The Indian Panorama

Tag: Dr Yash Goyal

  • Remembering Dr. Yash Goyal who passed away on October 16, 2025, after prolonged illness

    The Indian Panorama has lost a brilliant Correspondent

    Dr. Yash Goyal has been with The Indian Panorama as its Special Correspondent in Jaipur. A seasoned journalist, he worked with the PTI and Times of India, among other publications.

    Dr. Yash Goyal was born on February 6, 1956, in Ferozepur, Punjab. His family later moved to Jodhpur, Rajasthan, where he completed his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Botany. A stellar student, he earned two Gold Medals during his M.Sc. for his academic excellence. His research work gained international recognition, leading to an invitation to pursue postdoctoral studies at A&I University in Kingsville, Texas, under the guidance of Dr. Peter Felker. While in the United States, he also took an additional course in Journalism, which sparked a deep and lasting interest in the field.
    Upon returning to India, Dr. Goyal briefly worked at the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in Lucknow. Soon after, he transitioned to journalism, joining the Press Trust of India (PTI), where he dedicated over three decades as a Special Correspondent, covering Rajasthan, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. Although political journalism remained his primary focus, his work also spanned scientific, investigative, war/conflict, health/medical, and later even sports journalism. Beyond news reporting, he had a passion for storytelling—writing satire, children’s stories, and pieces highlighting rural and regional life, with hundreds of published works to his credit.
    Following his well-earned retirement from PTI, Dr. Goyal’s love for journalism remained undiminished. He continued contributing as a freelancer to several publications, including The Tribune, Lokmat Times, and The Statesman, as well as the U.S.-based newspaper The Indian Panorama. A keen traveler, he frequently visited the United States, where he cherished time spent with his close friend Dr. Peter Felker and his family.
    Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Goyal received numerous awards for his literary and journalistic contributions. He was honored with the Manak Alankaran Award (1994) for excellence in journalism, and his stories received accolades such as the Bhagwan Atlani Award for ‘Utara Hua Coat’ (1997), the Rajasthan Patrika Katha Award for ‘Kaagaz Ke Haath’ (2000), and the Himachal Pradesh Sahitya evam Sanskriti Department Award for ‘Shrishtipuri’ (2009). In 2018–2019, the Press Club of Jaipur recognized his lifetime of dedication with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
    Dr. Goyal’s life was a testament to resilience, reflected not only in his professional journey but also in his courageous and prolonged battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). He passed away on October 16, 2025. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dr. Rama Goyal—whom he met during his M.Sc. and shared a 45-year-long bond—and their two sons.
    The Indian Panorama family prays for eternal peace to the dear departed soul.

  • New York City based Youngest South Asian Girl Shreya Goyal becomes Multi-Billion-Dollar Dealmaker & Highest Earner at Wall Street

    New York City based Youngest South Asian Girl Shreya Goyal becomes Multi-Billion-Dollar Dealmaker & Highest Earner at Wall Street

    • By Dr Yash Goyal

    NEW YORK/JAIPUR (TIP): Hailing from Rajasthan, Shreya is the Youngest South Asian Girl Investor in the Flagship Private Equity Buyout fund at Apollo Global at just 21 years. She has evaluated 35+ investments, gaining reputation within TMT and Consumer & Retail, and overseeing Apollo Funds’ multi-billion-dollar discretionary retail portfolio company.

    She also spearheads Apollo Women Empowers Speaker Series, having hosted Indra Nooyi (Former PepsiCo Chairman & CEO), Betsy Atkins (multi-time Board member), Karlie Kloss (supermodel), among others.

    Ms. Nooyi remarked to Shreya personally: ‘You are the future of the world. Dream Big & Aspire”.

    Growing up in a small town in India as a single girl child, her parents ensured her to receive a quality education. At 15, she became President of Rajasthan’s first MIT LaunchX program and was accepted into Columbia University’s Entrepreneurship Summer Immersion Program, sparking an unattainable dream of seeking a world-class education abroad.

    “These experiences shaped my dream into a reality, leading me to the University of Chicago, where I was the only Indian national recipient awarded the $300k+ merit-based Odyssey Scholarship. At UChicago, I studied Economics & Computer Science, and earned the Dougan Scholars certificate from Chicago Booth MBA. I graduated at just 19 with Latin Honors, Harper’s Excellence Scholar Award, and Dean’s List. During my time, I served as the President of the Women in Business Finance and chaired the Student Government’s RSO committee. I was also a Teaching Assistant for distinguished graduate-level courses, such as Scott Meadow for Entrepreneurial Finance & Private Equity, and Complex Deals”, she told TIP.

    At 17, she secured a Sophomore Investment Banking internship at JPMorgan in NYC, becoming the youngest Investment Banker in history. “At JPM, within 8 months, I covered high-profile transactions, including Take-Two’s $13bn acquisition of Zynga (largest video-game transaction ever), Getty Images’ going public via SPAC ($5bn), and NielsenIQ’s cross-border acquisition of GfK, ” she said.

    She also served as the Engagement and Philanthropy Chair for the JPMorgan Women in Banking (largest women’s affinity network), hosting luminaries such as Jamie Dimon (JPMorgan Chairman & CEO). Mr. Dimon complimented her for doing a “fabulous job moderating the conversation,” mentioning as “poised, polished, and personable” and “wishing all the best for my future endeavors.”

    She is engaged to serve as a Board Member for the UChicago NYC Alumni Chapter, co-launching the first-ever 5+ fully sold-out Young Alumni Brunch Series. Shreya is involved in leadership positions with Global Female Investors Network, OneFinnet Finance Network, and The Program NYC, coaching and providing mentorship to 10,000+ aspiring students across panels & conferences over the years.

    (Dr Yash Goyal is The Indian Panorama Special correspondent in Jaipur)

  • JLF to revolve around Tulsidas and the Ramcharit Manas sessions this year

    JLF to revolve around Tulsidas and the Ramcharit Manas sessions this year

    By Dr Yash Goyal

    The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) is an annual literary festival that takes place in Pink City every year. Founded in 2006, the 17th JLF is scheduled in Jaipur from February 1-5. The festival is an initiative of Jaipur Virasat Foundation which was founded by Faith Singh, originally as a segment of the Jaipur Heritage International Festival and developed into a free-standing festival of literature with international fame. In 2012, a number of events occurred related to Salman Rushdie and the Satanic Verses controversy. JLF has reached every literary corner of the world. What used to be virtual during the Corona period is now becoming visible in foreign cities. The credit to create literary sensation and others to organise similar events in parts of India certainly goes to Sanjay Roy, William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale.

    Namita, co-founder and co-director of JLF, is a well-known litterateur. r. She is the author of 23 works of fiction and non-fiction. Her acclaimed debut novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion, was published in 1984. She is the recipient of various prizes and awards, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Literature) Award 2021 for her novel Things to Leave Behind. Following are the excerpts of her Online 10 Q-A with Dr Yash Goyal.

    Namita Gokhale, co-founder and co-director of JLF

    Q. The 17th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival 2024 will begin next month. With what intention did you guys start JLF in Jaipur? 

    A. We began with a love for literature, across borders, and a deep belief in Indian writing in all its avatars.

    Q. Since this festival started from Jaipur, how much literary benefit did Rajasthan’s writers get from it? What is the criteria for selecting a writer?

    A. We try to programme a range of writers from Jaipur and different parts of Rajasthan. We include new voices, women writers, and the oral heritage as well as established writers and Sahitya Akademi awardees. Shri Nand Bharadwaj and Shri CP Deval have also guided us over the years.

    Q. This festival also focuses on Rajasthani language and its litterateurs. But Rajasthani language did not get constitutional recognition in 17 years. What do you think of it. 
    A. It is a complex issue. Rajasthani certain deserves constitutional recognition but the many dialects are cited as a factor in this delay in giving the language its due.

    Q. Lok Sabha elections are going to be held soon. There is an atmosphere of Ayodhya and Lord Ram in the entire country. Would JLF want to know the minds of litterateurs on this very religious subject in any of this year’s sessions?

    A. We have a session on Tulsidas and the Ramcharit Manas which should be of interest to our audiences.

    Q. From a commercial point of view, JLF has now become global. Has this created any bridge between Indian and foreign writers?

    A. The global editions have led to deepened ties with diasporic authors of Indian origin and creative exchanges with international writers we interact with. Many valuable initiatives have resulted from this.

    Q. What are the reasons for the popularity of JLF in India and abroad? Now there are many such literary festivals in almost every state, do you guys feel any competition with them?

    A. The Jaipur Literature Festival draws international audiences because the programming is creative, rooted, and provides many different perspectives and points of view. As for competition – we welcome it, for we can all constantly learn from each other.

    Q. How much did JLF’s sponsors increase in these 17 years? Do they also have to compete for admission in JLF?

    A. We have had many wonderful and supportive sponsors, but these things took a hit during the pandemic years.

    Q. You are also a great writer, what kind of writing do you have preferred in your literature? Your novel ‘Things to liv behind’ received the Sahitya Academy Award, what is it all about? 

    A.I have written 23 books by now – including novels, short stories, anthologies, with themes around the Himalaya, and religion, and the interpretation of myth. There is also a play co-authored with Malashri Lal on the life of Michael Madhusudan Dutt.

    ‘Things to Leave Behind’ is a work of historical fiction set in Kumaon in the years 1840 to 1912. I am a Kumaoni and ‘Things to Leave Behind’ is a tribute to the rich heritage of the region.

    Q. Your another novel ‘Never Never Land’, why is this getting popularity?

    A. My new novel ‘Never Never Land’ will be released soon. It is set in the familiar landscape of the Himalayas. Let’s see how readers respond to it.

    Q. JLF’s every session has a record number of young boys’ and girls’ footfall, whether they attend the session or not? Don’t you think JLF emerged as the best fashion and a joint for youngsters at least in Pink City? 

    A. I think it’s wonderful that so many young people attend the festival as a lifestyle choice. Reading is to be enjoyed, it’s a pleasurable activity, and it’s good that they enjoy being there.

    Q. What is the future of JLF in the next 5 years? 

    A. The future can never be foretold – but of this I’m sure, that reading will never go out of fashion. We will go from strength to strength as we continue to creatively interpret the role of the LitFest.
    (Yashpal Goyal is Special Correspondent, TIP, Jaipur)

  • Dialysis patients are at high risk to contract Corona-19 virus

    Dialysis patients are at high risk to contract Corona-19 virus

    30-40 percent already got afflicted in India: Nephrology Expert

    Dr Luvdeep Dogra, DM Nephrology
    By Dr Yash Goyal

    Can Covid-19be kind enough to my Kidneys!! Any patient having diabetes or Kidney illness can be apprehensiveof virus attack specially during ongoing second wave of pandemic in India at least where it has spiked multi-fold in just one month of April. Not long ago a new disease Covid-19 was found (may be invented) in humans which beyond anyone’s imagination changed the entire world for such a long period of time that it’s hard to find a precedent for the same. Dr Luvdeep Dogra, DM Nephrology @ Narayana Hospital in Rajasthan’s state capital, Jaipur told a few media persons on Gmail Meet, “We recognised early that this can be a deadly disease and has an immense potential to send shivers across the world. Today we talk on two aspects, first, COVID in a patient with kidney disease and secondly is kidney diseases which have been described in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2”.

    “Like any severe infection it’s rather naive to think that COVID doesn’t affect the kidney, it does involve the kidney and can cause a host of diseases including a new onset kidney disease to worsening of an already ageing kidney to something as severe as a rejection in a functioning graft”, Dr Luvdeep says. As per Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA, one out of 8 persons (12-15 per cents of population) kidney related diseases that mostly include diabetes mellitus, he says adding, 16 percent of patients are suffering from diabetes and hypertension.

    The dialysis patients are at high risk to contract prevalent Corona virus, quoting recent findings Dr Luvdeep points out, “Patients visiting hospitals for dialysis twice/thrice every week and 10 times in a month are susceptible to the deadly virus. So far 30-40 percent patients went on dialysis got afflicted with the virus in the country”.

    While interacting Dr Luvdeep revealed many fact saying patients with kidney diseases are inherently immunocompromised and visit hospitals frequently it’s no surprise that COVID is usually under detected, more severe and fast progressing in patients with kidney disease and obviously this is in proportion to the severity of Kidney disease.

    Quoting a recent study from Journal American Society Nephrology (July, August 2020),titled: “High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Covid-19 Infection in Haemodialysis Patients Detected Using Serological Screening”, he said, “Patients with ESKD (End Stage Kidney Disease) may also be at an increased risk of dying from Covid-19. In one study, for example, nearly one third of hospitalised dialysis patients with Covid-19 died. In another study, one half of critically ill dialysis patients died within 28 days of admission to the ICU. The overall mortality among dialysis patients with Covid-19 was approximately 20 percent in two such studies”.

    When asked, so what do we do? Vaccinate all?

     He said, “Obviously yes, but remember vaccinating a country as big as ours is not going to be a cake walk, vaccination generates immunity over a period of weeks to month, so it’s not a ready solution either, also unfortunately we don’t have enough evidence on how much it protects dialysis patients from Covid infection”.

    So what next? On another quiz he said, “It’s high time we understand the importance of prevention, it’s easy too. Just follow a “Covid healthy behaviour”, always wear mask when you have people around you or you go out, maintain social distancing, limit unnecessary visits and visitors and then follow a good hand hygiene”.

    Is it that difficult? He smiled saying, “An appropriate behaviour may be our sole protection until we vaccinate our population to a critical level to develop ‘herd-immunity’ and beyond that too. Follow these precautions as Covid is merciless in its ways!”