anthem sung by Amita Karwal… Master of Ceremonies Mr Anuj Rihal and Chanbir Kaur Sethi made the evening enjoyable. Chanbir Kaur coordinated a brief Q&A session with the honorees discussing and emphasizing their accomplishments. In addition to Judi Bosworth who was also presented with an award, 5 other distinguished women who had excelled in their profession and community services were presented with Outstanding Women’s achievements Awards

Dr. Manjeet Chadha   for dedication in medicine and community Services. Dr Chadha is Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Icahn School of medicine at Mount Sinai , and the Director of the Department at mount Sinai Beth Isreal. She also served as the Director for Breast and Gynecologic cancer programs for Radiation Oncology at Continuum Cancer enter. Dr Chadha is a fellow of the American Society of Radiation Oncology, an honor bestowed on highly select oncologist

Jyoti Gupta for dedication in Music and cultural promotions. Jyoti is extremely involved in social and cultural activities, which include singing shabads, acting, dancing, comedy and helping others. Jyoti is in active member of India Association of Long Island and IDPUSA

As chair of Sangeet Forum of IALI Jyoti organizes monthly musical programs for seniors and adults.

Sunita Sadhnani for dedication in Business Development and Community Services. Sunita is the Founder of Bollywood Preforming Arts, long island’s first ever entertainment and dance studio to promote Indian traditional and Bollywood dance… Sunita also started and she founded Glamorous Event Planners for entertainment and special big events. Sunita is a member of most event and Planners associations, and stays on top of trends by regularly attending national Conferences, She is also a member of the Rotary of the Jericho Sunrise Rotary Club, and she is also an accomplished singer

Dr Runi Mukherji Ratnam for dedication in education and Social Services

Dr Ratnam is professor of Psychology in the department of Psychology, State University of New York Old Westbury. She has served as its chair for almost a decade. She has been actively involved for many years with the Center for the study of Asian American Health, Langone Medical Center, New York School of Medicine, Center for immigrant Health, the Montefiore Medical Center as well as the university Hospital at Einstein College of Medicine. Runi is the President of SACSS and Founder of Young Indian Culture Group.

Meera T Gandhi for dedication as Humanitarian and Social Promotions. Meera T Gandhi id the CEO of and founder of Giving Back Foundation. She is an international community leader committed humanitarian and philanthropist dedicated to solutions to human suffering and deprivation around the globe. The foundation is based in New York and has offices in India HK, and London. Transformational Education of the girl child is the primary mission of the giving back foundation.

Judi Bosworth was all in praises for the efforts of Indian American Forum and Indian American Community. She congratulated all honorees and stressed the importance of role women are playing in this world. Citations of behalf of Nassau County Executive Edward P Mangano were presented by Zahid Syed, Chairman of Human right Commission Nassau County to all honorees. Syed praised their efforts and congratulated them for their achievements. Citations were presented from the town of Hempstead Supervisor Anthony Santino by Councilwoman Goosby and town Clerk Nasrin Ahmed. New York State Senator Jack Martins also sent citations for the honorees

Among those present during the event were Bobby Kalotee Founder of IAF, Nassau County Human right Commissioner Sharanjit Singh Thind, Dr Ajay Lodha, Incoming President National AAPI,Beena Kothari, President of India Association of Long Island, Sher Madra , Shammi Singh and Peter Bheddah, Board of Directors of Nargis Dutt Foundation,  Shashi Anand well known business woman, Hassena Moopan from Domestic Harmony Foundation, Rizwan Qureshi from HAB Bank, Roopam Maini from Indus American Bank, Sudesh Mukhi from Arya Semaj of Long Island, Sangeeta Bahl, President of Rotary Club, and several other dignitaries were present

Vocal performances presented by Sunny Marerkar and Amita Karwal, Dance performances presented by Bollywood Performing Arts and  Shilpa Jhurani and her students from Arya Dance academy. Mr Mohinder Taneja and Animesh Goenka gave special thanks for all of our sponsors and media partners…

Board of Trustees Dr Bhupi Patel, Surinder Rametra, Bobby Kalotee, Dr Ved Kawatra, Animesh Goenka, Volunteers Nirmala Rametra, Jaya Bahadkar, Anu Gulati, Dr Meena Jaiswal, Vijay Goswamy, Tejal Kamath and Many other helped in making the event a grand success. It was indeed a very successful evening, showcasing and honoring outstanding women achievers, who are successful in business, cultural, professional, education, and medical. Community and social services.

BAPS Hosts Tenth Annual Midwest Women’s Conference in Chicago

Staff ReporterWomen 0

Chicago IL: In conjunction with International Women’s Day, BAPS hosted its 10th annual Women’s Conference at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett, Illinois on March 12th, 2016.  Attracting over 400 participants, this year’s conference explored the theme, “Life in Resonance” and discussed ideas for approaching three major aspects of one’s life: cultural identity, work-life balance, and emotional health.  In today’s world, everyone is constantly striving for balance and self-fulfillment, whether it be at school, work, or at home.  Along with self-help books and online forums as sources of inspiration, open discussions among peers can often have a greater impact in making a work-life balance a more achievable goal.

As women in the 21st Century, we often are faced with the question, “Can we have it all?”  Or how can we handle a work and life balance among various other roles that women have such as a mother, daughter, sister, or professional. In physics, resonance is defined by a phenomenon that follows when a powerful, vibrating system causes another system to oscillate with greater amplitude at a specific frequency.  In life, resonance is defined by innate beliefs and timeless principles which drive an individual’s actions as well as one’s physical being and mental state of mind.  In order to understand how one can skillfully maintain a steady mindset and strong physical health, one must find a harmony within their mind and body that resonates with their surroundings.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Hina Patel, an attending Physician at the Advocate Sherman Hospital and a trustee of Village of South Barrington, delivered an insightful message on finding harmony within our various roles.  She encouraged women to build pride in their identity through confidence in one’s intrinsic beliefs and practices.  She urged women to let go of perfectionism but rather to strive for excellence and create a plan for success and emotional happiness.   Additionally, Pharmacist Komal Patel, born and raised in America, also shared how a dual cultural identity was in fact an asset, rather than a limitation, in today’s diverse, multicultural society.  “We often believe we have to choose one identity over the other, forgetting that we have the opportunity to bring together the best of both worlds.”

Circling the ever-debatable topic of maintaining a work-life balance, Dr. Purvi Parikh explored various practical methods and solutions, including self-introspection, for seeking clarity and focusing on purposeful priorities in our chaotic lives. She also emphasized the importance of living a healthy lifestyle by highlighting wellness and meditation as ways to keep ourselves centered as we juggle a variety of commitments.

Sushma Patel, a medical testing professional at the Alexian Brothers Medical Center, reminded the attendees of the immense power that spirituality holds in our lives through the connection between the mind and the body.  Through spirituality, we develop resilience and the knowledge, that in the end, we leave everything behind in this temporary world.  This understanding allows us to remain grounded and unperturbed through the wavering highs and lows in our life and is quintessential for a content mind and a healthy body.

Spreading this message of science, practicality and spiritualty across the nation, the conference was held in 12 cities with attendees from various personal and professional backgrounds.  Panel discussions and Q&A sessions enabled the speakers to effectively communicate their experiences and thus, enrich the audience with practical applications to bring balance into their lives. The conference attendees were reminded not only of the necessity for maintaining stability, but also of their inherent strengths which allow them to pursue this very goal.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide socio-spiritual organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, is dedicated to community service, peace and harmony.

Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families and individuals. Through a number of social and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors to produce better citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for their roots – their rich Hindu culture.  Its 3,300 international centers support these activities of character-building. Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions.

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, has inspired millions of people across the world to lead a God-centered, morally pure life. As the present leader of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj travels from village to village, continent to continent, emphasizing the importance of family harmony, community service and spiritual progress.  His compassion for humanity, universal wisdom and striking simplicity has touched many around the world.

Indian American Forum Recognizes Women Achievers

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

HICKSVILLE, NY: Indian American Forum presented, Thursday March 25, the Fifth Annual Outstanding Women’s Achievements Awards, as part of Women’s History month, in recognition of the contributions made by women in the Tri-State area of New York.

Five women who excelled in their professions and community services received the Outstanding Women’s Achievements Awards. IAF Chairperson Indu Jaiswal spoke about the organization and the awards

Dr. Manjeet Chadda, Professor of Radiation & Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, for dedication in Medicine and Community Services; Dr Runi Mukherji Ratnam for dedication in Education & Social Services; Sunita Sadhnani for dedication in Business Development and community services; Meera T Gandhi for dedication as Humanitarian and Social promotions; and Jyoti Gupta for her dedication in Music and Cultural promotions

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano said in a message:”The Indian American Forum has established a distinguished record of excellence, working diligently on behalf of causes and ideals, which uphold the principles of Human decency and brotherhood”.

Citations were presented to honorees and they were praised fortheir efforts and congratulated for their achievements. Among the gathering, several elected dignitaries were present who included MS Judi Bosworth, Supervisor for the Town of North Hempstead,

Councilwoman Hon. Dorothy L Goosby, and Town Clerk from Town of Hempstead Nasrin Ahmed. Among the gathering were seen a former President of IALI Satnam Singh Parhar, HAB Bank VP Rizwan Qureshi, and Dr. Dev Ratnam whose wife Dr. Runi Mukherji Ratnam was one of the five honorees.

Implementation Of 2030 Agenda To Be The Focus At Single Largest Forum On Women And Girls

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

Following a milestone year in international development in which world leaders endorsed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 60th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will focus firmly on implementation of the ambitious agreement. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by UN Member States in September 2015 are a universal roadmap for people and planet, addressing the key challenges of the 21st century, such as poverty, inequality and climate change. Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is a goal in itself, and recognized as a central means to achieving the SDGs. Success depends on rigorous implementation.

The Commission is the single largest forum for Member States and other stakeholders to commit to new actions for advancement of women and their empowerment. This year’s CSW is the first after the adoption of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The session thus will build on the momentum garnered in September 2015 when, in conjunction with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, more than 90 governments answered UN Women’s call for action to “Step It Up for Gender Equality”. World leaders pledged measurable actions to tackle structural barriers and remaining challenges to the achievement of gender equality in their countries. Civil society and businesses leaders complemented these pledges committing to combat stereotypes and shift practices towards fostering greater equality and opportunity.

“This gathering of so many of the key partners in the implementation of Agenda 2030 makes this a crucial opportunity to combine our strengths and align decisively around the central issues for action,” said UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The priority theme for the 60th session will be women’s empowerment and its link to sustainable development. Discussions by governments will focus on creating a conducive environment for gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through actions to ensure enabling laws and policies, solid institutional infrastructures, adequate financial resources, strengthening of participation mechanisms, and investment in sex-disaggregated data, to guide national action.

Research underlines the benefit of women’s empowerment and gender equality for societies everywhere: for instance, if women played an identical role to men in labor markets, as much as USD 28 trillion could be added to global annual GDP by 2025. When women are at the peace tables, their participation increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years by 20 per cent, and 35 per cent over 15 years. And a child born to a mother who can read is 50 per cent more likely to survive. Yet, global reviews undertaken in 2015, during the 20 years’ commemoration of the historic Beijing Conference, revealed while there has been progress on women’s rights and gender equality, it has not been enough. Today, only one in five parliamentarians is a woman and women continue to earn less, have fewer assets and bear the burden of unpaid work and care.

Violence against women continues to affect one in three women, making it one of the most widespread human rights violations. The Commission will evaluate progress in the implementation of its agreed conclusions of 2013, on ending violence against women and girls, a pandemic that also comes with enormous economic costs to society.

The high-level meeting from 14-24 March underlines the determination of governments and activists to move the needle on women’s rights and gender equality. This year over 1,000 NGOs have pre-registered more than 8,100 of their representatives for the meeting. More than 200 side events will be hosted on the UN premises by Member States and UN entities, many of them in collaboration with civil society, about 150 of them in the first week of CSW alone, alongside 450 parallel events by NGOs, in the vicinity of the UN.

Author, Entrepreneur, Life-Changer Shalini Vadhera Launches Global Platform “Power Beauty Living” to Engage, Educate & Empower Businesswomen

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

(New York, NY – March 3, 2016) United Nations Ambassadors, CEOs, entrepreneurs and celebrities packed the global launch of Shalini Vadhera’s new multi-disciplinary platform, Power Beauty Living, a holistic approach to powering up your business, beauty and life (for women by women), at the Millennium Hotel in the UN Plaza here last week.

Vadhera, a renowned, award-winning global beauty and lifestyle expert, founder and CEO of Power Beauty Living and best-selling author of Passport To Beauty, unveiled her newest platform earlier in the day at the IMPACT Leadership 21’s 3rd Annual POWER of COLLABORATION Global Summitat the United Nations Headquarters, where she showcased how to live powerfully and beautifully to more than 350 country heads, diplomats, ambassadors and high-level executive women from the UN.

Vadhera was recently appointed to IMPACT Leadership 21’s Global Advisory Council (GAC) as its newest member. A global leadership platform that provides solutions to creating inclusive economies, IMPACT Leadership 21’s GAC is comprised of men and women in diverse leadership backgrounds and influence from multi sectors.

“We are thrilled to add such a dynamic, passionate leader with a strong track record of success and zest for empowering women to the GAC. Shalini’s extensive entrepreneurial experience and industry knowledge is a welcomed addition to our team, especially as we expand our international reach,” saidJanet C. Salazar, CEO and Co-Founder of IMPACT Leadership 21.

To expand her own international reach, Vahera is launching a partnership withZoomin.TV, a global top-10 video producer and YouTube and Facebook multi-channel network, with a strong presence in the U.S. and India. She will be fronting Zoomin’s beauty and women’s empowerment vertical, appealing to many of the channel’s beauty vloggers worldwide.

“Zoomin is very proud to start a long-term partnership with such a highly talented and versatile woman as Shalini,” said Jan Reimens, CEO of Zoomin.TV. “Together, we will build up and out Shalini’s global digital presence through her brands like Passport to Beauty, Beauty starts at 40 and more. Her story needs global reach, and this is where we will focus in the coming years. ”

“I created Power Beauty Living based on my own business experiences as an entrepreneur and the lack of mentorship, community and resources, for women by women, in building their businesses and balancing their lives,” said Vadhera. “I feel a strong desire to create a destination for women to get the insight and tools they need to empower themselves in business, in beauty and in living a blissful balanced life.”

Shalini Vadhera is an award-winning global beauty and lifestyle expert, founder of Power Beauty Living, a social platform for women, and best-selling author of Passport To Beauty. Her global influence with women and young girls stems from her entrepreneurial passion to build companies and create products to empower women. Vadhera’s rise from jewelry and fashion entrepreneur, celebrity make-up artist and best-selling author, to a regular contributor on Dr. Oz, The Today Show, and The View and the founder of a multi-million dollar global cosmetics company is nothing short of remarkable. Vadhera has transformed this platform while using her business acumen to create global beauty, lifestyle and business solutions to empower women around the world. Vadhera was named the #1 Person To Watch by The Economic Times of India, Winner of the Game Changer Of The Decade Award in Beauty and winner of the coveted Oprah Beauty O~Ward.

Vinita Paunikar, Trisha Kothari, Sumita Basu Among 26 Top Women Engineers

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

WASHINGTON: Oracle’s Vinita Paunikar, Affirm’s Trisha Kothari and Intel’s Sumita Basu are among the top women engineers recognized in a Business Insider Feb. 24 piece on the “Most Powerful Women Engineers” of 2016, released in the midst of National Engineer’s Week, Feb. 21 through Feb. 27. The list was generated to give a “shout-out to the female engineers with powerful careers who are leading important technologies at their companies or being pioneers in other ways.”

Vinita Paunikar is a vice president at Oracle responsible for release management of products and services. Paunikar was the highest ranked of the Indian Americans, coming in at No. 14. She created a release-management team that has launched 200 products across more than 20 lines.

She’s also worked on several of Oracle’s mainstay products, including its flagship systems-management solution, Enterprise Manager Cloud Control, now also the core-management platform for Oracle’s cloud services. She is a graduate of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Maharashtra.

Trisha Kothari has made it into the list at the young age of 23. Trisha Kothari is Affirm’s first female engineer at the financial-technology startup cofounded and led by Max Levchin, the former cofounder of PayPal. Affirm turns your smartphone into a credit card of sorts, allowing you to make monthly payments on things you buy from merchants that accept it. Levchin says, “Trisha Kothari is one of the most exciting up-and-coming coders in America.”

“Trisha was instrumental in building the core aspects of a financial platform that powers everything we do,” Affirm’s COO, Huey Lin, said about her. Before joining Affirm, Kothari did several internships at Google and LinkedIn. She also earned a Google Anita Borg scholarship and one from Microsoft and is a member of the high-IQ organization Mensa. She is a graduate of Dhirubhai Ambani International School and the University of Pennsylvania.

Intel’s Sumita Basu, who xcame 26th on the list, is a strategist and technical assistant to the Intel vice president and general manager. She’s been with Intel since 2002 with increasing responsibilities. In her last gig with the company, she oversaw the equipment installation for Intel factories worldwide — a huge job. For her PhD, she did experiments with the International Space Station.

One of Basu’s most impressive accomplishments is that she invented the world’s first lead-free patterning process, allowing Intel to become the first chip company in the world to limit the use of that toxic substance in its manufacturing processes.

A graduate of Jadavpur University (bachelor’s) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (doctorate), Basu has also invented the world’s first lead-free patterning process. The invention has allowed Intel to become the first chip company in the world to limit the use of that toxic substance in its manufacturing process, according to the Insider piece.

India Needs to “Save its Daughters” Through Education and Gender Equality

Staff ReporterWomen 0

Women constitute nearly half of the country’s 1.25 billion people and gender equality — whether in politics, economics, education or health — is still a distant dream for most. This fact was driven home again sharply by the recently released United National Development Programme’s Human Development Report (HDR) 2015 which ranks India at a lowly 130 out of 155 countries in the Gender Inequality Index (GII). India trails behind most Asian countries, including lesser developed Bangladesh and Pakistan which rank 111 and 121 respectively, and fares not much ahead of war-ravaged Afghanistan at 152.

The GII reflects gender-based inequalities on three vital parameters: reproductive health, empowerment, and economic activity. India’s record, dismal on all three counts, is especially disquieting when it comes to representation of women in Parliament. Just 12.2 per cent of parliamentary seats in the world’s largest democracy are held by women as against 19.7 in Pakistan, 20 in Bangladesh and 27.6 percent in Afghanistan. Even some of the poorest nations — such as Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, Mozambique — are way ahead by having over a third to half of their parliament seats occupied by women.

Health remains a niggling worry as well with Indian women’s maternal mortality rate (MMR) being one of the world’s highest. The country witnesses 190 deaths per 100,000 live births as compared to 170 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 births in both Bangladesh and Pakistan, states the HDR. Even in terms of the percentage of women receiving secondary education, Bangladesh at 34 per cent outsmarts India at 27 per cent. On labour force participation rate for women, as compared to Bangladesh’s 57 per cent, India is at 27 per cent.

The only parameter where India scores marginally better is the adolescent birth rate or the number of births per 1000 women aged 15 to 19 years. Here, over the last couple of years, India’s GII values have improved marginally from 0.61 to 0.563.

However, activists say India’s low GII scores are hardly surprising given the country’s fierce resistance to change and entrenched patriarchal mindsets. “We’ve been featuring at the bottom of the gender equity pyramid for years. So what’s new?” Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director, Center for Social Research, a New Delhi-based non-profit, told IPS. “Though the gender agenda has higher visibility in India now, that positive momentum hasn’t really translated into higher investment for women in different sectors due to continued discrimination and ineffectual laws and policies.”

Kumari points out that one of the most pivotal instrument of change — the Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to grant 33 per cent of the Parliament’s seats to women — has still not been passed by the upper house (Rajya Sabha) despite being cleared by the lower house (Lok Sabha) in 2010.

“The non-passage of the Bill due to splintered views of different political parties has severely inhibited women’s participation in politics. Until this basic requirement is addressed, Indian women can’t truly be empowered,” observed the activist.

According to some women politicians, bias underlines the selection of women as political candidates. National and regional Indian parties continue to follow the policy of exclusion while allotting seats to women. The common perception is that they lack the ‘win-ability’ factor. Those who manage to win elections have to work doubly hard to prove themselves as compared to the men,” one senior woman politician told IPS on the condition of anonymity.

The current gender picture appears even more disconcerting, say experts, as the principle of gender equality as enshrined in the Indian constitution. The framework of Indian laws, development policies, plans and programs too, are aimed at women’s advancement and equality. India, also a signatory to the Millennium Declaration adopted at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2000, has reaffirmed its commitment towards promoting gender parity.

“These goals are not only desirable in themselves but are critical for achieving UN’s other Millennium Development Goals,” opines Dr. Abha Khatri, former professor of political science at Delhi University. “These include 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies, state legislatures and Parliament; elimination of all forms of violence against women; skill development for women; making women’s participation in education safe and secure; elimination of sex selection before birth; and universal access to sexual and reproductive health.”

The benefits of India becoming a 2-trillion dollar economy, Asia’s third largest, have also not percolated down to its women, point out economists. On the contrary, Indian women’s workforce participation has plummeted from 35 per cent in 1990 to 27 per cent in 2013. According to a 2012 report on global employment trends by the International Labour Organisation, many Indian women are able to find only marginal work in the informal economy, with low wages and little or no job security.

Ladakh, India – Widespread unemployment here leaves little choice of employment for women. Most have no educational background as schools are few. Credit: Neeta Lal/IPS

Well-qualified young urban women too, admit to having limited job options. Though over 60 per cent of urban females are a part of the informal sector, unemployment among those with graduate degrees and above qualifications continues to be a high 15.7 per cent, states the report.

Even educated urban women are unable to find opportunities that fit their profiles. Close to 20 per cent of urban females work as domestic help, cleaners, vendors, hawkers and salespeople. Nearly 43 per cent of urban women were self-employed and the same proportion of women had regular wage salaried jobs, according to the National Sample Survey Organisation 2011. Nearly 46 per cent of urban women with regular wages have no social security or employment benefits, while 58 per cent have no written contract for their jobs.

The example of Archana Desai, 35, is illustrative. New Delhi-based Desai had to give up her job at a global retail chain when it started downsizing due to budget cuts. Despite an MBA degree, Desai is currently employed as a part-time tutor at a coaching institute earning a fraction of her previous salary. “Though I’m technically qualified to hold a manager’s position, I’m stuck with something I don’t have any passion for. Why can’t the government provide jobs for women like us?”

Addressing women’s unemployment or underemployment issues can be deeply transformative for the country’s economy, says a McKinsey Global Institute report, “The Power of Parity: Advancing Women’s Equality in India”. The report states that improving gender parity at the workplace can help India add a whopping 2.9 trillion dollars to its GDP in 2025.

If this isn’t incentive enough, what is question activists. Besides, Indian women constitute almost 30 per cent of the total workforce in the country. Stricter policy and legislative measures need to be adopted as there is statutory recognition of the principle of equal job opportunities and equal pay under the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

To be fair, some measures have been taken by the Center to address the gender parity skew. The government has announced a 33 per cent reservation for women in police forces of union territories, including Delhi, for posts from constables to sub-inspectors to make the police more gender-sensitive. Another scheme — ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save the Daughter, Educate Her) — focuses on improving the life of the girl child in 100 districts with low child sex ratio (CSR), meaning many fewer girls than boys. The initiative is especially critical for a country like India which hosts one of the world’s lowest CSRs. Daman and Diu records a CSR of 618 girls per 1,000 boys.

“The key to achieving gender parity is resources. We need gender-responsive budgeting and money to be allocated and spent effectively on achieving these goals,” elaborates Kumari. Any breakthrough on gender equality also requires changes in the mindsets of all stakeholders –including legislators, administrators as well as the public — so that every social, economic and political issue can be made gender-sensitive, sums up the activist.

‘Invest Karnataka 2016’ to Focus On Women Entrepreneurs

Ajay GhoshBusiness, Women 0

The Karnataka government’s ensuing Global Investors Meet (GIM) here on February 3-5 would focus on promoting women entrepreneurs in the state, an official said last week. “For the first time in a GIM, a session on promoting women entrepreneurship in the state will be held on February 4. They will also be given a centre-stage platform to connect and network with other stakeholders,” Additional Chief Secretary, Commerce and Industries, K. Ratna Prabha said in a statement here.

The three-day ‘Invest Karnataka 2016’ will be held at Bangalore Palace grounds in the city centre to promote the southern state as a premier destination for investments from across the country and overseas. “A delegation of women entrepreneurs from San Francisco on the U.S. west coast will participate in the GIM as an outcome of an agreement between the two cities (Bengaluru and San Francisco),” Prabha said in the statement after chairing a meeting with women associations on the event here.

Asserting that women entrepreneurs were talented, hard working and forward looking, Prabha said they performed much better in diverse sectors such as aerospace, biotech, IT, textiles and tourism. “We are encouraging women entrepreneurs also to move away from Bengaluru and set up units in tier-two and tier-three cities for giving impetus to other regions in the state,” Prabha added.

The state government has decided to provide two exclusive industrial areas for women entrepreneurs at Hubballi-Dharwad and Harohalli in Ramanagara district, about 45km from Bengaluru, five percent of plots and sheds in industrial areas and estates and exclusive textiles and gems & jeweler clusters.

Nikita Azad Launches Campaign #HappyToBleed Against Move Barring Menstruating Women From Sabarimala Temple

Ajay GhoshCulture/Religion, Women 0

India-based writer and college student Nikita Azad has launched the campaign #HappyToBleed on November 21 on Facebook, after Sabarimala Temple Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan said he would not allow women to enter the place of worship until they were verified not to be menstruating by a machine.

Women of menstruating age – between 12 and 50 — have long been banned from the famed Kerala, India, temple, which hosts more than one million visitors each year. Women’s entry into the temple has been the subject of controversy for several years; the ban is reportedly imposed according to the dictates of the Hindu God Ayappan.

Gopalakrishnan – who was elected Nov. 2 as president of the Devaswom Board which oversees the administration of the Sabarimala Temple – unleashed a feminist fury Nov. 13 while speaking at the Kollam Press Club in Kerala. Responding to a question about whether women should be allowed to enter the temple, Gopalakrishnan said: “These days there are machines that can scan bodies and check for weapons. There will be a day when a machine is invented to scan if it is the ‘right time’ – not menstruating – for a woman to enter the temple.”

“When that machine is invented, we will talk about letting women inside,” said Gopalakrishnan. Indian societal mores contend that menstruating women are “impure.” Many Hindu temples discourage a woman from entering if she is menstruating. The religious rules surrounding menstruation are not limited to Hindus; several Indian faiths consider menstruation to be impure. Historically, women were isolated in a separate space in their home during “that time of the month.”

The temple president’s remarks were widely reported by the Indian media, which railed against the patriarchy still prevalent in much of Indian culture. Veteran journalist Kalpana Sharma wrote: “It is truly bizarre that the Sabrimala priest should suggest that a machine be invented to check whether a woman is bleeding before she can enter a temple.”

“A man of religious dogma is turning to science to enforce illogical tradition,” wrote Sharma, who praised Azad and other young feminists for the courage to openly discuss menstruation, normally a taboo subject.

Azad, who writes for the blogs Feminism in India and Youth ki Awaaz, said on the Facebook campaign page: “Let us be clear: this is not a temple-entry campaign. This campaign is an initiative against sexism and taboos that have been upheld for ages.”

“Class structure has created various forms of patriarchy like locking women in kitchens, reducing her contribution in the production process, considering her a reproductive machine, and objectifying her as an object of sexual pleasure,” stated Azad.

“#HappyToBleed acknowledges menstruation as a natural activity which doesn’t need curtains to hide behind,” stated Azad. “It urges young women to hold placards/sanitary napkins/charts saying Happy To Bleed, take their pictures, upload it to their profiles, and send it to us, in order to oppose the shame game played by patriarchal society since ages.”

Several people on the Facebook campaign site noted that Hindu culture views women as goddesses, so females are treated very well. Azad responded: “We want to be recognized as humans, not as objects of worship, who can decide for themselves what they want and don’t want.”

“Eggsperience”, “Eggcellence”, “Eggxotica”, and “Eggspressions” New Entries in Farha Sayeed’s Dictionary

Staff ReporterCommunity, Women 0

Chicago IL: Farha Sayeed, spouse of India’s Consulate General in Chicago, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, has been bringing laurels through her love for an array of arts and crafts and her contributions to welfare of the downtrodden, thereby emerging as a role model for women in the Indian Sub-continent.

Farha has a passion for creating Faberge-styled exotic Objets d’Art from egg shells of Ostrich, Emu, Goose, Duck, Turkey, Guinea, and Hen. These eggshells are intricately cut, carved, and ornamented, using pearls, beads, crystals, brocade, velvet, satin, golden laces, etc., and finally are mounted on beautiful silver and golden stands, making each end-product a customized masterpiece.

Farha, thus, transforms a humble eggshell into a breathtakingly beautiful and precious piece of art, which can adorn even a palace with its elegance and beauty.

An interesting aspect of Farha’s egg sculpting is her successful experimentation with the fusion of Indian and Islamic elements in this unique art form, which is otherwise Western.

Farha’s collection of decorated eggs was first displayed by the Art Lovers’ Group of a renowned Danish Pharmaceutical Company. This was followed by a series of full-fledged solo exhibitions titled “EGGSPERIENCE” in Copenhagen, “EGGCELLENCE” in Jeddah, “EGGXOTICA” in New Delhi, and “EGGSPRESSIONS” in Sana’a, to great appreciation. Farha also participated in the Annual Dallas Egg Show along with other international egg artists.
A member of International Egg Art Guild, Farha is considered as a pioneer in promoting Egg Art in India.

Farha, in addition to pursuing her interest in varied art forms like Painting, Zardori Work, Soft-toy Making and Calligraphy, finds time for philanthropy too to ameliorate the lot of destitute women, orphans and children of special needs.

“I had a passion for arts and craft since my childhood; When I came across a new medium of eggshells it attracted me instantly, I thought I would challenge my creative imagination by testing my skills using a fragile surface”, said Farha.

“Eggs reflect the origin of life. To me egg sculpting is a reflection of my self-expression and a way of looking at objects in a different perspective”, she added. When asked about her plans to exhibit her collections in the United States, she said “I am planning an exhibition in the coming Easter”

BBC’s 100 inspirational women: Smriti Nagpal has given a new frame to deaf artists

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

When Smriti Nagpal passed out of college with a degree in business, she started a social enterprise for hearing impaired artists. Just three years later, her work matters enough for her to count among BBC’s ‘inspirational women for 2015’. Dwarka-based Nagpal is in the company of Asha Bhosle and Sania Mirza on the global list of 100, although she’s been picked in the ’30 Under 30′ category for young entrepreneurs.

It all began with her passion for sign language. “My two older siblings are hearing impaired so I grew up in an environment where I had to use sign language, and by the age of 16 I had started working as a sign language interpreter with National Association of the Deaf,” said Nagpal, sitting in her office that’s decorated with sketches by deaf artists.

In college, she did sign language news bulletins on Doordarshan. She says she didn’t want to take up a job, and worked with her father after graduating. At a Diwali mela, a deaf artist who had seen her interpreting somewhere requested her to help him find a job. He had a master’s in fine arts and felt out of place making handmade products for an NGO.

Vini Samuel Elected First Indian American Female Mayor

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Women 0

Vini Samuel, an attorney by profession, was elected mayor of Montesano, Washington by landslide victory making her the first Indian American female mayor in the United States. Samuel received more than 67 percent of the vote, leading 762 to 366.

“It’s wonderful, it’s exciting and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” Samuel said on November 03, 2015. “This has always been about Montesano and coming together as one town and trying to get things done. I think the race went perfectly. We worked really hard and I appreciate the show of confidence. I think we ran a pretty solid, positive campaign. The goal was always about coming together and keeping the city of Montesano as the focus of the conversation,” she added.

Samuel, who was born in Quilon, Kerala, and raised in Juneau, Alaska, characterized the tiny town of Montesano as “a little piece of Americana.” Samuel attended Western Washington University, where she received a B.A. in history and English literature; she obtained her law degree from Seattle University.

Samuel, who has previously served on Montesano’s city council, said she was campaigning on the issue of transparency in city politics.

The tiny town of Montesano in northwest Washington State has approximately 2,300 registered voters.

All results on November 03, 2015 were preliminary results. Ballots mailed were still valid and ballot drop boxes throughout the county remained uncounted. The election will be certified on Nov. 24. However, Incumbent Ken Estes conceded the race soon after the initial tally of votes by the Grays Harbor County Auditor’s office.

Jaya Iyer Launches Gender-Neutral T-Shirts for Kids

Ajay GhoshFashion, Women 0

Ever since Jaya Iyer’s daughter was a toddler, she had been fascinated by Saturn and its icy rings. When Swaha turned three, she had a space-themed birthday party. But when her mom went to find clothes with space images for Swaha, she couldn’t find any. They were all in the boys section. Jaya Iyer, an Indian American clothing designer is attempting to do away with gender-specific clothing for children. Iyer, 41, of Washington, D.C., launched her clothing line, Svaha, in response to not being able to find a girl’s shirt with an astronaut graphic on it.

Iyer, mother of two, who has a doctorate in fashion merchandising, started her own business called Svaha (which is how her daughter’s name is pronounced) to sell clothes that upend gender stereotypes. One shirt features a grinning green stegosaurus, the plates on its back adorned with polka dots. A second comes in a blazing pink hue, with an astronaut planting an American flag on the moon. That one should satisfy her daughter. “She was very upset with me for not ever buying her anything with astronauts on it,” Iyer says. “Then she started telling me: ‘I want a ninja on my shirt.'”

Svaha is one of several startups that have emerged in recent years with the goal of changing the standards that govern what kids wear. These upstarts aren’t looking to replace current kid’s apparel entirely. Instead, their founders say they want to provide children with more options. Handsome in Pink says it’s all right for boys to wear pink and purple. BuddingSTEM offers science-themed garb for girls. Perhaps the buzziest label is Princess Awesome, which raised more than $200,000 in a successful Kickstarter campaign, showing demand for pirate-themed dresses and girl’s apparel covered in the symbol for pi. Most of the ventures remain in early stages as online-only entities using crowdfunded or bootstrapped cash to sell small numbers of shirts or dresses.

Originally from Dharwad, Karnataka, Iyer earned her undergraduate degree in India and moved to the United States in 2001 to pursue her master’s in fashion merchandising from the University of Georgia and her doctorate in the same field from Iowa State University. “Since I have experience in this industry, I decided to create a line of T-shirts,” the Indian American entrepreneur told India-West.

Jaya Iyer Launches Gender-Neutral T-Shirts for Kids
Jaya Iyer with her daughter

Iyer launched a Kickstarter campaign with her Svaha partners, Eva Everett and Mansi Patney, and raised more than $30,000 to fund the project. With the funding in the rearview mirror, Iyer noted the hardest part was finding graphic designers and production on a limited budget.

“I wanted to make the T-shirts in the U.S., but, since I was going to do small quantity, nobody was responding to me,” she explained. “I have been able to find a factory in India who is able to help me with production.”

Iyer said the next hurdle Svaha faces is reaching a wider audience, but she remains optimistic it will be accomplished. Svaha has zero gender discrimination, according to Iyer.

“We have astronaut, cars and diggers, along with T-shirts in pink, blue and purple for both girls and boys,” she said of the product. “We also have many STEM-based designs for both girls and boys. “We want to provide children with clothes through which they are able to show their love for anything that they want,” the designer added. “It does not have to be limited to princesses and pink for girls and cars and blue for boys.”

In addition to the design, Iyer said all the customers rave about the feel of the shirts, saying it is like silk, though the shirts are 100 percent cotton. Soon, Svaha hopes to shift to 100 percent organic cotton. “We want to be different and appealing to our customers in many different ways,” she said. Svaha has opened an Amazon store and Iyer said the business is continuing to grow steadily, though the company still has “a long way to go.”

Currently, Svaha offers T-shirts and dresses but plans to expand to more dresses, leggings and boys and girls underwear. In the future, she would like to add non-clothing items like towels and sheets, among other things. Iyer has taught fashion merchandising at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., for nearly five years. She has also authored “Retailing in Emerging Markets” and has been a buyer at ThinkGeek.

Anita Adalja Honored as ‘Champion of Change’

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Profiles, Women 0

Anita Adalja, an Indian American farmer manager, was among 12 individuals from across the country who were recognized as White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture at an event in Washington, D.C. Oct. 26.

These individuals were selected by the White House for their achievements and will be honored for their exemplary leadership and innovation in agricultural production and education. The Champions have helped implement agricultural practices that promote soil health and energy efficiency, improve water quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Adalja, a manager at the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, has worked to create a more equitable and sustainable food system by increasing food access, sustainable farming, farmer training and ‘farm-to-school’ education. Under her management, Arcadia Farm grows thousands of pounds of naturally grown produce that is sold in low- or no-food access areas in Washington, D.C., through its mobile farmers’ market program. A social worker by training, Adalja has previously farmed at One Woman Farm in Gibsonia, Pa., and was the farm manager for Common Good City Farm in Washington, D.C.

The awards ceremony featured remarks by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and was live-streamed Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. ET. “My commitment to food access, food justice and community building was solidified through this experience. From there, I threw myself into farming by attending an apprenticeship programme at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems in Santa Cruz. I haven’t looked back since,” she said in a United States Department of Agriculture blog recently.

The Champions have helped implement agricultural practices that promote soil health and energy efficiency, improve water quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Anita, has worked to create a more equitable and sustainable food system by increasing food access, sustainable farming, farmer training and farm-to-school education.

Under her management, Arcadia Farm grows thousands of pounds of naturally grown produce that is sold in low-or no-food access areas in Washington, through its mobile farmers’ market program. A social worker by training, Adalja has previously farmed at One Woman Farm in Gibsonia, Pa, and was the farm manager for Common Good City Farm in Washington.

Women Earn 24% Less Than Men on Average, U.N. Report Finds

Ajay GhoshFinance/Economy, Women 0

Washington, DC: Why isn’t the global economy fit for women? A flagship report, Progress of the World’s Women 2015-2016: Transforming Economies, Realizing Rights, we investigate what this failure means – and propose solutions, takes a fresh, holistic look at both economic and social policies and their implications for the entire economy. It looks particularly at the ‘invisible’ economy of unpaid care and domestic work that anchors all economies and societies.

The globalised economy seems to be working at cross-purposes with our universal vision of women’s rights; it is limiting, rather than enabling them. Where there is no choice, there are few rights. Women are still earning significantly less money than men, despite working longer hours when paid and unpaid work is taken into account, a new U.N. report reveals.

Women Earn 24% Less Than Men on Average, U.N. Report FindsThe U.N. Women report shows that even though more women are in the workplace and taking on leadership positions worldwide, pay levels are nowhere near reaching equality worldwide. On average women around the world earn 24% less than men, the report says, and earn just half of the income men earn over a lifetime. Women in South Asia experience the greatest gender pay gap, earning 33% less than men. The Middle East and North Africa have a 14% pay gap.

Women do nearly 2½ times more unpaid and domestic work compared with men and are less likely to receive a pension. Only half of working-age women are in the workforce compared to three-fourths of working-age men.

Conventional measures like GDP have historically been blind to a large proportion of the work women and girls do, and unhearing of the voices of those who would wish to allocate public resources to their relief, for example through investments in accessible water and clean energy.

“Our world is out of balance. It is both wealthier and more unequal today than at any time since the Second World War. We are recovering from a global economic crisis – but that recovery has been jobless. We have the largest cohort ever of educated women, yet globally women are struggling to find work. Unemployment rates are at historic highs in many countries, including those in the Middle East and North Africa, in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as in southern Europe,” a report says.

Where women do have jobs, globally they are paid 24 per cent less than men, on average. For the most part, the world’s women are in low-salaried, insecure occupations, like small-scale farming, or as domestic workers – a sector where they comprise 83 per cent of the workforce.

Women Earn 24% Less Than Men on Average, U.N. Report FindsData from France, Germany, Sweden and Turkey suggest that women earn between 31 and 75 per cent less than men over their lifetimes. We need policies that make it possible for both women and men to care for their loved ones without having to forego their own economic security, success and independence.

But there are solutions. The report proposes a number of specific ways in which to mobilise resources to pay for public services and social transfers: for example by enforcing existing tax obligations, reprioritising expenditure and expanding the overall tax base, as well as through international borrowing and development assistance.

Global corporations also have a central role to play by being employers that offer equal pay and opportunities. Shareholders can and should ask corporations to act with responsibility to the countries in which they operate. Annual tax revenue lost to developing countries due to trade mispricing, just one strategy used by corporations to avoid tax, is estimated at between 98 and 106 billion dollars. This is nearly 20 billion more than the annual capital costs needed to achieve universal water and sanitation coverage.

With the right mix of economic and social policies, governments can make transformative change: they can generate decent jobs for women and men and ensure that their unpaid care work is recognized and supported. Well-designed measures such as family allowances and universal pensions can enhance women’s income security, and their ability to realise their potential and expand their life options.

Finally, macroeconomic policies can and should support the realisation of women’s rights, by creating dynamic and stable economies, by generating decent work and by mobilising resources to finance vital public services. Ultimately, upholding women’s rights will not only make economies work for women, it will also benefit societies as a whole by creating a fairer and more sustainable future. Progress for women is progress for all.

As a solution, the report suggests creating an economy that prioritizes women’s needs. It provides 10 recommendations for governments and other key players to adopt, such as creating more and better jobs for women, reducing occupational segregation, and establishing benchmarks to assess progress in women’s economic and social rights.

First Woman of Indian Descent Made Postmaster in California

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

An Indian American woman has become the first female to be appointed as the postmaster in Sacramento city in California in last 166 years, a media report said. Jagdeep Grewal will oversee 1,004 employees who process and deliver mail on 537 city routes and 94 rural routes – and fill nearly 20,000 post office boxes, American Bazaar news portal reported on Wednesday.

According to reports, Grewal who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Punjab University, started her career in postal services in 1988 as a window clerk. She was promoted to the post of manager after five years of service.

Referring to the steep decline in the usage of postal services due to internet and courier services, Grewal said that she looked forward to working with Sacramento’s Postal Service employees during a challenging time.

“It is only through joint effort and collaboration that we can truly meet our mission of providing extraordinary service while keeping costs down,” Grewal was quoted as saying.

She has also worked as a postmaster in Pacifica-Daly City, California. The US Postal Service is facing cash crunch and recently reported a net loss of $586 million earlier this year.

Pooja Nagpal Named Girl Scout Of USA’s National Young Women of Distinction

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

Pooja Nagpal, an Indian-American from Greater Los Angeles, was recently named recipient of 2015 National Young Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of United States of America (GSUSA). Pooja, along with nine other young women honorees will be celebrated Oct. 7 at the Edith Macy Conference Center in New York.

“Our 2015 National Young Women of Distinction have demonstrated remarkable leadership through their extraordinary “Take Action projects,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of GSUSA. “At such a young age, these girls are creating positive change in their communities, identifying local solutions that relate to global issues, and taking sustainable action to make a difference in the world. We are proud to recognize the contributions and achievements of these exceptional girls and cannot wait to see how they continue to inspire, influence, and innovate as the leaders and social entrepreneurs of tomorrow,” according to a GSUSA press release quoting Maria Chávez.

Extraordinary females are receiving the highest Girl Scout honor because their Gold Award projects demonstrate extraordinary leadership, have measurable impact and sustainability, and address a local, national, and/or global issue. From addressing the decline in bee populations and working to stop violence against women to providing wider access to an array of educational tools for people of varying ages, these girls are igniting meaningful change in their communities and around the globe.

Nagpal’s project focused on ending violence against women worldwide by teaching self-defense to women and girls in rural villages in Himachal Pradesh, India, and battered women’s shelters in Los Angeles, California.

As a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo, who is also trained in street fighting, Pooja created a two-part curriculum that not only successfully strengthened girls’ and women’s physical abilities but also exercised their mental acuity through discussions and activities around leadership, community service, confidence, and education.

This past year she founded “For a Change, Defend”, a non-profit, and spoke at numerous events to raise awareness around domestic violence and female empowerment. The Girl Scout Gold Award, which turns 100 in 2016, represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. According to Girl Scout research, Gold Award recipients rate their overall success in life significantly higher than non-recipients and report greater success in reaching their life goals.

Moreover, they feel their accomplishments in their lives (95 percent), their education (94 percent), their careers (92 percent), and their financial life (78 percent) are largely due to the unique experiences they had and the skills they developed through the Girl Scout program.

Jhumpa Lahiri to be presented with National Humanities Medal

Ajay GhoshWomen 0

Indian-American Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri has been selected for the prestigious 2014 National Humanities Medal which would be presented to her by US President Barack Obama next week. Jhumpa, 48, has been selected for the award for enlarging the human story, the White House said here last week. “In her works of fiction, Lahiri has illuminated the Indian-American experience in beautifully wrought narratives of estrangement and belonging,” the White House said in a statement.

Among other awardees include historians, writers, a philosopher, scholar, preservationist, food activist and an education course. First Lady Michelle Obama will also attend the awards ceremony at the White House on September 10. “The National Endowment for the Humanities (NHE) is proud to join President Obama in celebrating the achievements of these distinguished medalists,” said NEH Chairman William Adams.

“The recipients of this medal have sparked our imaginations, ignited our passions, and transformed our cultural understanding. They embody how the humanities can serve a common good,” he said. In addition to Lahiri, Obama would present the awards to Clemente Course in the Humanities, Annie Dillard (author), Everett L Fly (architect and preservationist), Rebecca Newberger Goldstein (philosopher and novelist), Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham (historian), Fedwa Malti-Douglas (scholar), Larry McMurtry (novelist), Vicki Lynn Ruiz (historian) and Alice Waters (author and food activist).

The first National Humanities Medal was awarded in 1996. Since then, there have been 175 recipients, 163 individuals and 12 organisations, including this year’s. The White House also announced recipients of the 2014 National Medal of Arts.

Jhumpa is an Indian-American author who was born as Nilanjana Sudeshna but goes by her nickname (or in Bengali her “Daak naam”) Jhumpa. Her debut short story collection ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and her book ‘The Lowland’ was a nominee for the Man Booker Prize.

She is currently a professor of creative writing at Princeton University.

Vini Samuel Could Be First Indian American Female Mayor

Ajay GhoshProfiles, Women 0

Vini Samuel, Montesano, Washington mayoral candidate aced a primary election and is on her way to becoming the nation’s first Indian American female mayor. The tiny town of Montesano in northwest Washington state has approximately 2,300 registered voters; about half voted in the primaries. Samuel garnered 47 percent of the vote, trumping incumbent Mayor Ken Estes, who received 27 percent, and Montesano city councilman Tyler Trimble, who won 25 percent. Samuel will face off against Estes in the Nov. 3 election.

The candidate believes she has clinched the race. “I just need to keep my head down and stay out of trouble,” Samuel laughingly toldIndia-West in a telephone interview. If elected, Samuel will also be Montesano’s first female mayor and its first minority mayor.

Vini SamuelSamuel, who was born in Quilon, Kerala, and raised in Juneau, Alaska, characterized the tiny town of Montesano as “a little piece of Americana.” “The kids still bike on the streets and go fishing. You enter a different reality,” she said, comparing it to the mythical town of Mayberry, RFD, which was the setting for the popular 1960s television sitcom, “The Andy Griffith Show.”

“I want to preserve this place. You really don’t have pockets like this anymore,” stated Samuel, who has lived in Montesano for 18 years with her husband, Guy Bergstrom, who works for the Democratic Caucus in the Washington state House of Representatives, and their son, Thomas, 13. Samuel’s parents, Pona Samuel and Samuel Thomas, also live nearby.

Montesano – about 50 miles away from Olympic National Forest – features three lakes. The town is also the county seat for Grays Harbor County. Samuel, who has previously served on Montesano’s city council, said she was campaigning on the issue of transparency in city politics. She questioned the recent sale of a parcel of waterfront property which sold well under market for about $20,000. The sale was approved by the city council with the stipulation that an easement would be built to allow residents to have waterfront access at the property.

Instead, the property was developed without the easement, disallowing public access to the waterfront, she said. Speculation about a backroom deal between Estes and the developer has been rife. Samuel also sounded off against Estes’ interactions with a deaf city councilwoman, Marisa Salzer, who had requested an interpreter during city council meetings. A confrontation on the issue became more divisive when the city attorney asked Salzer for copies of her private e-mail, alleging the councilwoman used her official and private accounts interchangeably. Salzer has since resigned and wrote in her resignation letter: “I can no longer tolerate the unfair working conditions of discrimination and harassment against me for requesting accommodations from the city for my hearing disability.”

Samuel said she also wants to leverage limited resources for the town’s three elementary schools. Washington state provides insufficient funding and the tax base of the small town cannot meet the schools’ budgetary needs. “But the community here is amazing. I have never seen them say no to anything related to kids,” she told the media.

Samuel regards Wi-Fi as basic infrastructure and said she wants to have free Wi-Fi access throughout the downtown area. Washington’s baby boomers are increasingly moving into Montesano, attracted by lower housing prices in a scenic location. The candidate said more services need to be in place for the town’s aging population.

Samuel attended Western Washington University, where she received a B.A. in history and English literature; she obtained her law degree from Seattle University.

Nikki Haley’s New Chief of Staff Swati Patel Reminisces About Roots

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S., Women 0

Swati Patel, who became South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s chief of staff this month, remembers feeling like a “rare bird” while growing up in Anderson. Haley announced Aug. 26 that she has chosen Patel to replace James H. Burns as her chief of staff. Burns is returning to the Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough law firm where he was a partner before joining Haley’s team in 2014.

“I can’t think of anyone who is more widely respected or uniquely qualified to lead our team than Swati Patel,” said Haley in a statement issued by her office. “(Patel’s) steady leadership as legal counsel has strengthened our staff, guided our administration and helped us deliver results to the people of South Carolina — and, as chief of staff, Swati will keep that momentum going.”

Like Haley, Patel is an Indian American, the daughter of Indian immigrants. In the 1960s, her parents each came to Raleigh, N.C., where her father graduated from North Carolina State University with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He later worked at the Owens Corning and Bosch plants in Anderson.

Patel was 6 years old when her family moved to Anderson. At the time, she said, there were only about five Indian American families living here. “Growing up as the child of immigrants in the 1970s in a small town in South Carolina, you were definitely looked at as different,” said Patel, who attended Concord Middle School, McCants Middle School and T.L. Hanna High School.

Swati S. Patel“I never felt unwelcome or discriminated against,” she said. “People just didn’t know how to categorize me.” A University of South Carolina graduate, Patel, 44, is the wife of a Columbia physician and the mother of a 10-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter. Her younger sister is a pediatrician in Charleston. Patel has spent almost her entire professional career at the Statehouse complex in Columbia.

While in college, she was appointed to serve as a page by Alex Macaulay, a former state senator and retired judge from Walhalla. After receiving her law degree, Patel worked with legislative committees and the state Judicial Merit Selection Committee.

Patel has a decade of experience as an attorney in the governor’s office. She was deputy legal counsel and then chief legal counsel for former Gov. Mark Sanford before becoming Haley’s top legal adviser in 2011.

Patel said the added managerial responsibilities will be one of the biggest challenges of her new position. She said she hasn’t given any thought to her next career move after Haley’s final term as governor ends in January 2019. “I am just taking it day by day and week to week,” Patel said.

Kiran Gandhi Sparks Global Conversation on Menstruation

Ajay GhoshHealth, Women 0

Indian American Kiran Gandhi, a Harvard Business School graduate and a professional drummer, said the silence about the subject has to end, and she was happy to have started “a global conversation online” regarding periods. Since then, she has become an Internet sensation after completing the 2015 London Marathon  April 26 sans any sanitary protection during her period in a bid to end the stigma on menstruation.

Born to Wall Street investment banker Vikram Gandhi and social activist Meera Gandhi, she said that after her “free bled” episode went viral, she received letters from diverse countries, including Iran, India, Pakistan and Croatia.

In an e-mail interview with IANS, Gandhi, 26, who has toured globally as a drummer with M.I.A and Thievery Corporation and has been profiled widely by the media for juggling her busy student life with the hectic schedule of a musician, said the world is now talking about periods and how women face the pain in silence.

Asked whether she was able to raise awareness about the issue, she said: “(It has) started a global conversation online that I never could have expected. Just yesterday a brave young woman emailed me a screenshot of her on Whatsapp. It was between her and her trainer, in India. She said that for many years she never told her trainer why she misses certain days of working out each month, but, finally, because of this conversation, she had the courage to say it was because of her period.”

Gandhi said the woman’s trainer created a plan that wouldn’t be as painful or uncomfortable for her so that she could still come in and train. “Imagine — that stigma prevents something as simple as women being able to have honest conversations with their coaches about something natural.”

Gandhi, who was preparing for the London marathon for over a year, got her period a day before the event. She had two options: opt out of the first 26.2-mile race or run and let it flow. She chose the second option. She ran the 41.195 km alongside two of her closest friends, completing the course in 4 hours and 49 minutes, with her running pink pants stained.

“I have received letters from women in Iran, fathers from India, fellow marathoners, young girls from Pakistan to Croatia. I believe that women constantly have to prioritize the comfort of others around them at their own expense. In this case, it felt most comfortable for me to run without anything that might chafe or hurt me. I knew that by the very nature of a marathon course, I could actually liberate myself from this type of oppression. That on a marathon course, I didn’t have to think about how I looked or what people thought of me. That no one can tell you anything if you’ve just run a marathon. The respect of running a marathon speaks first and foremost for itself.”

She now wants to continue “speaking to intelligent and forward thinking people” and the media about the issue as often as possible to raise awareness. Most praised her bold act, but there were some who slammed her, calling the move “disgusting” and “unhygienic.” To her, such reactions only further solidified that people are “deeply uncomfortable with a natural and normal process.

“I didn’t need to be the one to respond to these opinions — women’s and men’s voices chimed in from all around the globe to respond to these feelings of disgust. And the very fact that doctors have already debunked the myths around my run just goes to show how taboo and silence prevents real education and awareness about menstrual health to permeate,” Gandhi told the media.

She said she was aware that in India many girls and young women use unhygienic sanitary pads or dirty cloth but was proud that two NGOs — She Innovates and Saathi Pads, whose founders went to Harvard Business School like her — are doing tremendous work. Gandhi, who has famous parents working in the social sector, said it was heartening for her when she got tremendous support from her family.

Asked about the reaction of her family, she said: “Of utmost support, intelligence and joy, they understood that this act has nothing to do with a girl running a marathon and everything to do with a global problem that needs to be addressed.

“And having them behind me has been exactly the kind of strength I’ve needed to move forward and do my best work. My mom started The Giving Back Foundation, which focuses primarily on women’s and girls issues. My father started Asha Impact Investing, which supports microfinance in India,” Gandhi said.  “Both of my parents raised my brother and sister to be socially conscious and especially aware of women’s issues,” Gandhi added.

Alysha Brilla Organizes Topless ‘Bare With Us’ Protest

Ajay GhoshSocial Media, Women 0

“Bare With Us” demonstrators gathered at the Waterloo Town Square in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. The rally and march were organized by three sisters who were stopped by a police officer for biking topless a week ago. Local media reports said people were waving banners and wearing body paint with messages including “everyone has the right to NOT be harassed” and “Bare With Us! They’re just boobs!”

Musician Alysha Brilla said she and her sisters were not wearing shirts while cycling in Kitchener, Ontario, on July 24 when a male police officer drove up beside them and told them to cover up because it is the law. Brilla said she told the officer he was wrong and that when she started filming the interaction on her cellphone, the officer said he had only wanted to check if the women had proper bells and lights on their bicycles.

Ontario women have had the right to go topless in public since 1996. A similar incident in June garnered headlines after an 8-year-old was told by city staff in Guelph, Ontario, to cover up while she was in a wading pool wearing only a swim bottom.

“It was really well attended, and the people who came were very supportive. I had no idea how polarizing the issue would be. I thought people would not be so disturbed by the female breast. We just want to advocate and let people know that they do have this right,” Brilla was quoted as saying.

Alysha Brilla Organizes Topless “Bare With Us” Protest

They carried slogans of “They feed you, they breed you, but they sure as hell don’t need you” through the streets. Another one read: “They are boobs, not bombs, chill out.” Police in Canada allegedly stopped the three sisters for cycling topless a week ago in Kitchener, Ontario.

A male police officer who asked them to cover up to comply with the law was told that women in Ontario had the right to go topless in public since 1996. As Brilla started recording their conversation on her phone, the policeman changed his stance and said he stopped to check if their bikes had proper bells and lights for safety.

Tweet by Deepa Kumar, Rutgers Professor in Fox News Crosshairs

Ajay GhoshSocial Media, Women 0

A Tweet by Deepa Kumar, an associate professor of media studies at Rutgers University, had tweeted — “Yes ISIS is brutal, but US is more so, 1.3 million killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.” She linked that tweet to a story which ran on the left-leaning radio station Democracy Now, which interviewed authors of a new report on casualties in those regions and estimated the deaths at 1.3 million.

That was in March this year. Now, months later, her tweet has led to a virtual ideological war about freedom of expression after Deepa Kumar likened the brutality of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL, to war casualties from the U.S. involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As per reports here, Fox News in its popular day-time show “Outnumbered” on July 27, featured a discussion on Kumar’s tweet where Judge Andrew Napolitano, Fox’s senior judicial analyst, and several panelists panned Kumar, but agreed she had the right to hold and express her views. The comments however, went further, questioning whether it was right for a publicly funded university to hire professors with these seemingly anti-American views, a paradoxical argument for and against free speech. The commentators also accused Kumar of leading the charge against inviting former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice as commencement speaker in 2014. Rice withdrew in the face of opposition from sections of the faculty and students.

Following the high profile Fox News coverage, Kumar provided her defense to the journal Inside Higher Ed, which in its July 29 report, “Targeted for Tweets” says things were pretty low key after Kumar’s March tweet, until “far-right” blogs and Fox News ran with it. “Now Kumar is being flooded with hate mail and even violent threats,” it says. Kumar did not respond to News India Times request for an interview.

Kumar, however, did speak to Inside Higher Ed. “This is not the only case of a professor being targeted by Fox News and by the right — in fact, there’s a long history here of trying to silence and intimidate faculty who have dissenting opinions on the U.S. government and policies in the Middle East,” she said. “The only way to push back and defend myself is to be public about it.”

She also countered Fox News discussants’ assertions that she orchestrated the charge against Condoleeza Rice. Her defense – faculty wanted to “engage” Rice in a “dialogue” rather than hear her commencement speech. “They distorted a bunch of things about what I’ve said and done,” Kumar complained. According to the Inside Higher Ed piece, responses have contained racist and sexist slurs. A fellow professor at Rutgers accused Fox News of presenting a tweet out of context months after it was made, and argued that the public could not understand the comment in a “larger context.

Kumar is no stranger to vitriol on the Web. On Sept. 11, 2013, after she gave an interview to a relatively obscure web news channel, “breakingtheset” which had a few thousand listeners, one apparent Rutgers alumna fumed, “She just lectured that America is more brutal than ISIS, and Rutgers is funding this …. I’ll have to remember it on the next Rutgers alumni fund drive when they call me begging for money.” Kumar said Fox News coverage of her tweet followed after a far-right group called SoCawlege published her Twitter history after a June conference on terrorism studies where she spoke and made a slide presentation.

Democrat Nidhi Makhija Contests Bridgewater Mayoral Race

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S., Women 0

For the first time in the history of the state of New Jersey, an Indian American woman, a Democrat, Nidhi Makhija is contesting a mayoral race in the town of Bridgewater. The town’s current Mayor Dan Hayes has filed to run for re-election in the November race, and he will face Democratic challenger Nidhi Makhija.

Innovator, IT Business Executive & Partner, Nidhi Makhija is primed to move from private consulting to public service with her vision to lead Bridgewater Township to the list of “TOP 10 Most Livable Towns in New Jersey.” A keen community player, she hopes to improve citizen quality of life and governance in the township through her methodical approach of planning, implementation and management of her “4C Model” for the Township.

Nidhi MakhijaNidhi was born the youngest daughter in a family of four sisters in a small town in India. With an Engineering undergraduate degree, she went on to earn a Business Management MBA in Finance. A U.S. Big Five Consulting job offer started her American Dream where she’s worked with some of the most influential companies across the U.S. and the globe. She is now a thriving entrepreneur, business IT consultant, mother of 2 children & an American Citizen who is ready to give back to the community that helped her become more of the leader she is today. She believes women play natural roles as nurturers, planners, leaders, innovators, managers, organizers& caregivers. Now is the time to play an even greater role fueling local government success and contribution. Her life’s philosophy is made up of the three pillars below. She hopes to apply that philosophy to improve the quality of life of the citizens of Bridgewater Township.

Career Highlights & Milestones include, over 20 years of significant multi industry, national & international experiencein Fortune 500 as a IT & Business Consultant; worked with powerhouses such as KPMG, Siemens, Price Waterhouse, Bearing Point, etc. Undertook sponsored training on Leadership from YALE School of Management, Connecticut; financial oversight of budgets ranging from $100,000 to $10 million; implemented solutions for reputed companies such as General Motors, Siemens Public Service Networks & Communications, Government of Pennsylvania, SSM Healthcare, Mosaic Agro, Symbol Technologies etc., and Civic Service engagement with Education Foundation of Bridgewater Raritan, 4H Youth Development, Somerset County Leadership Program, School PTO, Actively supports South Asian NGOs.

Stars of New York City Ballet, Indian Kathak Dance, and Chinese Kunqu Opera Share Stage

Ajay GhoshEntertainment, Women 0

Renowned former ballerina Wendy Whelan, explosive dynamo Indian Kathak dancer Parul Shah, and effervescent Kunqu opera star Qian Yi came together on stage in New York last month to explore the connections of their performing arts forms. The program took place as part of Asia Society’s annual View points series, which highlights new ideas in the creative world.

Each of the three performers represented a rich classical tradition. Ballet is the quintessential Western classical dance form; Kathak is one of eight classical forms of Indian dance which originated with Sanskrit storytellers in ancient India; and Kunqu opera, one of the oldest forms of classical Chinese opera, combines dance, music, and theater. Each form incorporates rigorous physical training, requires incredible aestheticism and aesthetic understanding, and embodies the history of power in its respective culture over hundreds of years.

For the program, the three performers each gave demonstrations of their respective forms, including two presentations of exquisite footage featuring Qian and Whelan in Slow Dancing, a video installation by photographer and videographer David Michalek. The demonstration finale included all three performers on stage together.

Viewpoints: Classical Connections explored aesthetic beauty, the female form, and innovation as manifested across cultures: from Qian’s serious performance and humorous anecdotes, to Whelan’s rendition of the 18th century French courtiers putting on airs and stuffy walks in well heeled feet that was the precursor of ballet, to the Persian influence of the Mughal Court where the dynamic Kathak dance was born.

The three women who shared the stage have shaped the dance world and now use their art to redefine dance. For those who might have wondered how their dance forms could ever be related, it became clear in their strict classicism, rigorous technique and aesthetic language.

The program was followed by a patron dinner, where the conversations continued. Attendees included choreographer Shen Wei, dancer Rajika Puri, and American Dance Festival Founder (and 1960 curator of performing arts at Asia Society) Charles Reinhardt, capping off an evening in which the history of the Asia Society’s work in the world of dance was vividly on display.

Classical Connections takes a global perspective in comparing classical performance traditions, featuring three of the finest interpreters of these forms: Wendy Whelan, former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet; Parul Shah, celebrated performer of India’skathak dance; and Qian Yi, Chinese kunqu opera star. Each of these dancers has dedicated their lives to the study and performance of their form, and now are pushing the boundaries to explore new territory inspired by tradition. How will the future of these classical connections be influenced by these new directions? The program will consist of short dance demonstrations and screenings of footage from Slow Dancing by photographer/videographer David Michaelek, followed by a panel discussion with these three extraordinary artists.

Parul Shah is an internationally acclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer
Parul Shah is an internationally acclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer

Parul Shah is an internationally acclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer whose work is expanding the classical medium beyond cultural boundaries. With a dedication to excellence, Shah preserves the form’s aesthetic integrity while developing a unique and powerful vocabulary. Behind Shah’s work is decades of rigorous Kathak training under the world-renowned guru and choreographer, Padmashree Kumudini Lakhia. Ms. Lakhia’s pioneering work revitalized the form for 20th century audiences, and her training has produced forward-thinking Kathak artists with original voices. “Parul Shah …. brought the house down. Her sources are splendidly hybrid: contemporary dance, the Kathak technique of north India, the female temple-court artists of south India. ‘” – New York Times

Her work includes both traditional and contemporary solo and group choreography. Parul’s New York studio is home to both the parul shah dance company and her training facility. With an M.A. in dance education from Columbia University specializing in Indian classical movement, Parul has been teaching Kathak in the pure form for over 20 years. She has presented her solo and group works at major venues around the world, including City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C, Asia Society in New York, Jacobs Pillow in MA and at the Japan Forum Foundation in Japan. She has collaborated on numerous international projects and presented in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Sunita Viswanath Honored As ‘Champion of Change’

Ajay GhoshEnvironment, Women 0

Sunita Viswanath was among 12 faith leaders who was honored as “Champion of Change” on July 20 for their continuous efforts towards climate change. Viswanath, who has worked in women’s and human rights organisations for almost three decades, “is being honored for her work to encourage Hindus in protecting environment and communities from the effects of climate change,” the White House said in a statement.

Viswanath is co-founder and active board member of the 14-year old women’s human rights organisation Women for Afghan Women (WAW).

“Sunita is also co-founder and board member of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, living and building a Hinduism that prioritises social justice, and upholding the Hindu principles of ekatva (oneness), ahimsa (non-violence) and sadhana (faith in action).”

Through our grassroots green project, Project Prithvi, we mobilize Hindus, especially the youth, to live out the principle of ahimsa by taking care of the environment. We have adopted a beach in Jamaica Bay, New York, where Hindus worship almost every day. Devotees place their offerings into the bay, but the offerings wash up on shore and become entangled with all the other litter lining the beach – beer bottles, Styrofoam containers, used condoms. It is deeply painful to see our religious offerings, broken idols, trays of flowers and fruits, fabrics that had adorned the deities, washed up on the beach as garbage. We reach out to local Hindu temples, and we enlist priests to help us advocate to devotees that it is important to worship in more environmentally friendly ways. We mobilize temple-goers to come to the beach with us on a monthly basis, and together we clean up the beach. At every beach cleanup, devotees tell us how hurt they are to see broken idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi lying face down in the dirt. Rivers and oceans are considered sacred by Hindus, as are trees, all life forms, and the Earth herself.

 “I have always been secure in my identity as a Hindu,” she told the media. “Growing up, I thought a lot about faith and religion, but I also had a very strong sense of social justice, what was fair. I imbibed profound lessons of love and justice from my religious upbringing, from the stories we were told, the prayers we learned, the texts we read. I went on as an adult to devote my life to advancing social justice causes, particularly women’s human rights. If Hinduism cares deeply about all people and all living beings, then there must be an active, vocal Hindu movement for social justice and human rights today.”

Through our grassroots green project, Project Prithvi, we mobilize Hindus, especially the youth, to live out the principle of ahimsa by taking care of the environment. We have adopted a beach in Jamaica Bay, New York, where Hindus worship almost every day. Devotees place their offerings into the bay, but the offerings wash up on shore and become entangled with all the other litter lining the beach – beer bottles, Styrofoam containers, used condoms. It is deeply painful to see our religious offerings, broken idols, trays of flowers and fruits, fabrics that had adorned the deities, washed up on the beach as garbage. We reach out to local Hindu temples, and we enlist priests to help us advocate to devotees that it is important to worship in more environmentally friendly ways. We mobilize temple-goers to come to the beach with us on a monthly basis, and together we clean up the beach. At every beach cleanup, devotees tell us how hurt they are to see broken idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi lying face down in the dirt. Rivers and oceans are considered sacred by Hindus, as are trees, all life forms, and the Earth herself.

Through our grassroots green project, Project Prithvi, we mobilize Hindus, especially the youth, to live out the principle of ahimsa by taking care of the environment. We have adopted a beach in Jamaica Bay, New York, where Hindus worship almost every day. Devotees place their offerings into the bay, but the offerings wash up on shore and become entangled with all the other litter lining the beach – beer bottles, Styrofoam containers, used condoms. It is deeply painful to see our religious offerings, broken idols, trays of flowers and fruits, fabrics that had adorned the deities, washed up on the beach as garbage. We reach out to local Hindu temples, and we enlist priests to help us advocate to devotees that it is important to worship in more environmentally friendly ways. We mobilize temple-goers to come to the beach with us on a monthly basis, and together we clean up the beach. At every beach cleanup, devotees tell us how hurt they are to see broken idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi lying face down in the dirt. Rivers and oceans are considered sacred by Hindus, as are trees, all life forms, and the Earth herself. Born in Chennai, Viswanath is known as a fierce leader whose passion for women’s rights and faith-based activism has made her a beacon of hope for the people of New York City.

Sunita Viswanath
Sunita Viswanath

A central component of Sadhana is Project Prithvi, which is an environmental initiative.

As part of Project Prithvi, Sadhana is involved with cleaning up a beach in Jamaica Bay, Queens which is a place of worship for Hindus.

Sadhana has officially adopted this beach, conducts regular clean-ups, and also does outreach through Hindu temples to advocate that Hindus worship in environmentally conscious ways, said the interfaithcenter.org. Viswanath was a 2011 recipient of the “Feminist Majority Foundation’s Global Women’s Rights Award” for her work with WAW.

She lives in Brooklyn in New York with her husband Stephan Shaw and their three sons — Gautama, Akash and Satya.

Nikki Haley For Vice President?

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S., Women 0

There are rumors across the nation that the GOP is actively considering South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to be its vice presidential candidate after her handling of the June 17 Charleston shooting and its aftermath. Politicians and pundits alike applauded Haley, a 43-year-old Indian-American, for raising bipartisan support to take down the controversial Confederate flag from state grounds. Some predicted the buzz could carry over into a 2016 nomination.

David Beasley, the last Republican governor who took on the Confederate flag, which had fluttered in front of the 19th-century capitol building for 54 years, in 1996 “lost his job,” noted Politico, an influential Washington news site, but “Nikki Haley may get a promotion.”

“Her VP stock is probably on the rise again at the moment,” Republican analyst Ford O’Connell told the Hill, going on to say that she could appeal to young, female and minority voters — groups the GOP has historically had trouble capturing. “She could stop the bleeding of women to Hillary Clinton,” he added.

The move attracted praise immediately, but it also fed speculation about Haley’s future. Her term in South Carolina runs through January 2019, though many have wondered if she’ll cut her time short to run in 2016.

Haley herself has remained quiet on the issue. After winning re-election last year, she wrote a statement that “speculation is just that.” In 2013, at a campaign stop attended by GOP contenders Rick Perry, Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal, she was more specific, telling reporters her campaign for governor didn’t mean “something national.”

“Haley’s decisive action to drive the final removal of the banner from statehouse grounds quickly and relatively cleanly in the glare of the national spotlight proved a well-timed audition for higher office ahead of the 2016 Republican veepstakes,” it suggested. “Nikki showed leadership in this instance, and she represents a new Republican face in the South,” strategist Steve Schmidt, who managed John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid, told Politico.

“Campaign 2016 has already devolved into theatre and absurdity,” wrote Doug Heye, a former communications director for the Republican National Committee, in the Wall Street Journal but “Haley recently showed that politics and government can still live up to our best ideals.”

“Haley’s words, actions, poise, and determination-her courage-over the past month have helped her state heal,” he said noting “Speculation has increased about her potential as 2016 vice-presidential nominee.”

“Other state figures had faltered when confronting the legacy of the Confederate flag and pushing for its removal. But Haley’s quick call for it to be taken off has allowed her to bask in glowing reviews,” said CNN.

“The once-rising star, whose shine had faded after her 2010 gubernatorial victory, has emerged from the flag battle as the face of the ‘new South,’” it said. Shortly after the removal of the Confederate flag from statehouse grounds, Haley told CNN that placing the flag there in 2000 was a poor decision.

“I think the more important part is it should have never been there,” she said. “These grounds are a place that everybody should feel a part of. What I realized now more than ever is people were driving by and felt hurt and pain. No one should feel pain.”

Haley, the youngest current governor in the US and the first woman and the first Indian American to serve as Governor of South Carolina, had previously been a supporter of the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage honoring residents’ ancestors.

But it was after a week of funerals for the nine churchgoers who were gunned down by a white man in a historic black church in Charleston with the alleged intent of “starting a race war” that Haley said she decided that the flag had to come down.

“The biggest reason I asked for that flag to come down was I couldn’t look my children in the face and justify it staying there,” she was quoted as saying.

“Now there’s more reason to come to this state. I am proud to say that it’s a new day in South Carolina.”

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