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Tag: Indian-Americans
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Indian American legislator in Michigan introduced a bill to expand the definition of hate crime and include vandalization of a place of worship
MICHIGAN (TIP): An Indian American legislator in the US state of Michigan has introduced a bill to expand the definition of hate crime and include vandalization of a place of worship in it. Michigan State Representative Ranjeev Puri, whose parents migrated to the US from Amritsar in the 1970s, has also introduced a bill to establish the holidays of Diwali, Baisakhi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha and Lunar New Year as official state-recognized holidays in Michigan. Into his second term as the State Representative, Puri is now the Michigan House Majority Whip, an influential position and has been advancing social issues. “I have introduced a bill to make Diwali, Baisakhi and Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in Michigan. I have another bill that would expand the definition of hate crimes. So, the original hate crime bill in Michigan was written in 1988 and has not been updated since. It’s been 35 years and so we are updating the definitions to be more inclusive,” Puri told the media in an interview. “If a religious institution such as a temple, mosque or a gurdwara is vandalized or desecrated, it is now going to be much easier to prosecute those people. There are a whole host of issues that we are tackling,” he said. Puri’s parents immigrated to the US in 1970. His father was instrumental in establishing the first Sikh gurdwara in Wisconsin.
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Indian American Shilen Patel becomes Cal Water’s Chief Business Development Officer
Parminder Aujla
SACRAMENTO (TIP): California Water Service (Cal Water), a subsidiary of California Water Service Group, has promoted Shilen M. Patel to Chief Business Development Officer, effective June 1, 2023.
“Shilen has played a key role in executing our business development strategy. This promotion is well-deserved recognition for his contribution to our growth, and I look forward to welcoming him to the officer team,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer in a June 1 announcement.
Prior to joining Cal Water in July 2019, Patel served as Director, Strategy & Development at Veolia North America.
A seasoned professional with more than 18 years of progressive business development and corporate strategy experience, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Political Science from UC Santa Barbara and is expected to complete a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University at the end of 2023.
California Water Service Group is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service. What sets the Group apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. Working as one team, the Group’s 1,100+ employees lead the way in protecting the planet, caring for people, and operating with the utmost integrity, according to a press release.
Integral to the Group’s strategy is investing responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company has been named one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” by Newsweek and a Great Place to Work. -
Indian-origin woman banned from teaching in UK for 2 years for committing fraud
LONDON (TIP): An Indian-origin woman has been banned from teaching by the UK’s Department of Education for a minimum of two years for concealing charges of fraud against her from a school where she joined in 2018. Dipti Patel moved to Bolton from London when she became the head of physical education at Manchester Academy in Moss Side in 2018, the media reported. Patel said one of the reasons for the move was an armed burglary at her home, and the family made an insurance claim for tens of thousands of pounds after the incident.
But an investigation found that it was a contrived burglary, and that the insurance claim was fraudulent.
Patel was charged with an offence under the Fraud Act, but it was only when she was convicted that she told the school about the case.
She also lied on an application for leave, saying it was to take a child to an appointment when it was to attend St Albans Crown Court, the report said.
She was then referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) by the Manchester Academy.
“Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality,” an independent panel that looked into Patel’s conduct, said in its report.
“The panel finds that the conduct of Mrs. Patel fell significantly short of the standards.” On May 12, the panel recommended a ban from the profession for a minimum of two years, which was accepted by the Department for Education.
According to the prohibition order, Patel cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. -
Indian-origin professor Joyeeta Gupta awarded ‘Dutch Nobel Prize’ for her research on just and sustainable world
AMSTERDOM (TIP): Indian-origin professor Joyeeta Gupta is among the two scientists who have been named for the prestigious Spinoza Prize, also known as the Dutch Nobel Prize, it was announced on Wednesday, June 7.
Gupta, the faculty professor of Sustainability and professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam, received the prize for her outstanding, pioneering, and inspiring scientific work in which she focuses on a just and sustainable world, the Dutch Research Council said.
Gupta will be officially presented with the highest distinction in Dutch science on October 4 alongside Toby Kiers, another scientist chosen for the award, the council said in a statement.
Toby Kiers is a professor of Mutualistic Interactions at the University of Amsterdam.
Gupta will receive 1.5 million euros to spend on scientific research and activities related to knowledge utilization, the statement said. Sometimes called the ‘Dutch Nobel Prize’, the Spinoza prize is the highest award in Dutch academia and is awarded each year to researchers working in the Netherlands who “according to international standards belong to the absolutely best researchers worldwide”.
“The scientists who have received this award in the past represent the absolute best of Dutch academia, so I’m honored to be considered alongside them,” Gupta said.
Gupta, who is also co-chair of the Earth Commission founded by Future Earth and supported by the Global Challenges Foundation, said she would work towards implementing her ideas on sharing ‘ecospace’ (environmental utilization space) globally that aims to protect environmental conditions in an equitable manner worldwide and would be a fitting way to bring global environmental and developmental issues together.
Gupta’s research focused on how to solve issues arising from climate change through good governance, the statement said. “At the core of her research is an attempt to unravel the connections between the climate crisis, global water challenges, possible solutions and justice. To this end, her work brings together various scientific disciplines, from international law and economics to political science, development studies and environmental studies,” the statement said. -
Indian-origin father-son duo arrested for assaulting, exploiting and extorting teenage girls in Canada
CALGARY (TIP): An Indian-origin man and his son have been arrested and charged in Canada for allegedly assaulting, exploiting and extorting multiple teenage girls over several months.
Gurpartap Singh Walia, 56, and his son Sumrit Walia, 24, were arrested after an investigation was conducted to find a missing 13-year-old girl in April, a Calgary police statement said.
The girl who was located later revealed that she was in a relationship with Sumrit who allegedly provided her with alcohol, drugs, and vapes in exchange for sex, it said.
The father-son duo worked at and owned Haddon Convenience Store in Calgary.
They also own Premier Liquor Wine and Spirits, located next door to the convenience store, where the assaults occurred, the statement said.
As the investigation progressed, the officers determined that the father and son were providing vapes, marijuana, cigarettes and alcohol to multiple other teenage girls, who were sexually assaulted at the businesses.
It is believed the incidents occurred between December 2022 and May 2023. The girls could not legally consent.
Police arrested both suspects on June 1. A search warrant at a residence resulted in the seizure of 975 grams of cocaine with a street value of USD 97,500, and seven handguns.
Search warrants were also executed at the two businesses, which resulted in the seizure of a computer with child pornography, drugs and drug paraphernalia, contraband tobacco, vape cartridges and collapsible batons.
Sumrit was thus charged with one count of sexual interference with a minor, one count of sexual exploitation, one count of sexual assault, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of accessing child pornography. He is also charged with one count of creating child pornography, seven counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, one count of extortion, three counts of uttering threats, one count of selling contraband tobacco to youth and one count of breach of a court order.
Meanwhile, his father Gurpartap Singh is charged with four counts of sexual assault, four counts of sexual interference with a minor and one count of selling contraband tobacco. -
California bill will allow Sikhs to ride motorcycles without a helmet
Parminder Aujla
SACRAMENTO (TIP): Sikhs and other people whose faith requires them to wear a turban or patka could soon be allowed to ride motorcycles in California without a helmet as mandated by state law, according to media reports. The State Senate last Wednesday, May 31 voted to grant a religious exemption for the headwear. The measure, Senate Bill 847 from Republican Sen. Brian Dahle cleared the chamber by a 21-8 margin. Eight Democrats voted “no,” while 13 others sided with Republicans.
“Freedom of religion is a core foundation of this country. We, as Americans, have the right to freely express our religion and I believe that right should equally extend to everyone,” Dahle stated after the bill passed as cited by the Sacramento Bee.
Dahle added that existing state law doesn’t intentionally discriminate against Sikhs and other peoples of faith, but that “the reality is that those who practice those religions are limited in how they can express their customs.”
His office cites the 2021 American Community Survey which found an estimated 211,000 Sikhs living in California — nearly half of all Sikhs in the country. “Although other countries and our own military make accommodations for Sikhs’ deep beliefs, out of the US states that require helmets, none has exemptions for Sikhs or any other group based on religious practice,” according to Dahle’s office.
SB 847 now moves to the Assembly.
Eighteen states, including California, have adopted universal helmet laws since a federal safety penalty was repealed in 1995, according to the media
The California Highway Patrol enforces the universal helmet law, and violations are punished with a fine of up to $250 and/or a year on probation.
“The turban I tie is about 7 meters. It’s not just a head covering,” a member of the Sikh community was quoted as saying during a Senate committee hearing. “We are not able to ride our bikes and practice our religion.”
The Automobile Club of Southern California opposes the legislation, citing concerns that it would weaken the state’s universal motorcycle helmet law, according to the report.
“The Auto Club supports helmet laws because they save lives and reduce serious injuries in traffic crashes involving motorcycles,” a spokesperson stated in an email to a newspaper.
“Everyone has a right to self-expression, including while riding a motorcycle or any other form of transportation, but keeping riders safe should always remain a priority.”
More than 5,500 motorcyclists died in 2020, and more than 180,000 were injured in motorcycle crashes, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Helmets were found to reduce the risk of head injuries from crashes by 69%. The County Health Executives Association of California also opposes Dahle’s legislation, Senate Bill 847, the report said.
“CHEAC understands that wearing turbans and patkas are deeply important religious expressions, and we encourage innovation and equity in the design of helmets to accommodate head coverings instead of weakening existing helmet laws and risking the safety of these riders,” Michelle Gibbons, the association’s executive director, wrote in an email. According to an analysis of the bill, Sikhs or other groups are not exempt from helmet laws in other states due to religious practices. Several provinces in Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario exempt Sikhs from helmet laws. Exemptions have also been granted in the United Kingdom and India, the report noted. -
Two Indian Americans nominated Superior Court judges in California
Parminder Aujla
SACRAMENTO (TIP): California Governor Gavin Newsom has nominated two Indian Americans as Superior Court judges. While Sweena Pannu will serve as a Judge in the Stanislaus County Superior Court, Marsha Bipin Amin will serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court.
Their nominations were announced by the Governor’s office in Sacramento on May 19 with a slate of three Court of Appeal Justices and 27 Superior Court Judges.
Stanislaus County Superior Court
Pannu of Stanislaus County has served as a Deputy County Counsel in the Stanislaus County Counsel’s Office since 2020. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Stanislaus County Public Defender’s Office from 2006 to 2020. Pannu, a Democrat, was an Attorney at M.L.SARIN from 1996 to 2004. Pannu earned a Master of Laws degree from the University of Aberdeen School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Thomas D. Zeff.
San Diego County Superior Court
Marsha Bipin Amin of San Diego County, also a Democrat, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Amin has served as a Managing Attorney at the Fourth District Court of Appeal since 2018 and was a Senior Appellate Court Attorney there from 2011 to 2018.
She was an Associate at Procopio from 2006 to 2010 and served as a Law Clerk at the US District Court, Southern District of California from 2005 to 2006. Amin earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Laura Halgren. -
Indian American entrepreneur Anu Sehgal honored for boosting cross-cultural exchange
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): A leading India-born entrepreneur and author has been honored by New York City Mayor Eric Adams for her pioneering efforts to foster cross-cultural exchange and contribution to the city’s vibrant South Asian community.
Anu Sehgal, founder and president of The Culture Tree, was honored with a citation by Adams at the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Reception 2023 here on Tuesday.
Sehgal was one of six honorees and the only South Asian awarded during the special commemoration attended by prominent members of the diaspora and AAPI communities.
The citation applauded Sehgal for her “efforts to foster cross-cultural exchange while uniting our vibrant South Asian community. Together, we look forward to the many ways she and all AAPI New Yorkers will continue to make a positive difference as we take bold steps to ‘Get Stuff Done’ and forge a brighter, safer and prosperous future for our global city”.
In the citation, Adams said he is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of Sehgal, “a proud Indian American who has strengthened New York for nearly two decades”.
Sehgal said she is honored to be recognized by Adams and his office for the work she has been doing for cultural enrichment and in representing New York’s South Asian community.
Anu said about herself: “I grew up in India and moved to the US more than 20 years ago. After the move, I was starved for authentic Indian experiences and community and devoured anything that came my way: film festivals, exhibits, book readings etc. Once I became a mother, the lack of quality and authentic Indian programs and classes became even more evident. I am an active parent and believe an awareness of one’s heritage, culture and language are key for children to become self-aware and confident individuals. I also recognize the immense benefits of being bilingual.
“As a cultural educator, I am looking forward to providing children with authentic, immersive and inspiring experiences. Through classes and events, we can offer cross-cultural exposure that can help shape knowledgeable, open-minded and respectful individuals.
“The Culture Tree continues to expand. Although initially language was our primary focus, we have now expanded to cultural events and cooking classes and building a sense of community. We are also partnering with organizations and museums to bring South Asian culture and languages to the forefront.” -
Indian American teen Saathvik Kannan wins $50,000 Young Scientist award
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A 17-year-old Indian-origin student in Missouri has won the prestigious Regeneron Young Scientist Awards of $50,000 for his research relating to the mpox virus.
Saathvik Kannan of David H Hickman High School in Columbia was awarded for using biocomputational methods to understand the causes of heightened infectivity in the disease mpox after it re-emerged in 2022.
Saathvik’s approach, named Bioplex, uses a combination of machine learning and three-dimensional comparative protein modelling to decode structures like those that enable the mpox virus to replicate.
This allowed him to identify the mutations in the virus that likely made it more infectious as well as other mutations that could make it resistant to antibiotics. He credited his mentor, Kamlendra Singh, an assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology at the University of Missouri.
“I was overjoyed and incredibly excited!” Saathvik wrote in an email to the Columbia Daily Tribute about the prize.
“I felt that it reflected our work with Dr Singh’s mentorship and guidance over the last few years culminating in my project from this year.” Saathvik believes scientists will also be able to apply Bioplex to future outbreaks of other viruses.
More than 1,600 young scientists and engineers representing 49 states and 64 countries across the world competed at the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Saathvik also took first place in the fair’s computational biology and bioinformatics division, receiving another $5,000.
According to Regeneron, a leading biotechnology company, the winners were selected for their commitment to innovation in tackling challenging scientific questions, using authentic research practices and creating solutions to the problems of tomorrow.
Rishab Jain, another Indian American student from Portland, won the same award last year for developing an AI-based model to enable rapid and cost-effective production of drugs, such as recombinant Covid-19 vaccines, using synthetic DNA engineering. -
Indian American Dev Shah wins 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling ‘psammophile’
OXON HILL, Md. (TIP): Dev Shah, an eighth-grader from Largo, Florida, spelled “psammophile” correctly to win the 95th national Bee and the $50,000 prize on Thursday, June 1. Charlotte Walsh, the hometown kid from just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, could not nail “daviely” in the preceding round. Walsh’s prize was $25,000 for the second-place finish, while the third-place finishers ― Shradha Rachamreddy and Surya Kapu ― each won $12,500. With time running out on Scripps’ intended broadcast window, the judges could have called for a “spell-off,” a 90-second window for competitors to spell as many words as they can. Instead, they allowed Shan and Walsh to duke it out in one final orthographic volley. “It’s surreal,” Shah said onstage after confetti fell on his head and he lifted the trophy high above. “I don’t know if it’s settled in. My legs are still shaking.”
Minutes later, still onstage, Shah felt the same way. “I made a lot of sacrifices these last three months and I’m glad I made them,” Shah said. “I’m glad to now get back what I sacrificed.” Shah cut back on his extracurricular activities to dedicate more time to the dictionary. Some days he would not even go to school since exams were over. He’d be better off studying, Shah figured.
“I knew I had to study,” Shah said. “It paid off.”
What was the winning word at 2023 Spelling Bee?
Shah’s spelling bee-clinching word was “psammophile.”According to Merriam-Webster, a psammophile is “an organism that prefers or thrives in sandy soils or areas.”
Other words that Shah correctly spelled during the competition include: bathypitotmeter, tolsester, rommack, aegagrus, schistorrhachis, poliorcetics, Perioeci, exhortation, cocomat and ardoise. The moment he heard the word, Shah knew he had the Bee in his pocket. Rachamreddy and Kapu could not make it through the fifth round of the evening and finished tied for third. It was a heartbreaking outcome for Kapu, who finished tied for fifth last year. He was the lone repeat finalist from the previous year and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Due to time constraints of a two-hour broadcast window and the eight-way tie for the title in 2019, Scripps two years ago invented the spell-off, which debuted in last year’s championship, won by Harini Logan.
That didn’t stop Bee organizers from bringing out the buzzers in anticipation. With a new prop in her way, Walsh correctly spelled “collembolous” to secure her spot among the final two. A half hour after Shah won, she returned to the stage to offer a congratulatory hug. “I don’t feel like I was competing against anyone,” Shah said. “In between rounds, and even during rounds, we would congratulate each other. That’s what separates the Spelling Bee from other competitions. Everyone’s in there together.”
(Source: USA Today) -
Punjab-origin gangster Amarpreet Samra shot in Canada
VANCOUVER, CANADA (TIP): In a suspected case of gang war, Punjab-origin gangster Amarpreet Samra was shot dead at south Vancouver in Canada when he was coming out of a wedding reception on Sunday, May 28 morning. The 28-year-old Samra was also called ‘Chucky’.
‘Chucky’ Samra was shot dead outside Fraserview Banquet Hall near Fraser St & Southeast Marine Dr. It was a targeted shooting related to the ongoing gang conflict. Samra was on the dance floor at Fraserview Banquet Hall with other wedding guests less than 30 minutes before he was shot on Fraser Street just before 1:30 am.
A few guests told media persons that some unidentified men had walked into the hall and told the DJ to stop the music. Around 60 guests were present at the venue.
Samra was on the ‘wanted list’ of the Canadian police. He reached the marriage party with his gangster brother Ravinder. They were working in alliance with the UN Gang. Samra was among the 11 alleged criminals named by the authorities in August 2022 who were a threat to the public.
In an official statement from the Vancouver police, they are investigating the killing of a 28-year-old man.
“Multiple 911 callers reported that one man had been shot outside a south Vancouver banquet hall near Fraser Street and Southeast Marine Drive at 1:30 am. Patrol officers performed CPR on the victim until paramedics arrived, but he died,” the statement reads.
Investigators believe this was a targeted shooting related to the ongoing gang conflict. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked to call the Vancouver Police Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500, it further reads. -
Indian American multi sports coach Jatin Patel gets Cricket Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award
WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): Indian American multi sports coach Jatin Patel is set to become the eighth individual since 1981 to receive Cricket Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, according to a media report.
Patel will join a list that includes West Indies legendary all-rounder Sir Garfield “Gary” Sobers and Michael Holding, Lloyd Dixon, Roy Sweeney, Denzel Powell, Tony Becca, and Mahammad Ahmad Qureshi, popularly known as Maq Qureshi, who have received the Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Awards.
This will be the third prestigious award for Jatin Patel who also received the US President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong commitment to building a strong nation through volunteer service, according to Cricket World.
He has already qualified for Indiana, Governor’s Long-Term Public Service Recognition for his 35 years of professional career.
Previously, Jatin Patel received the Indiana Governor’s Public Service Achievement Award in 2010 and won the American Cricket Federation Inaugural Volunteer Award in 2013.
A multi discipline (cricket, soccer, and baseball) coach, Jatin Patel is also a USA Cricket Hall of Famer. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2020 and became a board member in 2021.
His commendable nomination is based on his commitment and sincerity to public service and his multi sports interest as his weekend only hobby, Cricket World said.
Patel, who pioneered the American Cricket Education Council (ACEC) in 2022, is also a professional sports performance analyst accredited by the International Society of Performance Analysts of Sport (ISPAS).
A renowned name in the Indian community for his various roles in cricket establishments in the USA, he holds Advance Sports Performance and Analysis Diplomas (FIFA & Olympic Soccer).
Patel also pioneered scholastic cricket and trained coaches while helping more than sixty youth cricket academy and community programs, in addition to colleges /universities & schools in the USA.
A delighted Patel said, “2023 is a momentous year for me as I received the Federal award, followed by CHOF international recognition. These are memorable achievements for the rest of my life. These are one of the greatest honors I have ever received as my accolades. In cricket terms, I scored a Hat-Trick.”
“Jatin deserves such honor for all work he has done with the extreme dedication for the sport Cricket,” Dr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, legend cricket hall of famer, former West Indies captain, and champion CPL 2022 coach was quoted as saying.
“Receiving another accolade of such high recognition is beyond comparison. I send my heartfelt gratitude for the nomination,” said Patel who is also the chairperson for Who Is Who in Cricket (CricWho).
“To be more precise, I can honestly say all credit goes to my parents, family, and friends who supported me over the years, I thank them all. It is not just my award, but this belongs to all of us as a team.”
“No doubt, We also count our forebears and mentors who provided the inspiration and motivation to serve others,” added Patel.
“It is an honor and a pleasure working with Jatin Patel. He has continued to make all of us proud at the Hall & Museum,” said Michael Chambers, Executive Director & founder of USA Cricket Hall of Fame. -
Four Indo-Canadian Punjabis win Alberta provincial poll
ALBERTA, CANADA (TIP): Four Punjabis have been elected to the provincial legislature of Alberta on Monday. A total of 15 Punjabis contested in Calgary and Edmonton.
Sitting cabinet minister from United Conservative Party (UCP) Rajan Sawhney won from Calgary Northwest. Sawhney defeated Michael Lisboa-Smith of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
Incumbent NDP MLA Jasvir Deol again won from Edmonton Meadows. He defeated Amritpal Singh Matharu of the UCP. Parmeet Singh Boporai of the NDP defeated sitting MLA Devinder Toor of the UCP from Calgary Falconridge. In Calgary Northeast, NDP’s Gurinder Brar defeated Inder Grewal of the UCP.
Amanpreet Singh Gill lost from Calgary-Bhullar-Mccall, Raman Athwal from Edmonton Mill Woods, R Singh Bath from Edmonton Ellerslie, Gurinder Singh Gill from Calgary-Cross, Harry Singh from Drayton Valley-Devon, Aman Sandhu from Calgary-Cross, Jeewan Mangat from Innisfail-Sylvan Lake and Braham Luddu from Lethbridge-West.
As per the 2021 Census, more than half of Canada’s Sikhs can be found in one of four cities—Brampton (1,63,260), Surrey (1,54,415), Calgary (49,465) and Edmonton (41,385). -
Chaman Lal becomes first British-Indian Lord Mayor of Birmingham
LONDON (TIP): Birmingham has got its first British-Indian Lord Mayor in Councilor Chaman Lal after the local councilors of the West Midlands city of England chose him to represent it as its first citizen.
Lal, who is from the Ravidassia community of British Sikhs, was born in the village of Pakhowal in Hoshiarpur before he moved to the UK, where he has served as a local councilor for many years.
The Labor Party politician was first elected in 1994 and in the most recent local elections was re-elected Councilor for the Soho and Jewelry Quarter Ward.
“It is a very proud moment for me and our family, as a son of an army officer born in India, but made in Birmingham,” Lal said in his acceptance speech at a mayoral ceremony last week.
“I am an adopted Brummie, and I never thought that one day I would become the Lord Mayor of my adopted city. I would like to thank my fellow councilors for electing me as their first citizen and of our great city which happens to be the highest civic role entrusted to a serving councilor,” he said.
According to the Birmingham City Council, Chaman Lal’s father, Sardar Harnam Singh Banga, was a British Indian army officer who served in the Italian campaign during World War II. Lal’s father came to England in 1954 and settled in Birmingham, taking employment in various industries including several years with British Steel.
Chaman Lal came to England with his mother, Sardarni Jai Kaur, to join his father in 1964 and has lived in Birmingham ever since. He attended Wattville Secondary Modern School and continued with his studies in evening classes at Sandwell and Matthew Boulton Colleges.
“He believes in lifelong learning and continued his academic studies in economics and law on part-time degree courses at the local Polytechnic. He qualified as an engineer in electronics and became an apprentice with an electronics company. He progressed to becoming their youngest chief engineer in the service department and was later promoted to the post of manager of the service department,” Birmingham City Council said.
Lal went on to set up his own electronics business as well as other businesses. He married Vidya Wati in 1971 and the couple have three daughters and two sons.
His interest in politics dates back to 1989 when he joined the Labor Party and took part in many social justice campaigns to challenge inequality and discrimination.
He has served on most of the local council’s committees in the past 29 years, including as a cabinet advisor for major transport projects and recently as the Chair of the Sustainability and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee. “He has served many years on the West Midlands Transport Authority and has a keen interest in improving public transport. As Chair of the Transport Scrutiny Committee, he led several Task and Finish Groups including making the recommendations for the best e-ticketing solution for the WMPTA which led to the introduction of the contactless travel (Swift Card) in the West Midlands area,” the local council noted.
His other policy reviews resulted in more late night and early morning bus services to meet the needs of the night economy as well as early morning workers, it said. -
Indian-origin teen is arrested after he crashes truck into a White House barrier
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A 19-year-old Indian-origin teen accused of deliberately crashing a rented U-Haul truck into a White House barrier told authorities that he wanted to get inside the mansion to “seize power” and “kill” US President Joe Biden, according to media reports.
US Park Police arrested Sai Varshith Kandula after he crashed the truck into the security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Park shortly before 10 pm on Monday, May 22, sending multiple pedestrians running from the scene, media reported.
The crash was a good distance from the White House gates, but the incident prompted road and sidewalk closures, and the nearby Hay-Adams hotel had to be evacuated. No one was injured in the crash.
Kandula, of Chesterfield, Missouri, rented the truck on Monday night immediately after flying from St Louis to Dulles International Airport on a one-way ticket, a Secret Service agent said in a statement of facts filed in federal district court in Washington DC, media reported. He drove the vehicle onto a sidewalk outside the White House and into a metal barrier just north of the White House, according to the document.
Kandula put the truck in reverse and crashed into the barrier a second time before United States Park Police officers took him into custody, according to the document. Kandula told authorities he had been planning the attack for six months and detailed the plans in a “green book,” the document says.
He “stated his goal was to ‘get into the White House, seize power, and be put in charge of the nation,’” the document states.
“When agents asked how he would seize power, Kandula stated he would ‘kill the President if that’s what I have to do and would hurt anyone that would stand in my way.’” The document was included with a criminal complaint charging Kandula with depredation of property of the United States over USD 1,000, the news report said.
When Secret Service agents asked Kandula about a flag with a swastika he removed from a backpack, he allegedly said he’d bought it online because Nazis “have a great history,” according to the court document.
He allegedly said he “admires their ‘authoritarian nature, Eugenics, and their one world order,’” according to the document. Kandula identified Hitler as a “strong leader” he admires, the report said.
In the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield, where Kandula lives, FBI agents were seen entering and leaving his home Tuesday and acquaintances struggled to link the alleged attack with the “chill” teen they know.
Police in Chesterfield have no records of any interaction with Kandula or calls for service to the family home, Capt Daniel Dunn, Commander for the City of Chesterfield’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations, said.
Dunn said that federal agents are in charge of the investigation.
Errion Barfield, who was on the Marquette High School track team with Kandula, remembered him as quiet and unassuming. “He was nice and chill,” Barfield said in a Facebook message to the media. “Ain’t ever expected him to do something like that.” Kandula was a member of the sizable South Asian population of Chesterfield, a middle-class suburb about 32 kilometers west of St. Louis. Pranav Nagila, who was a year ahead of Kandula, said he couldn’t make sense of his one-time schoolmate possibly having a Nazi flag in his possession.
“I didn’t see him as off-putting or anything like that,” said Nagila, who just finished his sophomore year at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “He just seemed like a chill person.” Kandula appeared in Washington DC Superior Court on Tuesday and is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court Wednesday afternoon.
A friend of Kandula told the media that he’s worried about his state of mind.
The former classmate, who attended school with Kandula said, “I feel like something … either has gone badly internally inside him or maybe between the family.” Kandula was “the quiet kid” who enjoyed tennis, according to Aniket Sharma.
“He was never open to talking. And anytime I tried, he, it was just only small talk – never really anything deep. I always thought he was like a quiet, shy kid,” Sharma said.
Sharma, now a Missouri college student, rejected the notion Kandula was a white supremacist or a neo-Nazi.
Sharma spent years living in the same Chesterfield apartment complex as Kandula and his family.
Speaking about those discussing his former friend on Twitter, Sharma said they had “never even met him.” In addition to the Nazi flag, investigators recovered duct tape, a backpack and a notebook filled with writing from inside the vehicle, media reported. Investigators are probing whether mental health played a role. -
Indian-origin NYPD officer receives Medal of Valor
NEW YORK (TIP): A 27-year-old Indian-origin New York Police Department (NYPD) officer and nine others were honored by US President Joe Biden with the Medal of Valor, the country’s highest award for public safety officers. Sumit Sulan was honored at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, May 17, for shooting a convicted felon who killed two of his colleagues when the trio were investigating a domestic-violence call in New York City in January. According to the police, three policemen — Sulan, Jason Rivera, 22, and Wilbert Mora, 27, visited the Harlem neighborhood in New York to investigate a 911 call from a distressed woman whose grown-up son threatened her and his brother.The convicted felon ambushed the three officers, shooting at Rivera and Mora, who later died of their injuries. Sulan was praised by the US president at the May 17 ceremony for swiftly jumping into action, despite being a rookie with the NYPD at that time.
“Detective Sulan had only been then — with the precinct — the 32nd Precinct, for two months… He shielded the mother and brother from gunfire, then drew his weapon to fire twice, hitting the gunman and ending the incident,” Biden was quoted as saying in a White House press release. Sulan “ensured the safety of the civilians on the scene and struck down the gunman with his service weapon, bringing an end to the deadly episode just 45 seconds after it had begun,” Biden, who met Sulan shortly after the incident, said.
“..The entire nation is grateful for the quick thinking, swift action, and courage under fire that he demonstrated,” Biden said, adding that the officers’ poise and valor saved lives.
“He did a great job,” Sulan’s mother said of her son, who emigrated from India about 15 years ago, while a law-enforcement source described him as a “super rookie” after the incident.
The Medal of Valor is given for actions above and beyond the call of duty and exhibiting exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, presence of mind, and unusual swiftness in action, regardless of his or her (officer’s) personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life, according to the press release. -
Indian American high schooler Sirihaasa Nallamothu wins top computer science award
NORMAL, IL (TIP): An Indian American and three others have been selected among a pool of graduating high school seniors as a recipient of the Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing that empowers students to pursue computing challenges beyond the traditional classroom environment.
Sirihaasa Nallamothu of University High School in Normal, Illinois, will receive a $10,000 cash prize for her project that was selected by a panel of judges based on ingenuity, complexity, relevancy and originality.
Her project engages modern technology and computer science to address the research gap to predict Vasovagal Syncope — a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure leading to fainting — in Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
Inspired from a TikTok that led her down a rabbit hole about POTS, Sirihaasa found to her surprise there were no research studies or consumer solutions to predict syncope on real-world data.
Sirihaasa is the first person to conduct an Institutional Review Board research study and collect human subject field data on POTS patients in the real world using non-invasive technologies, according to a news release.
She wrote a Python script to extract the 15-minute window signal data of heart rate, blood volumetric pressure, EDA, temperature, and accelerometer data, the release added.
The high schooler also founded a Girls Who Code club at her Middle school, developed and taught coding curriculum/activities, managed grants/funding, and networked and planned events.
After completing her research, Sirihaasa plans to work toward creating a consumer product and pairing her algorithm with a smart watch.
The Cutler-Bell Prize promotes the field of computer science and empowers students to pursue computing challenges beyond the traditional classroom environment.
In 2015, David Cutler and Gordon Bell established the award.
Cutler is a software engineer, designer, and developer of several operating systems at Digital Equipment Corporation. Bell, an electrical engineer, is Researcher Emeritus at Microsoft Research.
This year’s Cutler-Bell Prize recipients will be formally recognized at the Computer Science Teachers Association’s 2023 Virtual Conference, July 11-13. -
OFBJP gets ready to welcome PM Modi with unity march in 20 cities on June 18
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June, OFBJP is planning to welcome him with an ‘India Unity Day’ march in 20 major cities across America on June 18, organizers have announced. Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.
“The (Indian American) community is really excited (about Modi’s visit). The community is gathering on June 18 here in Washington DC at the National Monument. And there will be a march from Washington Monument to Lincoln Memorial, calling it ‘India Unity Day’ and welcoming Modiji. That is two days in advance,” said community leader Adapa Prasad, who is also the national president of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), USA.
Also at the same time, in about 20 places across the United States, “from east to west, from north to south, covering major cities” there will be similar welcome marches at iconic places like Times Square in New York and Golden Bridge in San Francisco, he said on Sunday.
The other cities are Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, Columbus, and St Louis. -
Indian-origin Singaporean climber missing Search under way around Mount Everest Summit
SINGAPORE (TIP): A search and rescue operation involving several teams is under way around the Mount Everest Summit to trace an Indian-origin Singaporean climber who has been missing since Saturday, May 20.
Teams consisting of three Sherpas each have been searching for Shrinivas Sainis Dattatraya (39), according to Prakash Chandra Devkota, the owner of Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition.
Seven Summit Treks, a Nepal-based adventure travel operator, had organized Dattatraya’s Everest ascent.
Devkota also shared photographs of the climber reaching the summit last Friday before he went missing, media reported on Tuesday. In the photos, Dattatraya, a senior manager for software engineering at real estate tech firm JLL Technologies, is seen wearing a bright orange winter wear, sunglasses and an oxygen mask. He is surrounded by colorful prayer flags marking the 8,849 m summit.
He is clutching a rope with his right hand and stands upright on the peak.
In another picture, the climber lies on his back and is surrounded by three others in similar mountain climbing wear. One of them snaps a shot of him with a smartphone.
He last sent a text message to his wife Sushma Soma, 36, on Friday, saying he had reached Everest’s summit. He told her he had high-altitude cerebral oedema — a severe high-altitude illness that could prove fatal — and was not likely to make it back down, according to the media report.
Soma, a musician, learnt at 2 am on Saturday that the two Sherpas he was with, and another climber in the group, made it down from the mountain, but her husband never did.
Devkota said one of the Sherpas, Dendi, had tried to save Dattatraya, but he did not give more details. He added that Dendi had suffered frostbite to his fingers and was hospitalized. -
Indian-origin Sikh councilor Jaswant Singh Birdi becomes 1st turban-wearing Lord Mayor of UK’s Coventry
LONDON (TIP): An Indian-origin Sikh councilor has made history after being appointed as the new Lord Mayor of Coventry, a city in the West Midlands, England.
As a Lord Mayor, Punjab-born Jaswant Singh Birdi will be the Chairman of the City Council, and as Coventry’s first citizen, he will be the non-political, ceremonial head of the city.
“I am so proud to become Lord Mayor of my adopted home city. It has given so much to myself and my family over the years and I will be honored to show why I love it so much and to promote the city and the wonderful people who live here,” Birdi said in a statement.
Birdi was presented with the Chains of Office, worn as an official regalia by the Mayor, at an annual general meeting of Coventry Cathedral last week.
“As a Sikh, it also means so much that I will be wearing the Chains of Office and the turban. It will help show what a happy multi-cultural city we have and maybe inspire others as well,” he said.
Born in Punjab, Birdi moved to Coventry 60 years ago and has spent 17 years as a councilor in the city, representing Bablake Ward for the past nine years, following two terms of office in the 1990s in the Hillfields Ward. After having served as Deputy Lord Mayor for the past 12 months, he succeeds Councilor Kevin Maton in the role. He grew up in a village in the Indian part of Punjab and also spent time as a child in Lahore and West Bengal, as his family travelled for employment.
In the mid-1950s Birdi emigrated with his parents to Kenya in East Africa, where he had his primary and secondary education, and emigrated to the UK in the 60s to carry on with his further education.
Apart from being a councilor, he has been actively involved in setting up religious, social and community projects in the city.
He has named his chosen charities for the year as the Muscular Dystrophy charity, the Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind, and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity.