SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Several US lawmakers, including three prominent Indian-American Congressmen, have strongly condemned the vandalism of a Hindu temple in California and asserted that those responsible for the act must be held accountable. The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in Newark, California was vandalized with anti-India graffiti and the police are investigating the matter as a possible hate crime.
Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents California’s 17th Congressional District located in Silicon Valley, said in a post on X that he strongly condemns the “defacing” of the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California which is in his district.
“Freedom to worship is at the heart of American democracy. Those who committed this act of vandalism must be held accountable,” Khanna said.
He said he is heartened that the community is coming together to stand up against hate and remove the graffiti. “This community action is answering wickedness with goodness,” he said.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi termed the defacing of the Swaminarayan temple as “despicable” and said he strongly condemns it.
Krishnamoorthi, the US representative for Illinois’s 8th congressional district, said he is glad the community is rallying in support of the mandir.
“We must stand united against bigotry in all its ugly forms. Those who did this vandalism must be held accountable,” he said.
Congressman Shri Thanedar also expressed his profound condemnation of the “disgraceful act of vandalism”.
“This desecration, marked by anti-India graffiti, strikes at the very essence of our diverse and inclusive society. I denounce such attacks of intolerance and call for a thorough investigation into this heinous crime,” Thanedar, the US representative from Michigan’s 13th congressional district, said. “Religious freedom and communal harmony are fundamental tenets of our nation, and I urge swift action by law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice, ensuring the safety and sanctity of all places of worship,” he added.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee from California “unequivocally” condemned the attack. “Hatred in all forms cannot be tolerated. Those responsible must be held accountable,” she said.
State Senator in the Ohio Senate Niraj Antani, elected to the Ohio Senate at age 29 and the youngest currently serving member of the Senate, said that as the first Hindu-American State Senator in Ohio history, he condemns in the “strongest terms” the vandalization of the Hindu Mandir.
“The perpetrators must be caught and punished to the full extent of the law. We must root out and vanquish Hinduphobia everywhere it is,” Antani said.
The US State Department on Saturday also condemned the vandalism at the temple and welcomed efforts by the police to ensure those responsible are held accountable. “We condemn the vandalism of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in California. We welcome efforts by the Newark Police Department to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” the US State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said in a post on X Saturday. The City of Newark Police Department in Newark, Newark, California had told PTI in an emailed statement that on Friday at approximately 8:35 am, Newark Police received a report of graffiti at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple.
Officers responded and met with temple leaders who described the vandalism as meant to intimidate them.
“Based on the content of the graffiti it is believed that the defacement was a targeted act, and the vandalism is being investigated as a possible hate crime,” the statement said.
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco strongly condemned the defacing of the temple.
“We strongly condemn the defacing of SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Newark, California with anti-India graffiti,” the Consulate posted on X.
“This incident has hurt the sentiments of the Indian community. We have pressed for quick investigation and prompt action against the vandals by the US authorities in this matter,” the Consulate said. According to images posted on social media, the word ‘Khalistan’ was spray-painted on a signpost outside the temple along with other objectionable graffiti.
Newark police further said that any acts or threats of violence, property damage, harassment, intimidation, or other crimes motivated by hate or bias are considered very serious and given very high priority.
“Officers are investigating, collecting evidence, and reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses to establish the chain of events and bring those responsible to justice,” the police said.
The department said that “we stand united with our community and are urging community members with any information regarding this incident to come forward and speak with investigators.”
The police are asking anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact the Newark Police Investigations Unit.
Tag: Apple News
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US lawmakers strongly condemn vandalism of Hindu temple in California
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Gary Sikka opens Pearl banquet hall to meet the community’s growing needs
By Parveen Chopra
Gary Sikka is a serial restaurateur. He recently created waves and received raves for opening a world-class banquet hall. Named Pearl, it is the latest in his collection of restaurant gems. It is in Hicksville, the thriving and newest Little India.
Your recent memory may not go beyond Mint restaurant which he opened in 2009 cheek by jowl with the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City. But he ran a highly rated restaurant, also named Mint, in midtown Manhattan. Going back further in time, he ran a restaurant in New Delhi named Rubal before he moved to the USA to serve up Indian food to Indians and Americans alike.
A view of the exterior of Pearl (Photo : Vaaho) 
The Ribbon cutting ceremony at Pearl. Seen from L to R: Dilsheet, Janessa, Alissa, Navneet Sikka, Bably Sikka, Pearl Sikka, Sean Sikka, Gary Sikka, Sunny Sondhi and Rubal Sikka. During an interview for The Indian Panorama, Gary Sikka revealed that Pearl was conceived to cater to the growing demand from the South Asian community for a banquet hall with a bigger capacity than easily available. “Weddings and other gatherings of 300-350 have become commonplace,” says Sikka. “Mint’s capacity is just 200. So, we used to take our clients to other, bigger places. Now Pearl has come up for bigger events, and a smaller event can be done at Mint.”
Bookings galore at Pearl
A view of the interior of Pearl (Photo : Vaaho) Pearl’s chandeliered ballroom can seat 400 and on the second floor can hold another 100. Pearl’s opening in July was celebrated with a lavish party graced by dignitaries, community leaders, friends, and family. Notables included hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, Harry Singh Bolla, chairman of Bolla Oil Corporation, Naveen Shah, CEO of Navika Capital Group, Dr. Pailla Malla Reddy, CEO of ScieGen Pharmaceutical Company, and Jon Kaiman, Deputy Suffolk County Executive.
Gary Sikka with Padma Bhushan Sant Singh Chatwal, a Patron of the American Punjabi Association at the inauguration of Pearl. 
Gary Sikka with Harry Singh Bolla, Bolla Oil Corporation CEO and Patron of the American Punjabi Association at the inauguration of Pearl Pearl has been getting a very good response. “Those who were planning their parties at hotels are converting to Pearl.” Gary Sikka shows the Pearl calendar chock-a-block with booked events.
The crème de la crème of the Indian American community graced the occasion of the inauguration of Pearl. From L to R : Dr. Vinni Jayam, Past President AAPI, Rubal Sikka, President of Mint and Pearl, CEO & President of Navika Capital Group Naveen C Shah, Gary Sikka, CEO and Executive Chef of Mint and Pearl, Dr. Raj Bhayani, Dr. Jagdish Gupta, Mohinder Taneja The steady stream of bookings is not coming just from people of Indian or Pakistani origin, but people of all communities, white, black, or Hispanic. Confirmed bookings for 2024, Sikka notes, have come, besides the tristate area, as from as far as Albany, Pennsylvania, even Atlanta.
Besides the glittering ballroom and high-ceiling lobby right in downtown Hicksville, Pearl has a bridal suite. It also has a sprawling parking facility for 150 vehicles. But for Covid, the $9 million Pearl would have opened two years ago and would have cost less.
For now, Pearl is only for banquets. Says Sikka, “We thought for dining Mint is there only a few miles away. But we will add dining in Pearl also in the future.”
Officially, Gary Sikka is CEO and Executive Chef and his son Rubal Sikka is its President and owner.
Despite his long list of accomplishments in the hospitality business, Gary Sikka, 56, does not have the airs that some celebrity chefs have. Unassuming and soft-spoken, he gave this free-flowing interview in Punjabi in his first-floor office in Mint. He talks about the capacity they possess to handle massive events. “In 2018, we did catering for 2,500 delegates, five meals a day for five days for the AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) convention at Harrah’s at Atlantic City Resort.
Sikka shares that he moved to the US towards the end of the last century after his kids came here to pursue higher education. Around 1997 he set up a business running a chain of cell phone stores under the name of NR Wireless. But the restaurant business claimed him again, and he opened ‘With Mint’ in 2001 in Midtown Manhattan on 50th Street. It was a roaring success, Gary Sikka states. He shares the secret sauce that goes into running a successful restaurant, particularly in a city like Manhattan: “It is the best of food, location, service, and ambiance in that order. And we had a combination of all four.”
Mint served not just Indian but also American and Italian cuisine then. The guests who dined there, Sikka remembers, included the Clintons, state governors, UN diplomats, and Bollywood’s who’s who. “We were situated very close to the UN building. And the visiting dignitaries usually stayed at the legendary Waldorf Astoria, which was next door to us. We also served visiting Indian ministers and were caterers by default at India House (housing the New York Consulate).” They had a deal to do room service in hotels including Waldorf Astoria.
Sikka continues his story. “We moved Mint to the current location in 2009, keeping the same four ingredients in mind – the best of food, location, service, and ambiance. And it has been a success story too.” The restaurant can seat about 200 people on the ground floor. It has a walled-off buffet area, and the bar is in the lobby. The terrace can hold 150 people; it is the only one on Long Island allowed rooftop dining with a live-kitchen license.
The clientele, Sikka divulges is only 50% South Asian, and 50% are a mix of other communities.
Whether it is Pearl or Mint, they are prepared to meet the dietary demands of the client, be it kosher, or halal, and lately even vegan and Jain food.
Thriving catering business
Mint is an official caterer to marquee names in hospitality including Crest Hollow Country Club, Leonard’s, Muttontown Golf Club (all on Long Island) as well as Hilton Huntington, Marriott in Uniondale and Melville, Hyatt Hauppauge, and Terrace on the Park in Queens.Sikka insists parties at these places don’t just call him for Indian cuisine, but also Indo-Chinese, Thai, Italian, American, Mediterranean, even Mexican and Japanese.
Bably Sikka, Gary Sikka and Rubal Sikka with the legendary Punjabi singer Harbhajan Mann at the Mint A fun fact Sikka will tell you is about the changing community and ethos. “Many marriages these days are inter-religious and multicultural. So, they may ask for Indian appetizers at eight stations for cocktails, only to go for multi-cuisine for dinner.” Sikka has also included live cooking in his culinary smorgasbord — be it barbecue, Mexican live, Chat station Live, or Sushi Live.
They don’t just lug around cooked food to the venue. “We have a mobile kitchen fully equipped with tandoor and fryers as well as a frozen vault for ice-cream. We park our 22-foot truck at the venue and supply piping-hot food from there. Tandoor is a necessity for much of our cooking, and hotels or restaurants do not have it in their kitchens.”
There is a necessary variation on the sit-down dinner format, says Sikka: “Indian and other South Asians do not like pre-plated lunch or dinner. They also want chicken, goat curry, and vegetables served at the table. Our servers provide that as well as assorted bread.”
With son Rubal helping in Gary Sikka’s business for almost 20 years, what is the division of labor? Rubal, who has a management degree, manages Pearl, operations, maintenance, the bar, and bookings. Gary Sikka himself looks after marketing, food, and catering.
Community leader
Gary Sikka, President of the American Punjabi Association speaking at the recently organized Punjabi Heritage Mela at Suffolk County. County Executive Steve Bellone and Deputy County Executive Jon Kaiman were amongst the guests. Gary Sikka has been active in community affairs, more vigorously lately. He is the driving force and President of the American Punjabi Society launched recently. “There has been no Punjabi organization. But we’ll work for the welfare of not just Punjabi but all communities in the spirit of the Sikh tenet of ‘Sarbat ka bhala’ (the well-being of all). For example, we plan to run cancer clinics.” Punjabi American Society along with Suffolk County’s Department of Human Services held a well-attended Punjabi Heritage Celebrations 2023 on December 20 at Suffolk County Executive Building in Hauppauge.
Sikka is the founder-director of the Indian American Chamber of Commerce, NY, and of the Long Island Indo-American Lions Club. He is also an executive member of the India Association of Long Island (IALI).
Family man
The couple that guides the destiny of Mint- Pearl empire- Gary Sikka with wife Bably Sikka Gary Sikka’s is a close-knit family. He is married to Bably Sikka. They live in the neighborhood of Dix Hills. His son Rubal Sikka has an MBA from Stony Brook. He is fond of singing as a hobby and has many videos on YouTube. Daughter Navneet Sikka, a computer science graduate and MBA, is Senior Vice President with Citigroup.
Gary Sikka’s first restaurant in Rohini in Delhi was named Rubal (which is also the name of the Russian currency). Recalls Gary Sikka, “I was with my father, Gurbachan Singh Sikka, telling him that we are not able to come up with a name. Just then my son Rubal called, So, my father said, ‘Why not Rubal?’ And that was it.” Rubal started in 1993 and carved a name for itself in Delhi. This family tradition has resurfaced and is set to repeat.
Pearl in Hicksville is named after Rubal’s daughter.
For more information: www.PearlNY.com and www.MintNY.com
Parveen Chopra (The author, Parveen Chopra is a seasoned journalist and the founder-editor of ALotusInTheMud.com, a wellness and spirituality web magazine. He can be contacted at parveen.chopra@gmail.com)
All rights reserved by The Indian Panorama. -
Indian Americans being targeted by burglars in Bothell, Washington
SEATTLE (TIP): A group of burglars appears to be targeting Indian Americans with a string of daytime burglaries in Bothell, Washington, a part of the Seattle metropolitan area, situated near the northeast end of Lake Washington.
According to local media reports, burglaries have been happening during the daytime in Bothell along 35th Avenue Southeast between 180th Street Southeast and 228th Street Southeast.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has sought people’s help in identifying three people it believes are connected to several burglaries in Bothell, a local TV station in Seattle reported.
A Facebook post from the sheriff’s office said its Robbery and Burglary Unit detectives had seen an increase in home burglaries over the past two weeks. The victims in the cases have primarily been Indian Americans.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe more than 50% of the residents [in the area of the burglaries] are from the Indian heritage,” Rohit Patil, the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center president, was quoted as saying.
His community has been sharing this unsettling news with their friends and family. “People have been taking care of their homes, locking their doors,” he said. Patil thinks people are after valuables like jewelry and “other precious metals.” Patil said he and others are shocked because their religion is one of peace. They don’t want to bother anyone. They hope public attention to the case will lead to arrests and stop the burglaries.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office asked residents to be sure all their valuables are in a secure place in their homes and all their windows and doors are locked, according to the report.
The sheriff’s office believes the suspects are part of a larger, organized group that operates throughout the region. According to the SCSO, the suspects may be riding around in a black Mercedes sedan from the early 2000s and a newer silver Mercedes SUV with unknown plates.
SCSO asked residents to contact it if they have surveillance video or pictures that could help solve the case. -
Indian American Satya Nadela of Microsoft is CNN Business’ CEO of the Year
NEW YORK (TIP) It was the year of artificial intelligence, and no Big Tech company leaned into the trend like Microsoft.
In 2023, the company’s CEO Satya Nadella made a multi-billion dollar investment in AI, commercialized and added AI tools like ChatGPT into its suite of products before rivals, and stunned industry onlookers with his ability to handle a crisis quickly, calmly and thoughtfully.
Under his leadership, the company is re-emerging as a tech innovator after years of riding the success of Windows. Wall Street has noticed, too: Microsoft’s stock is up 55% this year.
That’s why CNN Business’ staff chose Nadella as the CEO of the Year, beating out other contenders including Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
“There’s no question 2023 was the year of AI,” Nadella told CNN in an emailed response. “We’re no longer just talking about innovation in the abstract; we’re seeing real product-making, deployment and productivity gains. At the end of the day, though, this innovation will only be useful if it’s empowering all of us in our careers, in our communities, in our countries.”
Since 2018, the CNN Business’ team of writers and editors have met at the end of each year to select one person whose executive performance stood out. The process is admittedly subjective — we choose someone based on criteria that shifts year to year.
Maybe the company’s stock outperformed its rivals. Maybe the CEO righted the ship after a messy product launch or the company developed a lifesaving vaccine that altered the course of human history.
This year’s CEO of the Year is once again a man, indicative of a larger representative problem in corporate America’s top positions. About 10% of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies are women, according to Fortune. But our aim has never been to endorse any one executive over another. Rather, we hold a mirror up to the business world and tell a story about what we see. (We also considered non-CEO leaders, and chose Taylor Swift as our business leader of the year.) For 2023, Nadella’s decisions have heavily impacted and influenced the direction of AI, the most significant innovation to come from Silicon Valley in decades.
As Gil Luria, a senior research analyst at wealth management firm DA Davidson, puts it: “His ability to steer the aircraft carrier that is Microsoft into this new era has been nothing short of remarkable.”
Changing the narrative
Nadella’s background doesn’t entirely fit the Ivy League dropout archetype of Silicon Valley. Born in India, Nadella came to the US in the late 1980s to pursue a master’s in computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, later receiving an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.Nadella’s standout performance is a culmination of his work from prior years. He joined the company in 1992 as an engineer, at a time Microsoft was characterized by regulators as a monopoly.
When he was promoted to CEO nearly 10 years ago, Microsoft had developed a reputation for being slow to adapt to major trends, such as mobile. Fast forward to now and tech companies are lining up to partner with Microsoft and align with its mission to commercialize artificial intelligence for the masses.
In Nadella’s 2017 book, “Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone,” he wrote about his experience reworking everything internally, team by team and product by product, so Microsoft would be better set up for employees to collaborate with others.
He also worked to soften and revitalize Microsoft’s image. As far back as 2016, the company partnered with OpenAI — a then-emerging company with new AI tools — and allowed them to operate the technology on its Azure cloud servers in exchange for access to those tools.
But after a massive $13 billion investment in OpenAI earlier this year, following the viral launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, Microsoft rolled out AI-powered versions of its flagship products, such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel, breathing new life into otherwise dulled software. Nadella’s push to commercialize these tools quickly gave it a head start against competitors such as Google and Amazon, who were working on similar technologies, and helped ignite an arms race across the industry.
Now as more companies, from Instacart to Snapchat, add ChatGPT and other OpenAI technologies to their own services, Microsoft’s cloud business is poised for deeper growth. Microsoft has reported strong Azure growth over the last three quarters.
Nadella’s remarkable moment
While Nadella had an impressive year across the board, his leadership shined even brighter during the string of events that followed the surprising ousting of OpenAI’s Altman, the Friday afternoon before Thanksgiving week.The timing was noteworthy too: Just four days before, Nadella joined Altman on stage at OpenAI’s first developer conference to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and their partnership together.
The executives represented one of the most dynamic and key relationships in the tech industry, not only of the year but in years: Altman had clearly emerged as the face of the generative AI movement, and Nadella was one of the most powerful tech leaders funding the development of these tools.
“You guys have built something magical,” said Nadella at the time. “It’s been fantastic for us.”
But despite his long-standing relationship with OpenAI, Nadella reportedly found out about Altman’s removal from the company “just before” OpenAI released a statement, rendering Microsoft with no control over the situation. The company in a statement said an internal investigation found that Altman was not always truthful with the board. Microsoft’s stock sank in response, perhaps because OpenAI was to serve as a linchpin to their plans to expand AI across its products. “It was not a good look for Microsoft,” Luria said.
Nadella swiftly picked up the phone and offered to hire Altman at Microsoft to lead a new AI research lab, along with one of the co-founders, Greg Brockman, and any of the 700 Open AI employees who wanted to leave the company.
He also spoke to some OpenAI board members — the people who initially kept him out of the loop — and was able to get them on board with a solution that would be favorable to Microsoft, according to Luria.
Altman ultimately returned to OpenAI, with a new board intact.
“He turned what looked like a bad and embarrassing situation into a way to improve Microsoft’s standing with this very important partner,” Luria added. “What we saw from Mr. Nadella is an interpersonal skill you don’t always find with CEOs, who can be visionaries and luminaries and great at product, but aren’t necessarily able to pick up a phone, talk to people and get them to see things your way.”
As Fred Havemeyer, a senior enterprise software analyst at the Macquarie financial services firm, said in a letter to investors, “Mr. Nadella may have pulled off his own coup, acquiring the most important part of OpenAI — its ambitious talent.” By Monday morning, Microsoft was in better shape than they were a week before. Its stock reached a record that day; shares rose 2.1% to an all-time high close of $377.44, beating the previous record of $376.17.
What’s ahead
According to Stuart Carlaw, chief research officer at ABI Research, Nadella’s successful year can be largely attributed to the fact that he’s remained extremely “focused.” “His approach to the mechanics of leadership remains people driven,” Carlaw said. “He understands that people drive outcomes, and remained true to that ethic in the way he dealt with Sam Altman and the wider OpenAI team.”Nadella also narrows in on where he wants to spend his energy. “He hasn’t been on a scattergun spree of investment ever since he took the reins,” Carlaw said. “He has been very focused on accretive areas that take the Microsoft brand forward.”
Takeshi Numoto, Microsoft’s chief marketing officer who has been employed in various roles at the company for 25 years, said he felt an internal culture shift this year, saying the company feels “fresh” and “energizing.”
“There is a sense that we are contributing to building the next wave of computing broadly for the world, and doing so thoughtfully,” he said.
Nadella told CNN he indeed remains “focused” on empowering both people and organizations to achieve more, as it continues to make and deploy new products.
“That’s our mission at Microsoft … and what we continue to focus on as we look to 2024 and beyond,” he said. “Just imagine if 8 billion people had access to a personalized tutor, a doctor that provided them medical guidance, a mentor that gave advice for anything they needed. I believe all that’s within reach. It’s about making the impossible possible.” The biggest challenge, however, is if Nadella can take Microsoft to the next level by making these AI-powered products profitable.
“You are only as good as your last results release,” Carlaw said. “[But] he is not the only one facing this dilemma.”
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India-born entrepreneur Firdaus Kharas gets one of Canada’s highest honors
The annual list of 2023 appointees to the Order of Canada is released by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon
OTTAWA (TIP): Firdaus Kharas, an India-born entrepreneur and thought leader, has been appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest honors, for advancing social change through human-centred media. The annual list of 2023 appointees to the Order of Canada was released by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon on Thursday.The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honors. It recognizes people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada.
Simon’s office announced three new appointments of “companions” — the highest level of the Order of Canada — 15 officers, including one honorary officer and 59 members.
Kharas, 68, had been appointed officer of the Order of Canada “for advancing social change through human-centered media as a social entrepreneur, humanitarian and mass communications media producer”.“I am deeply moved to receive this high honor, which is especially meaningful to me as an immigrant. Although a high achieving community, Parsis are a minuscule community numbering only 3,600 in Canada, so it is extremely satisfying to be noticed in this way,” Kharas said in a statement.
Appointees will be invited to an investiture ceremony at a later date to receive their insignia. The dates of these ceremonies will be announced in due course. Kharas is a renowned producer of social and behavioral change communications which has been seen by over a billion people. He founded Chocolate Moose Media in 1995, a social enterprise, to create mass communications to better the human condition.
His work has been used in 198 countries, including in several languages throughout India. He is the recipient of 125 awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award and several honorary doctorates from universities.
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Indian American technocrat Suhas Subramanyam vows to keep defending reproductive rights
ASHBURN, VA (TIP) : Suhas Subramanyam, an Indian American technocrat, has vowed to continue defending reproductive rights despite Loudoun County Republican party’s calls to ban him from houses of worship in Northern Virginia over his pro-choice record.
“Millions of Virginians of every political and religious background support a woman’s right to choose, and I’m proud to have championed reproductive rights for years in the General Assembly,” said the son of Indian Americans who is running for the US Congress in Virginia’s 10th District.
“To suggest that I or any other pro-choice Virginian should be banned from practicing our faith is outrageous and contrary to the values of our commonwealth and our country,” he stated in response to Loudon Republican party committee’s call.
“I will continue to proudly practice my faith and celebrate the diverse religious traditions in Virginia’s 10th District, and I will not back down from my commitment to defending every woman’s reproductive right from the right-wing extremists who are relentlessly pursuing a nationwide abortion ban.”
The Loudoun County Republican Committee called for Subramanyam – the first Indian American, South Asian, and Hindu ever elected to the General Assembly – to be “denied access” to houses of worship in a statement posted on Facebook.
The statement was in response to Subramanyam’s call for mifepristone — a drug that blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue — access to be protected as right-wing MAGA activists once again take their push to ban abortion nationwide to the Supreme Court.
Subramanyam, who served as a technology policy advisor to President Barack Obama, says his family’s story in America began in Virginia’s 10th District when his mother immigrated to the United States through Dulles Airport in 1979.
His mother, a native of Bengaluru, India, immigrated to the United States to unite with his father, live her American dream, and pursue a career in medicine.
Subramanyam’s parents raised him to value service to the community above all else. Whether as a Capitol Hill aide, advisor to the Obama White House, an elected official in Richmond, or as a volunteer EMT, he has taken that lesson to heart throughout his life, Subramanyam says.
“Every step of the way, he has taken on the toughest fights to deliver real results for our community,” he stated.
After leaving the White House, Subramanyam started his own small business in Loudoun County and served the community as a volunteer medic, EMT, and firefighter.
Subramanyam resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife, Miranda, and their two daughters. -
Indian American Ash Kalra named chair of California Assembly Judiciary Committee
SACRAMENTO (TIP): Ash Kalra, the first Indian American elected to the California State Assembly, has been appointed Chair of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary by Speaker Robert Rivas.
“At a time when California must be vigilant in protecting civil rights, fostering a just legal system, and ensuring everyday consumers are protected, it is an honor to serve as Chair of Judiciary Committee,” Kalra stated after his appointment on Nov 22.
“Having served on this committee for the past seven years under Chairs Stone and Maienschein, I am grateful for their leadership and ready to hit the ground running,” he added. “I am thankful to Speaker Robert Rivas for his confidence and this opportunity to further serve the people of California.”
“The justice system is foundational to keeping Californians safe and holding offenders accountable. I’m confident Assemblymember Kalra will fight for the rights of the people who matter most, while ensuring the system itself is just,” Rivas said.
The Assembly Committee on Judiciary’s primary jurisdictions include family law, product liability, tort liability, Civil Code, and Evidence Code (excluding criminal procedure).
Kalra had most recently served as Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee for the past five years.
He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fourth term in 2022.
In the State Assembly, he has authored successful legislation promoting secure and peaceful communities for all residents, including protecting and preserving civil rights and civil liberties, and has dedicated his tenure in public service to equity and social justice issues, according to his website.
Kalra represents California’s 25th Assembly District, which encompasses the majority of San José, including downtown and open space areas in southeast Santa Clara County.
Kalra has a law degree from Georgetown University and was a Deputy Public Defender for Santa Clara County for 11 years. As a public defender, he represented indigent clients in both felony and misdemeanor matters. -
Indian American high school student Bianca Jain wins Congressional App Challenge for New York district
NEW YORK (TIP) : Bianca Jain, a 9th-grade Indian American student of Briarcliff High School in New York, has won the prestigious Congressional App Challenge for the state’s 17th District.
Bianca’s app, Cancer Awareness Hub, was inspired by the recent diagnosis of a community librarian with cancer. That revelation inspired her to think of ways she could prevent increases in cancer cases.
Mike Lawler, US Representative for the district visited the school to congratulate Jain recently. “I had the opportunity to congratulate Bianca in person at her school last week,” said Lawler. “As someone who has lost members of their family to cancer, I was personally moved by Bianca’s app, which raises awareness about different types of cancer to help detect and combat this deadly disease.”
Jain’s app was chosen by a panel of expert judges and will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us. The winning app is also eligible to be on display in the US Capitol, along with the winners from across the country.
Officially launched by the US House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or other devices.
It accepts any programming language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or “block code.” The Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science.
The Congressional App Challenge is the most prestigious prize in student computer science, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. It’s open to all middle and high school students in a Congressional district. Each challenge is district specific.
US Representatives publicly recognize their winning teams, and each winning app may be put on display in the US Capitol Building for one year.
The Congressional Internet Caucus initiates the annual CAC. The Non-profit Internet Education Foundation has been appointed to provide the CAC with supplemental staffing and support. -
Rewind 2023: How Khalistan issue became a spoiler in India-US relations
India-US relationship in 2023 in many senses was a historic one: a year when a futuristic-looking initiative was launched, President Joe Biden hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a rare State Visit and then travelled to New Delhi to personally ensure the mega success of a crucial G-20 Summit under India’s presidency. However, the year ended on a sobre note with the Biden administration filing a chargesheet in a New York court naming an Indian official in a plot to kill a US national and a separatist Sikh leader on American soil.
The very fact that the US went ahead with the chargesheet on an alleged plot and at the same time has not taken any action against those responsible for the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco and openly issuing threats to top Indian diplomats in the US appears to be a clear reflection that a lot is required to be done when it comes to the “trust” and “confidence” between the two largest democracies of the world.
When Biden walked extra mile for PM Modi
In 2023, both Modi and Biden walked the extra mile and took steps which were aimed at establishing a trusted partnership between the two countries, starting with the prime minister sending his large delegation led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for the launch of the Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) initiative.
The iCET is a major milestone in the US-India partnership, which is increasingly defined by strategic security and technology cooperation.
The bilateral trade between the two countries has reached a new record. The Indian government is taking a lot of steps to facilitate fast fast-tracking of American companies establishing manufacturing units in India and increasing their footprints.
Jet engine manufacturing deal
Biden on the other hand not only gave an unprecedented go-ahead for the jet engine manufacturing deal with India but also took several administrative steps to relax export control regulations for India.
Showing his determination to take the bilateral ties to the next level, Biden invited Modi for the rare Official State Visit of the Indian Prime Minister in June, during which he not only opened the lawns of the White House for a record 15,000 Indian Americans but also spent more than eight hours with him. In less than 100 days, Biden boarded Air Force One to fly to New Delhi to attend the New Delhi Summit for G-20 leaders in September.
Biden’s India visit
At a time when the world was bitterly divided over the Ukraine war and leaders of China and Russia not attending the summit, Biden made it a point that the G-20 summit was a success. India’s success is America’s success were the common remarks by the officials of the Biden administration. By all standards, the G-20 Summit was a historic success.
The year also saw an unprecedented level of visits to India by top US officials. Some of the Cabinet level officials like the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken made multiple trips to India.
India under the leadership of Modi reciprocated on an equal footing from giving the go-ahead for the multi-billion historic deal to purchase commercial aircraft from Boeing to clearing the long pending armed drone deal of General Atomics.
By October, it appeared that the two countries had overcome the hesitations of history and the two largest democracies are now trusted partners.
India and the US were now not only working together in the strategic Indo-Pacific through Quad but also in the Middle East with the creation of a unique U2I2 grouping of the USA, UAE, India and Israel.
What went wrong?
However, two incidents in the last quarter of the year clearly showed that this relationship cannot yet be described as that of a “trusted” partnership. First was open American support to the bizarre allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about a “possible” link between India’s government and the killing of a pro-Khalistan separatist in Vancouver.
In less than 100 days, the Department of Justice filed a damaging indictment in a federal court in New York saying that it had unearthed a plot to kill a US national on American soil. Though the separatist Sikh leader was not named, media reports identified him as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned in India.
India has denied the Canadian allegations and has repeatedly said that Ottawa has not shared evidence on the case. On the US indictment, India has instituted a high-level commission to probe the allegations.
India is disappointed with US inaction
New Delhi is also not happy with the inability of the US to take action against those responsible for the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco and openly letting separatist Sikhs organise and propagate anti-India and Khalistani movements in the country.
As such, what could have been easily a historic year in the India-US relationship, at best can be described as three steps forward and one step backward.
With 2024 being an election year in both India and the United States, no major developments are expected on the bilateral front except that it would be business as usual at best. The relationship will pick steam in 2025.
Source: Indiatvnews -
Indian-origin CEOs who made headlines in 2023
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s much-talked-about coup by hiring OpenAI’s Sam Altman shone the spotlight on how a good leader can make the best out of a difficult situation. The lesson in leadership was admired by global business leaders. Like Nadella, other Indian-origin CEOs made headlines in 2023, here’s a breakdown of some of them.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft
After OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was abruptly fired by the company board, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella pounced on the opportunity to bring him aboard. He announced that Altman and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman will be joining Microsoft to head a new advanced AI research team. Later, as events unfolded, Sam Altman was reinstated as the CEO of OpenAI. Responding to the development, Nadella told Bloomberg TV it doesn’t matter where Altman ends up working — because “irrespective of where Sam is, he’s working with Microsoft.” The tech giant is an investor in OpenAI, pouring $10 billion into the AI startup.
Sundar Pichai, Alphabet
Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai made headlines for the layoffs in the company and for the antitrust trial between Google and Fortnite developer Epic Games, which has accused the internet search giant of abusive, monopolistic practices via its app store. Pichai asserted that Google does not intentionally stifle competition when it came to the multiple rounds of layoffs in the company, Pichai stated, “Clearly it’s not the right way to do it. I think it’s something we could have done differently for sure.”
Vishal Garg, Better.com
The Better.com CEO made headlines in 2021 by laying off 900 employees over a Zoom call. In 2022, the company gave its employees in India the option to quit voluntarily and accepted over 900 resignations. Continuing the trend, in 2023, Vishal Garg laid off its entire real estate team and shut down the unit, according to a report by TechCrunch. In an interview with the publication, Garg said he underwent a lot of leadership training to rebuild the trust within and outside the company.
Shantanu Narayen, Adobe
The Adobe CEO recently made headlines after the company shelved its $20 billion cash-and-stock deal for cloud-based designer platform Figma, stating that there was “no clear path” for approvals from antitrust regulators in the European Union and the UK. Shantanu Narayen also made news when he did not agree with Infosys founder Narayan Murthy that young Indians should work 70 hours a week for the sake of the country’s development. “People should do what they want without taking the victim mentality –that I am being told what to do,” he said.
Ajay Pal Banga, World Bank
Indian-origin Ajay Banga made headlines earlier this year after being announced as the World Bank president. In May, the World Bank’s 25-member executive board elected Banga to a five-year term as president. Earlier in his career, Banga also led Mastercard as its COO and CEO. In 2016, he was also conferred with the Padma Shri for his contribution to trade and industry.
Arvind Krishna, IBM
As employers and employees tussle with the return to office mandate, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna made news after he issued a warning to his employees that remote work can hurt their career prospects, especially for managerial roles. The IIT Kanpur alumnus said he is not asking anyone to come back to the office now, but “We encourage you to come in, we expect you to come in, we want you to come in.”
Parag Agrawal
The former CEO of Twitter, now X, made headlines after Elon Musk released his autobiography. In it, Parag Agrawal’s ex-boss said that he lacked leadership qualities. Musk revealed that he met Agrawal over dinner before he bought Twitter and concluded that he did not have “leadership quality”. “He’s a really nice guy. What Twitter needs is a fire-breathing dragon and Parag is not that,” Musk reportedly said after meeting with Agrawal. -
Rewind 2023: Top 10 politicians who grabbed headlines this year
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s iconic waving of Indian flag at the Chandrayaan-3 launch to handing over the ODI World Cup to Australia, kept the newsrooms busy. While the PM was credited for the victories of three states — Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh, he was also said to be the inspiration for the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3. He also added another feather to India’s achievements after hosting the G-20 global summit. PM Modi was also honoured with Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau and Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest honor of Fiji in May.
Rahul Gandhi
The Congress leader’s Bharat Jodo Yatra ended in January. However, things got bad for the leader when his membership ended after a court conviction in the Modi surname case. Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a member of parliament in the Lok Sabha after being found guilty of defamation case. Gandhi was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison. He however was reinstated following the Supreme Court overruled the conviction on August 7.
Bhajanlal Sharma
The BJP named Bhajanlal Sharma as its surprise pick for the CM post on December 12. Sharma, who is from Bharatpur district, won the Sanganer constituency of Jaipur with a margin of 48,081 votes. He was regarded as a dedicated RSS and BJP worker, who went about his job without making any fuss. He moved up the ladder in the state BJP, holding responsibilities in the organisation but never in the government. About three decades back, he held his first public office as the sarpanch of a village in Bharatpur district.
Revanth Reddy
An indomitable Congress fighter, Revanth Reddy, took on the mighty BRS and was named the Telangana Chief Minister after the grand old party registered a win on K Chandrasekhar Rao’s turf. Reddy is credited with steering the Congress to power in Telangana by challenging both the mighty BRS, which had a stranglehold on Telangana politics, and the ambitious BJP, which was striving hard to emerge as the alternative. Reddy’s career in public life is intriguing as it began with student activism in the right-wing ABVP and later included a brief period of incarceration amid bribery allegations. He played a spirited role as PCC president in the battle against the BRS, led by former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who enjoys a larger-than-life image.
Vishnu Deo Sai
Vishnu Deo Sai was named as Chhattisgarh’s fourth Chief Minister. Vishnu Deo Sai, who began as a sarpanch in Chhattisgarh in 1990, went on to become multiple-time MP and a Union minister, emerging as the BJP’s tribal face known for humility and organisational skills. Sai, 59, is the first tribal chief minister from the BJP which decided to give the top post to a leader from the community that accounts for nearly 32 per cent of the state’s population and is the second most dominant social group after OBCs. Sai is known for his down-to-earth approach, work dedication and determination to achieve goals.
Mohan Yadav
The BJP has picked Mohan Yadav (58), an OBC leader and a three-time MLA, as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Yadav, the three-time BJP MLA, is the 19th chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. The elevation of Yadav, who was not among the contenders for the CM’s post, is being seen as a move by the BJP to win over the numerically significant Other Backward Classes (OBC) community in other parts of the country ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due next year. The OBCs account for more than 48 per cent of Madhya Pradesh’s population and form the core voter base for the saffron party.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the four-term chief minister, was replaced as Madhya Pradesh CM by BJP’s pick Mohan Yadav. BJP not giving another term to Chouhan rolled many eyeballs at a time when Chouhan was credited for the change of winds for the party in the state. Before polls, experts were of the view that Congress may win back the state. However, Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s ‘Ladli Behna scheme’, which provides eligible women Rs 1,250 monthly financial assistance, and later promised to gradually hike the amount to Rs 3,000 is said to be the game-changer in the elections. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, after being sidelined by the party, has still vowed to get maximum seats in Lok Sabha elections for the BJP.
Manish Sisodia
The AAP leader was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 for his alleged role in corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2020-21. Sisodia, who held the excise portfolio, resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28. The ED too arrested the leader in a money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9 after questioning him in Tihar jail. The AAP leader has been in custody since then. The court recently extended the judicial custody of AAP leader till January 10, 2024.
Mahua Moitra
TMC leader Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha in the ‘cash-for-query’ case. The Ethics Committee’s report, which held her accountable for accepting gifts and illegal gratification, paved the way for her expulsion, the move which is regarded as a blow to her 14-year political career. Moitra, who was an investment banker with JP Morgan Chase in New York and London before shifting her trajectory to politics, has however moved the Supreme Court to challenge her expulsion from the Lok Sabha, after the House adopted the report of its Ethics Committee that held her guilty of accepting gifts and illegal gratification from a businessman to further his interests. According to TMC sources, the party leadership has affirmed Moitra’s candidacy for the Krishnanagar seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Ajit Pawar
Nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar grabbed the headlines when he forced split the party by taking away eight MLAs joining the Eknath Shinde government. Since then, he has been describing himself as the party’s national president. He defended his move of joining the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, saying several top politicians took “different” stand in the political history of the state. At present, the uncle and the nephew are busy fighting their cases in the Supreme Court over the name and symbol of the party. -
Rewind 2023: Significant discoveries which left world ‘awe-struck’
In 2023, the world got acquainted with some of the most astonishing discoveries in the field of arts, archaeology and literature. A still-glimmering sword to the oldest shoes ever found in Europe to the emergence of the name of the author of a 17th-century Spanish play – many discoveries kept the world engaged as well as ‘awe-struck’ as they hoped for more.
Here are some of the most significant discoveries made in the year 2023.
Sword that ‘still shines’
A sword, made of bronze and estimated to be more than 3,000 years old, was unearthed in southern Germany in such a well-preserved state that it “almost still shines”. There was an octagonal hilt on the sword and it was found in a grave in which three people were buried in quick succession – a man, a woman and a boy.
6,000-year-old sandals in Spanish bat cave
Scientists said that the sandals found buried in a bat cave in southern Spain are likely to be the oldest footwear ever found in Europe, adding that they appeared to be 6,200 years old. The sandals, tools and baskets, which belonged to the 19th century, were found at a hunter-gatherer burial site in the Cueva de los Murciélagos, also known as the “cave of the bats,” close to the southern city of Granada.
AI helps discovery author
After remaining a mystery for centuries, the name of the author of a 17th-century Spanish play emerged. It turned out to be the work of the famous author Felix Lope de Vega. The researchers were able to recognise the author using the AI technology, which was helping them transcribe some 1,300 anonymous manuscripts and books and cross check them against works by known authors.
A royal lavatory
Archaeologists in February found the oldest known flush toilet in the world. The lavatory and bent pipe, which is estimated to be 2,400-year-old, may have been a status symbol among China’s elite. It was found in the ruins of a palace located at the Yueyang archaeological site in the city of Xi’an.
Hidden hallway in the Great Pyramid of Giza
A 30-foot hidden and mysterious corridor was discovered in the Great Pyramid of Giza, as part of the Scan Pyramids project which had used technology including cosmic-ray imaging and infrared thermography for a better understanding of its architectural intricacies and unknown areas.
Lost necklace in ocean bed
A new necklace, which had a tooth of the prehistoric shark Megalodon, was found in the wreckage of the ocean liner by the deep-water investigation company Magellan, which had undertaken an ambitious project for producing a full-size scan of the ship that was discovered sitting some 13,000 feet deep in the Atlantic Ocean after the infamous disaster in 1912.
4,000-year-old Stonehenge-like sanctuary
A 4,000-year-old sanctuary was unearthed in the town east of Rotterdam, which appeared to be similar to Stonehenge. The site in Tiel was being excavated by the archaeologists since 2017 and finally, they were able to find a 4,000-year-old sanctuary which they believe was designed in a way so that it aligns with the sun on solstices.
THE MOST POWERFUL LIGHT FROM THE SUN
Among the new astronomical records set in 2023 was an announcement of the highest-energy gamma ray ever seen coming from the sun, an order of magnitude more powerful than had previously been seen.
“The sun is more surprising than we knew,” Mehr Un Nisa, an astronomer at Michigan State University and one of the authors who described the discovery in Physical Review Letters, said in a statement.
VELA PULSAR SMASHES GAMMA-RAY ENERGY RECORD
More record-breaking gamma-rays were detected in 2023, with photons pushing 20 TeV detected coming from the pulsar within the Vela supernova remnant.
A pulsar is a spinning neutron star that consists of the remains of a massive star that once went boom in a supernova. Pulsars are normally detectable at radio wavelengths, but some of them also emit gamma-rays, thought to be produced by electrons spiraling around the phenomena’s intense magnetic-field lines.
THE UNIVERSE’S BIGGEST EXPLOSION
The most intense, long-lasting and powerful explosion ever seen — ten times brighter than any known supernova and still erupting even now — was discovered in a galaxy whose light has been traveling to us for 8 billion years, according to new research revealed in May in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Cataloged as AT2021lwx, the explosive event was co-discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii, which looks for transient events in the sky that can be anything from a moving asteroid to a flaring cosmic explosion.
THE MOST DISTANT FAST RADIO BURST
The most distant fast radio burst (FRB) ever detected was revealed in 2023. A report in the Oct. 19 issue of the journal Science described how, on June 19, 2022, an FRB was spotted having traveled through space for a gargantuan 8 billion years. FRBs are mysterious. They are short bursts of radio waves that last mere milliseconds, yet in that short fraction of time they can emit as much energy as our sun does in 30 years. Nobody knows what produces them; often, they are seen to go off randomly in the universe. Sometimes, they are even seen to repeat. Magnetars, which are extremely magnetic neutron stars, are the main suspect. The record-breaking burst was detected by the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), which is a group of 36 radio dishes. ASKAP pinpointed the location of the burst, cataloged as FRB 20220610A, which then allowed the Very Large Telescope in Chile to follow up and identify the source as a system of two or three colliding galaxies that we see as they were 8 billion years ago.
NASA CONFIRMS THE HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD
NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) in New York confirmed that the Northern Hemisphere summer in 2023 experienced the warmest summer since its temperature records began in 1880, a consequence of human-caused global warming coupled with the effect of El Niño, which helped raise sea temperatures.
GISS scientists compare global temperatures by relating them to the average summer temperatures between 1950 and 1980. They found that June, July and August combined were on average 0.23 degrees Celsius (0.41 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the 1950–1980 average. August alone was 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer. This might not sound like much, but efforts to mitigate climate change rely on keeping global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.
MOST ANCIENT SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE DETECTED
It’s fitting that, as the most expensive telescope ever built, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is routinely breaking new astronomical records, with one of the standouts being the discovery of the most distant supermassive black hole known to exist in the universe.
The JWST spotted the black hole in a galaxy called CEERS 1019, which we see as it existed about 13.3 billion years ago (just 570 million years after the Big Bang). -
Rewind 2023: Chandrayaan-3, G20 Summit and other moments that made India shine
It is almost time to bid adieu to 2023 and say hello to the New Year. As the year departs, it becomes customary to take a look back at the major developments that defined 2023. If we scroll through the achievements, we can say it was a great year for India.
Not only did the country become the first in the world to soft land on the southern pole of the Moon, but India also passed the historic Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament this year. Although the Indian team’s loss at the ICC Cricket World Cup broke billions of hearts, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra’s gold at the World Athletics Championships was a soothing balm for fans.
Before 2023 comes to an end, let’s turn the pages to take a look at some of India’s biggest moments this year.
India’s giant leap to the Moon
India scripted history on 23 August as its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully landed on the Moon. With this feat, India became the first country to soft land on the south pole of the lunar surface and the fourth nation to safely land a robotic probe on the Earth’s only natural satellite. This was done earlier by only the United States, China and the erstwhile Soviet Union.
As the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath said after the successful landing, “India is on the Moon”. The ambitious lunar journey that began on 14 July reached a historic stage more than a month later.
On Chandrayaan-3‘s success, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “We are witness to the new flight of new India. New history has been written”. Hailing the landing as a “victory cry of a developed India”, he said that “this success belongs to all of humanity”.
ISRO received global praise for the landmark achievement which bolstered India’s position as a major space power.
India’s G20 success
India hosted the 18th Group of 20 (G20) Summit in New Delhi in September after assuming the presidency of the powerful bloc last December. From US president Joe Biden to British prime minister Rishi Sunak, several heads of state, along with leaders of international organisations, had descended on the National Capital for the high-profile conclave.
India attained significant goals during the two-day conclave, including the African Union’s inclusion as a member of the grouping. With this, India walked its talk on being the voice of the Global South.
The 55-member grouping of African nations is the second regional bloc to become a permanent member of the G20 bloc after the European Union (EU).
Following intense negotiations, the G20 Summit also adopted a consensus declaration despite major differences among the bloc nations over the wording of Russia’s war in Ukraine and issues such as climate. The consensus document was a big victory for India’s presidency otherwise it would have been the first time in 20 years that there was no G20 Leaders’ Declaration.
The India-Middle East-Europe mega economic corridor was also announced on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. The multinational rail and ports deal, which plans to link India with the Middle East and eventually Europe, is being seen as a counter to China’s Belt and Road initiative.
Women’s Reservation Bill
In September, the Lok Sabha passed a bill granting reservation to women in one-third of the total number of seats in the state legislative assemblies and Lok Sabha. Also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the legislation aims to bring gender parity into the political arena.
The Rajya Sabha also cleared the Bill unanimously, with President Droupadi Murmu giving her assent later.
The law will, however, come into force after the next census and the subsequent delimitation exercise. After the redrawing of the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies, it will be decided which seats are to be reserved for women.
Nonetheless, the passing of the legislation is significant as it is almost three decades that the Bill was first introduced in Parliament in September 1996.
Uttarakhand tunnel rescue
The eyes of the world were on this daring rescue operation in November. As many as 41 construction workers got trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand on 12 November after its portion collapsed.
While rescuers and authorities did not leave any stone unturned to get these workers out, the victims’ ordeal ended only after 17 days. The stars of the operation were rat-hole miners who completed the final stage of the rescue mission.
It was not just the families of these trapped workers who erupted in joy when they saw the light of the day, but the entire nation.
India’s New Parliament building
In May, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s new Parliament building, which he called the “evidence of self-reliant India”.
“This is not just a building. It is a reflection of the aspirations and dreams of 1.4 billion Indians. This is the temple of our democracy and it’s giving the message of India’s determination to the world,” he said at the time.
He also installed a historically important gold sceptre, called the sengol, in the new Parliament building.
However, the inauguration of the four-storey structure was boycotted by dozens of Opposition parties, including the Congress, who argued that President Droupadi Mourmu should have opened the building.
India shines at Oscars
Indian films made the country proud at the 95th Academy Awards. While SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus RRR won the ‘Best Original Song’ Oscar for Naatu Naatu, Kartiki Gonsalves’ documentary short The Elephant Whisperers bagged the award in its category.
Both the victories were a first for India. RRR, starring Ram Charan and Jr NTR, is the first Indian film to win an Oscar in the original song category. Similarly, The Elephant Whisperers penned history for India by winning the Oscars for the best documentary short.
Neeraj Chopra: India’s ‘Golden’ boy
Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championship in August, defeating Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in the men’s javelin. Chopra threw the javelin at a distance of 88.17 meters, the highest in the event. “After the Olympic gold I really wanted to win the world championships. I just wanted to throw further. This is brilliant for the national team but it was my dream to win gold at the world championships,” he said at the time. Nadeem achieved 87.82 to clinch the silver medal. The third spot was secured by Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, with a 86.67 meters throw in the final.
In September, Chopra ended second at the Diamond League final at Eugene with a best effort of 83.80m, with Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch emerging as the winner with a best throw of 84.24m.
U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup
The country had much to celebrate in January itself as India beat England in the first-ever ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup final. Captain Shafali Verma and Co trounced England by seven wickets in the final.
This was the first women’s cricket team to have won a world championship. PM Modi described their triumph as a thrilling and inspiring moment for the country.
Milestone at Asian Games 2023
Indian athletes added another feather to the country’s cap by winning more than 100 medals at the Asian Games for the first time. The Indian contingent that participated in the 19th Asian Games in China’s Hangzhou amassed a total of 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze medals.
Over 12,000 athletes from all 45 members of the Olympic Council of Asia competed at the games, with China bagging the most medals at 383, followed by Japan at 188.
World’s longest river cruise
In January, India launched the world’s longest river cruise – MV Ganga Vilas. Flagged off by PM Modi from Varanasi, the ship traversed for 51 days covering a distance of 3,200 km, crossing 27 river systems and multiple states before culminating its journey in Assam’s Dibrugarh in February. This made-in-India cruise vessel has three decks and 18 suites on board. The luxury cruise, which can carry 36 passengers, costs Rs 20 lakh per person. Source: Firstpost
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‘Abandoned and alone’: Afghan women fault West for failing to deliver promises
PARIS / kabul (TIP): Afghan activist Rita Safi has harsh words for Western governments she said have failed to deliver on promises to help women from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Safi herself has made it to France where she is seeking asylum, but her sister Frozan was not so lucky. She died in a hail of bullets back home because she, too, was a defender of women’s rights. Speaking in a shelter outside Paris, the 29-year-old Rita Safi said her sister would still be alive had the promised help been forthcoming.
“They were saying that they would support us, but these were just words,” she said. “They left us alone. This is the reason why I lost my sister.”
Safi had hoped for more support from Western powers after the Afghan capital Kabul fell to the Islamist group in 2021. But a large majority of Afghans did not make their evacuation lists following the takeover, leaving them at the mercy of their new rulers.
Safi’s older sister Frozan was a prominent human rights defender in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Her body was found in October 2021, just over two months after the Taliban takeover. She was 29.
“She was killed so brutally by the Taliban,” she said, showing AFP an image of her coffin draped in a red cloth on her phone.
“She was shot with seven bullets. Her face was destroyed.”
The Afghan authorities said that four women died that day and that they had arrested two people in connection with the killings.
After speaking to the media about the killings Safia said that she, too, received death threats.
Safi managed to escape to Pakistan in December 2021. She only had a two-month visa but hoped a Western nation would soon give her refuge.
Instead, she was forced to spend two years in the Pakistani capital, living in constant fear of deportation. During this time, the Taliban authorities continued to exclude Afghan women and girls from ever more spheres of public life, including high school and university, as well as parks, fairs or gyms. (AFP) -
Bangladesh jails former air force chief in opposition crackdown
DHAKA (TIP): A Bangladesh court sentenced a former air force chief and an ex-minister to prison on Decmember 28 in the latest conviction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political opponents ahead of elections next month.
Altaf Hossain Chowdhury headed the air force until 1995 and later joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition to Hasina’s ruling Awami League.
He and former BNP water minister Hafizuddin Ahmed were among eight people jailed and sentenced at a Dhaka court for inciting violent protests in 2011 that saw BNP supporters set fire to cars.
“They were sentenced to jail for 21 months each,” chief prosecutor Abdullah Abu told AFP.
The opposition has rejected the case as “baseless, false and fabricated”, accusing the courts of following government instructions to imprison Hasina’s opponents ahead of the January 7 poll.
The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party, are boycotting the vote along with dozens of smaller parties, saying it will be neither free nor fair.
Both parties have staged huge protests this year demanding Hasina resign and appoint a neutral caretaker government to oversee the election.
At least 11 people have died in the demonstrations.
The BNP says that more than 25,000 members of opposition parties have been arrested since September including its entire senior leadership in Bangladesh.
Hasina’s government disputes those figures, saying only 11,000 had been detained.
“So far the lower courts have convicted and sentenced at least 1,561 BNP activists and leaders in the past three months,” Kayser Kamal, the BNP’s legal affairs chief, told AFP.
“Some of these courts are delivering politically motivated judgements targeting opposition leaders and activists at the order of the government,” he added.
Abu rejected Kamal’s accusation, saying there was clear evidence against the people who were tried and sentenced.
“They committed crimes. That’s why they were sentenced,” he said.
Hasina has presided over phenomenal economic growth since returning to the premiership in 2009 on the back of a booming garment export industry.
But her opponents say she has ruled with an iron fist and her security forces have been accused of rampant human rights abuses.
Two years ago, Washington sanctioned the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) police unit and several of its top officers over allegations of rampant human rights abuses.
The RAB has been accused of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances — charges denied by Hasina’s government. (AFP) -
10 Indians hurt in Nepal factory building collapse
Kathmandu (TIP): Ten Indian labourers were injured on December 27 when parts of an under-construction factory building collapsed in Western Nepal, the police said.
DSP Resham Bohara said the incident took place in Nawalparasi West. The accident occurred when the building, which was undergoing construction, was hit by a crane. All the injured labourers have been admitted to a local community hospital for treatment. However, the condition of one of them is said to be critical. (PTI) -
Pak successfully tests Fatah-II rocket system
Islamabad (TIP): Pakistan on December 27 conducted a successful flight test of indigenously developed guided multi-launch rocket system Fatah-II, which is capable of engaging targets with high precision up to a range of 400 km, the army said. Fatah-II is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, sophisticated navigation system and unique flight trajectory, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, said. It is capable of engaging targets with high precision up to a range of 400 km, it said. The launch was witnessed by senior officers from tri-services and dedicated scientists and engineers, it added.
In October end, Pakistan successfully conducted a training launch of the Ghauri weapon system, a week after holding the flight test of the ballistic missile Ababeel weapon system. In August 2021, Pakistan had tested the indigenously developed Fatah-1 guided multi-launch rocket system. (PTI) -
Cipher case: Court halts trial of Imran, Qureshi
Islamabad (TIP) : A Pakistan high court on December 28 halted until January 11 the ongoing trial of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his close aide ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case for allegedly leaking state secrets and violating the laws of the country.
Islamabad HC Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb issued the order while hearing the petition of 71-year-old Khan against an in-camera trial going in the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi. The Special Court started fresh proceedings against the accused earlier this month and indicted them on December 13 after the IHC annulled previous proceedings, including the indictment of October 23 by declaring that the proper procedure was not adopted for the jail trial. — AP
