The Indian Panorama

Tag: Indian-Americans

  • International Fashion Designer Mac Duggal all set to dazzle NY this weekend with his exquisite Winter/Fall 2017 collection

    International Fashion Designer Mac Duggal all set to dazzle NY this weekend with his exquisite Winter/Fall 2017 collection

    Attendees will get a first-hand look at the Fall/Winter 2017 collections. Mac Duggal’s designs have been previously covered by prestigious publications including WWD, Elle, and Seventeen, coveted by A-list celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Khloe Kardashian, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige and Carrie Ann Inaba and is the most represented designer on the world pageant stage.

    Among the distinguished designs that Mac will be showing is the celebrated Fabulouss! line. Mac’s vision for Fabulouss was to create a prom collection for plus-sized teens, who often go unrepresented in the fashion industry. Since its beginning the Fabulouss line has become the gold standard in plus size clothing for those seeking a full-figured option. Fabulouss designs, unlike other plus size dress alternatives, are created to not only fit but compliment a full-figured silhouette.

    Scheduled to attend:

    Dove Cameron Actress appearing on Disney’s Liv and Maddie

    Patina Miller Actress appearing on CBS Madame Secretary

    Lauren Blumenfeld Actress appearing on CBS Doubt

    Raquel Pelissier Miss Haiti Universe 1st runner up Miss Universe

    Clara Lee Korean Pop singer and actress

    Lyndie Greenwood Actress appearing on FOX Sleepy Hollow

    About Mac Duggal:Mac Duggal’s enthusiasm for women’s fashion began with the merging of the colorfully rich designs of India’s royal history and opulent traditions. His early creations, mixing a classic silhouette and design aesthetic with a contemporary sophistication, have made Mac Duggal the leader in the Prom industry.

    Mac Duggal

    Mac continued his success story by expanding his collection to 12 distinct social occasion lines. Mac’s success is highlighted by the many awards throughout his celebrated career. Most recently was his induction into the Smithsonian museum, Family of Voices exhibit, focusing on successful entrepreneurs in the United States. The Mac Duggal brand has transformed into a highly sought after label culminated by their participation in New York Fashion Week.

    Mac Duggal is about making something effortless, something timeless, something exceptional. Exceptional designs mean impeccable construction using the finest fabrics to achieve the perfect fit. Today, Mac presents a collection of classic designs curated with a youthful sophistication that both marks the moment and redefines tomorrow.

     

    Contact: Renee Mehrra:  reneemehrra@gmail.com  (Cell: 917 288 8080)

  • BAPS Celebrates Indian American Culture at the Texas Capitol Building in Austin

    BAPS Celebrates Indian American Culture at the Texas Capitol Building in Austin

    A prominent Hindu organization in local communities across Texas, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) hosted a celebration of Indian American Culture at the historic Texas State Capitol in Austin on February 1. The celebration was sponsored by State Representative Matt Rinaldi of House District 115, who represents a BAPS mandir (house of worship) in Irving, TX.

    On the morning of February 1, a group of BAPS representatives were recognized during the 85th Legislative Regular Session where a resolution commemorating this first-ever event was read. The resolution also noted the myriad of contributions by Indian Americans to the Lone Star State and lauded BAPS’ commitment to community service in Texas and across the nation.

    Throughout the day, BAPS members from across Texas met with their respective State Representatives and Senators to share background on the Hindu faith and on the Indian American community’s history and growth. All told, BAPS members met with over fifty State Representatives and Senators to engage them and their respective staff in an active dialogue about issues important to the Indian American community.

    BAPS volunteer Saumil Mehta presents Chris Wallace, President of the Texas Association of Business, with a token of appreciation for speaking at the Indian American Culture Celebration
    BAPS volunteer Saumil Mehta presents Chris Wallace, President of the Texas Association of Business, with a token of appreciation for speaking at the Indian American Culture Celebration

    BAPS volunteer Saumil Mehta presents Chris Wallace, President of the Texas Association of Business, with a token of appreciation for speaking at the Indian American Culture Celebration.

    BAPS volunteer Saumil Mehta presents Chris Wallace, President of the Texas Association of Business, with a token of appreciation for speaking at the Indian American Culture Celebration.

    “This event is not only a chance for Indian Americans to learn about government, but also for their government to learn about Indian culture and to provide a learning experience for senators and representatives,” said Representative Rinaldi , as he and fifteen other Texas State Senators and Representatives joined dozens of prominent community leaders to celebrate Indian-American Culture in Texas.

    Throughout the celebration, speakers shared their thoughts on the diverse contributions of Indian Americans to the economic and cultural fabric of Texas. “We value what BAPS has done for our community, from its Walkathon to its Health Fair…BAPS works tirelessly to make Irving Texas and our District a better place,” remarked Representative Rinaldi.

    “I am honored to be here this evening. I know firsthand from my work and relationship with BAPS about what a great job it does and how it impacts thousands of lives across the state. We are proud to call BAPS a friend,” remarked Mr. Chris Wallace, President of the Texas Association of Business. His remarks highlighted the importance of nurturing and advancing the relationship between the growing population of over 275,000 Indian Americans in Texas and state government.

    The program also touched on the unique role of BAPS mandirs, which provide a prominent platform for India’s rich culture and heritage. “Inspired by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, places of worship, such as the beautiful, hand-carved stone mandir in Stafford, Texas, reflect the diverse culture of our State and demonstrate that the contributions of the Indian American diaspora go beyond simply the economic realm,” said Ketan Inamdar of Missouri City, TX. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual leader of BAPS has always inspired the Indian American community to celebrate our shared culture and develop a sense of identity and pride in our heritage.

    “We look forward to celebrating this type of event again in two years and continuing the great work started today,” said Representative Rinaldi in his concluding remarks to the gathering.

    ABOUT BAPS : The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide socio-spiritual organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, is dedicated to community service, peace, and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families, and individuals. Through a number of social and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors to produce better citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for their roots – their rich Hindu culture. Its 3,300 international centers out of which over support these activities of character-building. BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions.

    About Mahant Swami Maharaj: His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth

    and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained a swami by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. As he was appointed the head (Mahant) of the Mandir in Mumbai, he became known as Mahant Swami. His devout, humble and service-focused life earned him the innermost blessings of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj travels throughout the world inspiring people through his insightful spiritual discourses and disciplined conduct. His virtuous lifestyle and profound devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and gurus are ideals toward which devotees strive. Mahant Swami Maharaj became the guru and President of BAPS upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing in 2016.

    About Pramukh Swami Maharaj : Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Under his leadership, BAPS grew into an international spiritual and humanitarian organization with over 3,300 centers worldwide. He dedicated his life to the well-being of others, traveling throughout the world to foster love, peace, harmony, righteousness, faith in God, and service to humanity. With genuine care and compassion, he reached out to all members of society irrespective of class, color, or age. Recognized and respected as one of India’s greatest spiritual teachers, he lived by and promoted the principle: “In the joy of others, lies our own.”

  • Shalabh Kumar “Shally” is writing his autobiography?

    Shalabh Kumar “Shally” is writing his autobiography?

    CHICAGO (TIP): Shalabh Kumar “Shally”, the man behind Hindu Republican Coalition which supported Trump in his presidential campaign, is believed to be biding his time to get a position in Trump administration.

    Now that he has established himself as a leader of a faction of Hindus, he seems to be eager to promote himself. The grapevine is he is keen to publish his autobiography with a view to letting the world know him better.

    All luck to him.

  • Purdue University Indian Professor named as Jefferson Science Fellow; Indian Student among 2017-2018 Churchill Scholars

    Purdue University Indian Professor named as Jefferson Science Fellow; Indian Student among 2017-2018 Churchill Scholars

    Karthik Kannan is a Professor at Purdue’s Krannert School of Management

    WASHINGTON (TIP): It was a double bonanza for Indian academics at #PurdueUniversity, Indiana. Indian American Karthik Kannan, a Professor at Purdue’s Krannert School of Management, was named to the 2017-18 class of Jefferson Science Fellows, an initiative of the Office of Science and Technology Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State. Shovik Bandyopadhyay an MPhil student of Haematology department at Purdue University was among the 15 students named as 2017-2018 Churchill Scholars by the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States.

    Karthik Kannan is also academic director for the MBA programs (two-year MBA, STEM-MBA, Weekend MBA), academic co-director for MS in BAIM (Business Analytics and Information Management), and co-director for IAC (Information and Analytics Center).

    Kannan has proposed the concept of “Design for Instincts” as a way to organize businesses in the current age, and his research focuses on the same theme. Specifically, he studies how different aspects of information technology may be used to exploit human instincts and biases in order to nudge/manipulate behavior. His papers have been accepted in several leading conferences and journals in the information systems area. He is a member of AIS and INFORMS. He is also a CERIAS Fellow and Krannert’s Faculty Fellow.

    Shovik Bandyopadhyay
    Shovik Bandyopadhyay is an MPhil student of Haematology department at Purdue University

    Shovik Bandyopadhyay, of Eureka, Missouri, studies biological science in the College of Science and Honors College. He is laying the foundation to pursue his goal to discover new and better treatments for blood cancers. Bandyopadhyay, a 2016 Goldwater Scholar, has conducted research in the lab of Ji-Xin Cheng, a professor of biomedical engineering and chemistry, and spent his summers in the lab of Stephen Oh at Washington University in St. Louis. He initiated a cooperative effort between their laboratories to research the combination of two drugs for a synergistic interaction to fight chronic myelogenous leukemia.

    The Churchill Scholarship provides funding to American students for a year of Master’s study in science, mathematics, and engineering at the University of Cambridge, based at Churchill College. The Scholarship was set up at the request of Sir Winston Churchill in order to fulfil his vision of US-UK scientific exchange with the goal of advancing science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic, helping to ensure our future prosperity and security.

  • Indian American celebrity Padma Lakshmi on a book-promotion tour in India

    Indian American celebrity Padma Lakshmi on a book-promotion tour in India

    NEW YORK (TIP): The Emmy-nominated host of the reality TV show Top Chef will be speaking at MOP Vaishnav College in Nungamakkam, Chennai, around 11 a.m., on February 14th, her news media statement read. She would then attend the book event at Taj Coromandel 37, Tirumurthy Nagar, Nungambakkam, Chennai, at 6 p.m. Lakshmi is also scheduled for a brief conversation with The Hindu’s Editor, Mukund Padmanabhan at the Taj Coromandel.

    The book was initially intended to be a guide to healthy eating; however, ended up being autobiographical due to continuous harking back to associated memories, The Hindu reported.

    The book also mentions the horrible experiences she faced, the child sexual abuse and Endometriosis which remained untreated till her 30s. “You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to what happens to you,” she told the daily.

     

  • Former NYC Health& Hospitals CEO Dr. Ram Raju takes key role at Northwell Health

    Former NYC Health& Hospitals CEO Dr. Ram Raju takes key role at Northwell Health

    NEW YORK (TIP):Dr. Ram Raju, former president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, is joining Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in the state of New York.

    Raju, who in November stepped down from his position as president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, will serve as senior vice president and community health officer at Northwell.

    In his new role, Raju will evaluate the needs of the most- vulnerable communities Northwell Health serves, assess programs that enhance the health system’s ability to respond to those needs and collaborate with community-based organizations to create problem-solving solutions.

    “Ram’s vast experience, deep commitment to caring for vulnerable communities and keen understanding of New York’s healthcare delivery system make him the ideal individual to lead our efforts,” said Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, according to a press release. “His most recent work with NYC Health + Hospitals certainly enhances his ability to respond to this challenge.”

    NYC Health + Hospitals, which Raju led from January 2014 until November 2016, is the largest municipally owned health system in the U.S. and a major safety net provider, serving a large proportion of poor and uninsured patient. But it has struggled financially, facing a potential budget gap of $1.8 billion in 2020. At Northwell, Raju’s role will entail examining programs aimed at improving the health system’s response to the community’s needs and working with local organizations to address them.

    Northwell created the position of community health investment officer specifically for Raju, who said his time at NYC Health + Hospitals taught him about what vulnerable communities need and how health policies can affect their outcomes. “My new role with Northwell will enable me to promote, sustain and advance an environment that supports equity and diversity, and help eliminate health disparities

    within the communities served by Northwell throughout the city, Long Island and Westchester County,” Raju said in a press release.

    Before working at NYC Health + Hospitals, Raju was CEO of the Cook County Health & Hospitals System in Chicago, the country’s third-largest public health system. Dr. Raju has extensive leadership experience. Prior to NYC Health + Hospitals, he served as CEO for the Cook County Health & Hospitals System in Chicago, the nation’s third-largest public health system, where he improved cash flow by more than $100 million and changed the system’s financial health during his tenure from 2011-14. He began his medical career at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn and went on to serve as chief operating officer and medical director at NYC Health + Hospitals’ Coney Island Hospital. In 2006, he became the HHC chief medical officer, corporate chief operating officer and executive vice president. Under his leadership, HHC continued to reach great heights in quality, patient safety and health care data transparency.

    Dr. Raju earned his medical diploma and Master of Surgery degree from Madras Medical College in India. He underwent further training in England, where he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and later received an MBA from the University of Tennessee and CPE from the American College of Physician Executives.

    He served as vice-chair of the Greater New York Hospital Association and currently sits on the boards of numerous city, state and national health care organizations, including the American Hospital Association, the New York Academy of Medicine and the Asian Health Care Leaders Association.

    Dr. Raju is the recipient of numerous national recognitions, including Modern Healthcare’s list of the nation’s “100 Most-Influential People in Healthcare.” Modern Healthcare also named him one of the “Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare” and one of the “50 Most-Influential Physician Executives in Healthcare.” In 2013, he was named a Business Leader of Color by Chicago United.

  • Indian American Model/ Actor Prakash Patil is “Mr. UNITED NATIONS 2016-17”

    Indian American Model/ Actor Prakash Patil is “Mr. UNITED NATIONS 2016-17”

    International Model/Actor – Prakash Patil was nominated as Mr. USA from USA at United Nations Pageant World finals and brought home the winning title the “MR. United Nations 2016”. The Pageant was held in Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica, with contestants participating from many different countries across the world.

    The United Nations Pageant has been conceptualized as a prestigious international event, bringing together representatives of a wide range of communities and cultures from all over the Globe; from the world’s most culturally diverse state, the delegates aim to share common values and foster international friendship and understanding. The pageant’s principal objective is to identify and showcase the world’s best tourism cause ambassadors; those who have the skills, talents and personalities best suited to promote their respective countries in furtherance of tourism, international goodwill and cultural harmony. Apart from a strong emphasis on goodwill tourism protection programs and destinations promotion.

    Prakash was judged on different rounds namely High Fashion Wear, National Costume, Evening wear, Sportswear and Interview (Question and Answer) and charity work. During Interview round Prakash articulated with excellent social and conversational skills. He expressed himself clearly, diplomatically, and projected a pleasant personality, and approachable at all times. At National costume, he wore outstanding Shervani (Sponsored by Vasavi Collections) a national symbols/heritage of his country. Prakash dignified spirit, energy, creativity and the own personal interpretation with sense of style. In Fashion Wear round Prakash had enlightening costume (Sponsored by Designer Mischka Velesco), his fashion & style on the runway was memorizing. He won Best High Fashion Award.

    He is very well-renowned and commercially successful model as compared to other Indian Models in USA. He has accomplished so much in such a short span of time.

    Prakash had worked on main stream American Modeling runway such as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Couture New York Fashion Week, NYC Fashion Week, IIFA preview runway, Brooklyn Fashion Week and had been show stopper for high scale designers. Prakash has been featured in top notch magazines like Floss magazine, Moetic Magazine, Alize La Vie Magazine, Vicissitude Magazine, Black Tie International Magazine, globalfashionwire.com etc.

    The recent title of Mr. United Nations has undoubtedly added another feather in his already decorated cap, which gives a moment of pride, not just to Prakash but to each and every one of us. Patil stands out from other models; because he has expanded his brand into other forms of entertainment, is professional under any and all circumstances; has incredible talent, class, and poise. Prakash is known not only for being attractive but also for knowing how to work all the angles. In addition, his talent, skill, looks; accomplishments, personal traits, and overall brand make him commercially more marketable and most successful amongst his Indian Model Peers in the USA.

    As an Actor Prakash played a lead role in music video album for famous Bollywood singers Shreya Ghoshal and Pankaj Kumar which has more than 164,0000 views on youtube. Patil played a unique role as actor in films like The Other Side of New York, Spices of Liberty, They always Win and currently Brand ambassador for Lejubon Ties.

    The humble and soft-spoken Prakash gives all the credit of his success to his parents who live in India and Special thanks to Mr. Leon Williams (CEO & President of United Nations Pageants). After winning the most coveted title of Mr. United Nations, Prakash adds, “I wish to thank everyone for giving me such a great opportunity to showcase my talent across the globe. It is a great moment of glory as I am honored at such a prestigious event in front of such illustrious guests. I look forward to using this opportunity to achieve greater heights and giving back to those who have showered their love on me and believed in me. I will utilize my achievements for the welfare of people in the world and towards world peace.”

     

  • USCIS to increase scrutiny of Indian IT firms, L-1 visa holders will be under the scanner

    USCIS to increase scrutiny of Indian IT firms, L-1 visa holders will be under the scanner

    WASHINGTON, DC (TIP) – US is getting ready to crack down on the number of foreign workers brought into the country with L-1 visas over the course of this year, meaning that Indian IT companies with branches in the US will see a significant uptick in federal government scrutiny.

    Indian companies already lead firms of any other nationality in the number of L-1A and L-1B petitions they filed in the US. Over the course of fiscal years 2002-2011, seven of the top 10 L-1 visa employers were either founded, headed, or based in India or by Indians – in fact, it wasn’t just any seven, it was the top seven. IBM India, Wipro, Infosys, Satyam, and HCL all combined for a staggering 66,119 L-1 visa petitions over that 10 year period.

    As a whole, the top 10 petitioned for 70,227 L-1 visas. This means that companies with ties to India ended up accounting for a whopping 94% of total L-1 visa petitions during that time frame. TCS alone accounted for 25,908 petitions, or just under 37%. Cognizant, which is based in the US, founded by Kumar Mahadeva, and has its headquarters in Chennai, tallied 19,719 petitions, equaling about 28%.

    India is also one of the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B short-term work visa program, which will open its 2017 application window on April 1. Industry insiders expect the already sizeable cap of 65,000 visas to be reached in a matter of just days. Over the past few months, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has said that it will now investigate L-1 petitions and holders as much as it does for H-1Bs.

    Speaking to the Economic Times, Murthy Law Firm founder Sheela Murthy said that the USCIS scrutiny will affect all companies and that the crackdown will severely curtail the number of Indian employees that corporations are able to send between the two nations. Couple this with the proposed fees of as much as $10,000 for each worker visa petition in the immigration reform bill, and the US is clearly trying to keep IT job hiring as domestic as possible.

    IT companies hiring Indians and other foreign workers have already felt the effects of Uncle Sam breathing down their necks. Infosys paid $34 million in an out-of-court settlement with the Department of Justice over alleged abuse of the visa system in bringing workers into the country, while Oracle has also come under fire in recent weeks for allegedly paying foreign workers as much as $50,000-$60,000 less than American ones.

    In total, the outsourcing industry is said to be worth as much as $108 billion per year, according to some estimates.

    The immigration reform bill could significantly impact how visas to highly skilled workers are given out. The legislation has gotten new wind under its wings now that 2017 is underway, and President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night may touch on the Commander-in-Chief’s resurgent desire to get the legislation passed this year.

  • Indian-American student from Texas named 2017 Presidential scholar nominee

    Indian-American student from Texas named 2017 Presidential scholar nominee

    MISSOURI CITY (TIP): Shreya Bhadriraju, an Indian-American teen is among 60 students in the US who have been nominated for the 2017 Presidential Scholars program for exemplifying academic and artistic excellence. A student of Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, Shreya is among the Arts nominees announced by The National YoungArts Foundation on January 31 for the 2017 US Presidential Scholars.

    Modeled after National YoungArts Week, the organization’s signature program held annually in Miami. YoungArts’ regional programs offer life-changing experiences, guidance and support to YoungArts Winners nationwide through interdisciplinary workshops, seminars and master classes with renowned leaders in their fields. This year, 691 emerging artists (ages 15-18 or grades 10-12) from 42 states were selected as YoungArts Winners for their outstanding work and accomplishments across the literary, visual, design and performing arts. Regional programs are open to Winners from all award levels-Finalist, Honorable Mention and Merit-and will take place in Miami, Los Angeles and New York in February, March and April, respectively, with opportunities to engage with local audiences in their communities.

    “YoungArts’ regional programs bring together some of the nation’s most valuable cultural and educational institutions to support our nation’s next generation of artists,” said Carolina García Jayaram, President and CEO of the National YoungArts Foundation. “We are especially proud to announce a new partnership with the CAP UCLA, which makes real the vision to expand our reach across the country, and provide many more aspiring artists with the collaborative and career-building experiences that define YoungArts.”

    During the program, all Scholars receive a Presidential Medallion presented on behalf of the US President and participate in several recognition activities.

  • IAPC Atlanta Chapter Celebrates Republic Day

    IAPC Atlanta Chapter Celebrates Republic Day

    The Indo American Press Club (IAPC) celebrated India’s 68th Republic Day as it formally launched its Atlanta chapter on January 28 at the Global Mall.

    The event brought together top community leaders of different faiths, and ethnic groups on a single platform as Indians to celebrate the Republic Day.

    “We normally have gatherings in our religious or language based groups. But this was on a wider and higher level platform, where we symbolically expressed our unity in diversity as sons and daughters of the great Nation of Bharat,” said Mustafa Ajmeri, social activist who was one of the honorees at the event.

    Nagesh Singh, Consul General of India in Atlanta, was the Chief Guest. Charlotte Nash, chair of Commissioners of Gwinnet County, was the Guest of Honor.

    After the Presidential address by Dominic Chackonal, IAPC President of Atlanta Chapter, prominent Indian Americans which included   Antony Thaliath, Executive Director Gandhi Foundation USA, Narender Reddy, Political Activist and Community leader, and Veena Rao, Editor of NRI Pulse newspaper spoke on the occasion.

    Honoring and recognizing prominent Indo Americans in different fields was appreciated by one and all. Life Achievement award was given to Dr. Sujatha Reddy. Humanitarian Award went to Dr. Jay Sampath. Businessman of the year was Satwant Singh, CEO of Doaba Consulting. Entrepreneur Award was bagged by Joy PI, CEO of Joy TV. Award of Honor was given to social activists Mustafa Ajmeri and Sabu Chemmalakuzhy. Media Excellence Award went to Parthiv N Parekh of Khabar Magazine.

    Winner of Photography contest was Siby Karikkampally and Essay writing competitionwinner was Joshua Mathew.

    A book written by poet Subini Lawrence was released on the occasion. The paintings by the famous artist Vinod Sharma added color to the event.

    IAPC is New York based with several chapters in USA and Canada.

    (Based on a Press Release)

  • Dr. Neeta Jain sworn in as Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 25

    Dr. Neeta Jain sworn in as Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 25

    NEW YORK (TIP): New York City Democrats were at Queens College on January 21st, 2017 for the swearing in ceremony of Dr. Neeta Jain as the Democratic District Leader for Assembly District 25, Part B which includes Flushing, Kew Gardens Hills, Hillcrest, and Hillside Avenue. Celebrity broadcaster and activist Renee Mehrra was the emcee of the prestigious event. Over 400 people attended the ceremony which included  Dr. Jain’s constituents, civic leaders, members of the South Asian community and Queens district leaders.

    The ceremony opened with the presentation of colors by Francis Lewis High School JROTC color guard commanded by Sergeant Major Charles Cabrera. Dr. Uma Mysorekar, President of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, recited the auspicious opening prayer to Lord Ganesha and Anandita Guha performed Ganesha Vandhana, a traditional Indian dance honoring Lord Ganesha.

    Dr. Jain joined the Queens community over 20 years ago and has a long history of serving the community both socially and politically. Her core values of humanity and peace have fueled her passion to serve the community. She has also represented the South Asian community and worked hard to give them a voice in politics. Due to her hard work as a team member of Diwali Stamp Project and collaboration with other officials and organizations, the US Postal Service launched a forever stamp for the Indian New Year Diwali in 2016. She would like to further advocate for the Hindu Holidays Campaign and continue to petition for Diwali as a religious holiday in New York City schools calendar.

    Dr. Jain’s passion for the South Asian community extends to all in the community as is evidenced by the support from officials and district leaders of all faiths and backgrounds. Diversity and inclusiveness was a common theme among the speakers at the event. Keynote Speaker, Congressman Crowley chairman of the House Democratic caucus administered the oath of office to Dr. Jain over the Jinvani, the sacred book of Jains. Dr. Jain was recognized for her laurels and accomplishments by Congressman Gregory Meeks, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer as well as NYC Council members Rory Lancman, Barry Grodenchik and Peter Koo. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and Lt. Governor Hochul send her congratulations and good wishes for her new endeavors. Mayor De Blasio, who could not be there in person, sent a congratulatory letter to Dr. Jain applauding her for her civic work. Attorney Ravi Batra and Harish Thakkar congratulated Dr. Jain on behalf of the Indian American community.

    In her speech, Dr. Neeta Jain made a commitment to address issues of her district including healthcare, education, women and senior citizens. The program concluded with entertainment from Sandra Productions, Korean American Association of Queens and the NYC Bhangra Group.

  • Indian American writer Bharati Mukherjee dies at 76

    Indian American writer Bharati Mukherjee dies at 76

    Bharati Mukherjee, whose works examined the Indian American immigrant experience, died on Saturday, January 28, at the New York University Hospital.

    Mukherjee was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis in the past few years. She suffered from cardiomyopathy, said her husband, author Clark Blaise in an official statement.

    “She begged for death,” Blaise was quoted by The San Francisco Chronicle as saying. “She was really not in pain as such, but she realized there was no turning around.”

    The paper described the author as the “Chronicler of Indian American life.”

    The Kolkata-born Mukherjee was a Professor Emerita in the department of English at University of California, Berkeley, and her works chronicled the lives of Indians on the subcontinent and in the United States.

    Mukherjee graduated from the University of Calcutta in 1959 and did Master’s from the University of Baroda. She traveled to the United States in the 1960s. She earned a master of fine arts degree from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 1963. Later she pursued a doctorate in comparative literature in 1969, Iowa.

    Mukherjee married Blaise, a Canadian American author, in 1963. They had been together for 53 years.

    Mukherjee is best known for her 1989 novel, Jasmine, which is about a young Indian Punjabi woman in the United States, who, trying to adapt to the American way of life in order to be able to survive, changes identities several times.

    Mukherjee is also known for her 1977 memoir, Day and Nights in Calcutta, which she co-wrote with her husband.

    Her other books include The Tiger’s Daughter (1972), Wife (1975), Darkness (1985), Wanting America: Selected Stories (1995), Leave It to Me (1997), Desirable Daughters (2002), The Tree Bride (2004) and Miss New India (2011).

    Mukherjee became a US citizen in 1989, the year she joined at UC Berkeley and after retiring from there in 2013, she and Blaise moved to New York, where they have had a home for 35 years. Before starting her stint at the UC Berkeley, the celebrated writer had a teaching career with several institutions including McGill University, Skidmore College, Queens College and City University of New York.

    In addition to her husband, Mukherjee is survived by their son Bernard. The couple’s other son, Bart, died last year at age 51.

  • Indian-American lawmakers slam RHC

    Indian-American lawmakers slam RHC

    Indian-American lawmakers have slammed the US-based Republican Hindu Coalition for supporting President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, which they alleged takes the country backwards “towards dark times”.

    “As the most senior Indian-American member of Congress, I believe that Donald Trump’s executive order does not reflect who we are as Americans,” Ami Bera, a three-time Congressman, said.

    “The actions of the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) on Wednesday do not reflect the breadth and diversity of the Indian-American community, or our diaspora,” he said in a rare criticism of an Indian-American organization related to the Republican Party.

    Bera, along with three other Indian-American lawmakers, vented out his anger against the Coalition. The Coalition has supported Trump’s executive order on immigration and refugees.

    “We applaud the Trump administration for taking this decisive move to protect our citizens from Islamic terror,” its chairman Shalabh Kumar said on Tuesday.

    The executive order signed on Friday, indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the US, and blocked citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – for 90 days.

    Bera said it was very difficult for people of Indian origin to immigrate to the US before 1965, “and this order takes us backwards towards that dark time.”

    Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said the Coalition does not represent them. “As Indian-Americans, we believe deeply in pluralism, in freedom of religion, in freedom of speech and in a democratic diverse society.”

    “To them, I would say, shame. Shame for trying to divide the Indian-American community.

    As a Hindu, I can tell you that this group does not represent the much larger Indian- American community that honor our birth countries commitment to religious freedom and democracy,” Jayapal said asserting that Indian-Americans “will not be bullied” by this president.

    “I call on our communities to condemn and resist these executive orders,” Jayapal said. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi termed the executive order an assault on Constitution which “only serves to divide Americans, not unify them.

    It is no longer time to agonies but to organize. It is time to do everything we can to oppose this executive order,” he said.

    Congressman Ro Khanna said, “We cannot allow policies to exist that are not consistent with our founding ideals and values. I swore in on the Constitution, and will always stand up for Constitutional principles.”

    Former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal said, “This executive order does not make us safer; it imposes the most severe of burdens on the most vulnerable among us.

    It goes against our responsibilities from the Geneva Conventions and poses an unjust, un-American and what we believe to be an unconstitutional ban on immigrants and refugees,” Biswal said.

  • Two Indian American authors make it to Wellcome Book Prize 2017 longlist

    Two Indian American authors make it to Wellcome Book Prize 2017 longlist

    NEW YORK (TIP): Two Indian Americans – Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee and late Stanford neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Kalanithi were among those longlisted for 2017 Wellcome Book Prize.

    Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee

    Siddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer physician and researcher, a stem cell biologist, and a cancer geneticist. He is the author of ‘The Laws of Medicine’ and ‘The Emperor of All Maladies: A biography of cancer’, which won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction and the Guardian First Book Award.

    Siddhartha Mukherjee was longlisted for his non-fictional work “The Gene: An Intimate History,” which was published in May 2016. The Gene’ is an epic, moving history of a scientific idea coming to life. The story of the gene begins in an obscure Augustinian abbey in Moravia in 1856, where a monk stumbles on the idea of a ‘unit of heredity’. It intersects with Darwin’s theory of evolution, and collides with the horrors of Nazi eugenics in the 1940s.

    Late Stanford neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Kalanithi

    Paul Sudhir Arul Kalanithi, who died of lung cancer in March 2015, was named to the list for his memoir, “When Breath Becomes Air,” which was released posthumously in February 2016.

    Paul Kalanithi was a neurosurgeon and writer. At the age of 36, on the verge of completing a decade’s training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live.

    ‘When Breath Becomes Air’ chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity – the brain – and finally into a patient and a new father.

    The 2017 longlist of 12 books was selected by a judging panel chaired by celebrated Scottish crime writer Val McDermid, alongside Simon Baron-Cohen, Gemma Cairney, Tim Lewens and Di Speirs. The Wellcome Book Prize celebrates the topics of health and medicine in literature. It awards£30,000 each year to the winning author, and aims to stimulate interest and debate about medical science through books and reading. The prize crosses genres: fiction and non-fiction are both eligible, so its shortlists can include biography, crime, historical fiction, current affairs, sci-fi and more.

    The shortlist for the prize will be announced at a press conference on Tuesday 14 March at the London Book Fair. The winner will be announced at an evening ceremony on Monday 24 April at Wellcome Collection.

  • Indian American charged with impersonating US Tax Official: Abhijeetsinh Jadega of Miami, Florida, faces 12-count indictment

    Indian American charged with impersonating US Tax Official: Abhijeetsinh Jadega of Miami, Florida, faces 12-count indictment

    MIAMI, FL (TIP): A 29-year-old Indian American man and another person have been charged with pretending to be US tax officials and falsely representing victims from the department to pay money to their bank accounts, according to officials.

    Abhijeetsinh Jadeja and Rachel Jean Rorgen (41), both residents of Florida, were charged on Friday and they face 12-count indictment, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, possessing fifteen or more unauthorized access devices and identity theft.

    According to Southern Florida federal prosecutor Wifredo A. Ferrer, Jadeja made phone calls to his alleged victims making them believe that they owed money to the government and made them send money to bank accounts controlled by him and his co-conspirators. The transactions happened between January 2014 and March 2016. Jadeja and Roragen’s co-conspirators impersonated US government officials including Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during telephone calls.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Daya Nathan and it is not clear if this arrest was related to Mumbai call center scam that cheated at least 15,000 Americans for more than $250 million.

  • Ashok Amritraj Appointed UN in India Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals

    Ashok Amritraj Appointed UN in India Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals

    Award-winning Hollywood film producer and Wimbledon tennis player, Ashok Amritraj has been appointed the United Nations in India Goodwill Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chairman and CEO of the Hyde Park Entertainment Group, Mr. Amritraj is the first Ambassador for the UN in India.

    An internationally-renowned iconic filmmaker, Ashok Amritraj has made over 100 films during the span of his 30-year extraordinary career garnering global acclaim as well as worldwide revenues in excess of $2 billion. He has been a pioneering force in bridging India and Hollywood through film and media.

    Accepting the honor, Mr. Amritraj said “I look forward to working with the United Nations in India to amplify awareness about the SDGs. It is a tremendous opportunity that brings together my personal desire to serve the country of my birth, and my passion to leverage the power of the media for the creation of diverse, socially-relevant content”.

    Welcoming Mr. Amritraj to the UN Family, Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator said, “We look forward to working with Mr. Amritraj as a powerful advocate for the SDGs, and to his support in showcasing innovations and cutting-edge solutions to development challenges that are being generated in India”.

    A passionate believer in the power of the media to effect social change, Mr. Amritraj produced and hosted the acclaimed series, ‘Chance of a Lifetime’ in partnership with the UNHQ in which young filmmakers from Asia competed to create original, short stories highlighting issues related to water, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, migration and education. The winners were feted at the Cannes Film Festival.

  • New York Asian Women’s Center Changes Name to Womankind

    New York Asian Women’s Center Changes Name to Womankind

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

    Indie rock artist Queen V rocks the press conference
    Photo courtesy Yinan Xia

    “We changed our name to create an identity that speaks to the power of our unique ways of thinking and doing – changing paradigms, building and healing,” said Larry Lee, executive director of Womankind. “And to show that we are more inclusive and transforming, we changed because we had outgrown our name.”

    For 35 years, Womankind has helped Asian women and their children rise above trauma and build a path to healing through counseling, safe and confidential emergency housing, immigration and legal services, economic empowerment programs and so much more.

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

    “It was great to be able to tell my story of abuse through the medium of virtual reality and to be able to share the film through social media,” said Brittany. “I hope the film encourages more people from my generation to report abuse and speak out against violence.”

    The organization also announced the opening of a new community office in Brooklyn, which will allow advocates to provide services for double the number of victims from that community. The Brooklyn Center makes for a total of THREE community offices and TWO emergency residences that Womankind manages in New York.

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

  • FIA celebrates Republic Day with zest and fervor

    FIA celebrates Republic Day with zest and fervor

    As per tradition, the newly elected officials of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of the tristate (NY, NJ &CT) took the oath of office during India’s Republic Day celebration on January 28th at the auditorium of Plainfield High School in Plainfield, New Jersey.

    Deputy Consul General Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra administered the oath of office to the new officials. The new officials of FIA are: Andy Bhatia(President); Srujal Parikh (Executive Vice President); Alok Kumar (Vice President); Chhavi Dharayan (Secretary); Jatin Patel (Joint Secretary); Himanshu Bhatia (Treasurer). FIA Chairman Ramesh Patel felicitated the outgoing and incoming officials. TV Asia Chairman HR Shah, who was named Padma Shri awardee by Government of India, was also felicitated during the event.

    The event had its annual signature show, the ‘Dance Pe Chance,’ a dance competition for children. This year the competition was attended by 11 dance schools. It was an amazing sight to see 450 dancers in vibrant costumes on stage at the auditorium of Plainfield High School in Plainfield, New Jersey, on January 28th 2017. Children as young as five years old showcased their talent while the choreographers displayed their creativity.

    Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra congratulated the new officials and appreciated the dance presentations characterizing them as charismatic and enchanting.

    FIA celebrated the Republic Day of India with its annual signature show, the 'Dance Pe Chance'
    FIA celebrated the Republic Day of India with its annual signature show, the ‘Dance Pe Chance’
  • Indian American leaders Condemn Trump’s “Extreme Vetting” Executive Order

    Indian American leaders Condemn Trump’s “Extreme Vetting” Executive Order

    WASHINGTON (TIP): On February 1, the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Victory Fund held a press conference with Members of Congress and Indian American leaders at the National Press Club to condemn the Trump administration’s immigration executive orders. On behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community representing a diversity of faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, speakers stood together in opposing these discriminatory executive orders.

    “As the most senior Indian American Member of Congress, I believe that Donald Trump’s executive order does not reflect who we are as Americans,” said Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-7). “The actions of the Republican Hindu Coalition today do not reflect the breadth and diversity of the Indian American community, or our diaspora. Prior to 1965, it was very difficult for people of Indian origin to immigrate to the United States, and this order takes us backwards toward that dark time. That’s why I’m fighting back, and today sponsored the SOLVe Act to repeal this discriminatory executive order.”

    “I was elected to help unify our country. This executive order from President Trump is an assault on our Constitution; it hurts working families; and it only serves to divide Americans, not unify them,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8). “It is no longer time to agonize but to organize. It is time to do everything we can to oppose this executive order.”

    “It is unthinkable that this country, which welcomed me when I arrived at 16 years old, would so boldly, defiantly and barbarically turn its back on immigrants and refugees,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7). “Let us be clear that President Trump came into office by demonizing and ‘otherizing’ immigrants and refugees. While we had hoped that perhaps he would move from being a divisive candidate to being a unifying President, he is failing us. I call on our communities to condemn and resist these executive orders.”

    “The temporary ban in the executive order is not constitutional,” said Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17). “We cannot allow policies to exist that are not consistent with our founding ideals and values. I swore in on the Constitution, and will always stand up for Constitutional principles.”

    “This executive order does not make us safer; it imposes the most severe of burdens on the most vulnerable among us,” said Nisha Desai Biswal, former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. “To single out people because of their nationality or their faith is unethical. It goes against our responsibilities from the Geneva Conventions and poses an unjust, un-American and what we believe to be an unconstitutional ban on immigrants and refugees.”

    “I believe this executive order will not only be ineffective, it will be counterproductive,” said Manpreet Singh Anand, former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. “National security cooperation, partnership and building trust with other countries in our efforts. This executive order will not achieve its intended policy outcomes. By not including interagency government professionals, the order was horribly executed and will end up being unlawful as well as alienate our partners. Executive orders like this one will be counterproductive to the very national security goals that it purports to achieve.”

    “We cannot allow ourselves to be divided by this un-American executive order. It is a stain on our history, just like slavery, internment and denial or voting rights,” said Shekar Narasimhan, chair of the AAPI Victory Fund. “Americans confronted and overcame these challenges and we will do the same here. We unite and call on our Members of Congress to deny President Trump the funds to carry out these unlawful executive orders.”

  • Nikki Haley sworn in as US ambassador to the UN

    Nikki Haley sworn in as US ambassador to the UN

    On January 25, Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was sworn in as US ambassador to the United Nations. Vice President Mike Pence swore in Haley who served as the 116th Governor of South Carolina from January 2011 to January 2017. The South Carolina-born daughter of Indian immigrants became the state’s first female and first minority governor.

    The U.S. Senate officially confirmed Haley as the next ambassador to the United Nations Tuesday evening (January 24) in a 96-4 vote. The Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of confirmation, with just four senators – Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democrats Chris Coons of Delaware and Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico – voting against her. Haley resigned as South Carolina’s Republican governor following the vote. She was succeeded by Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster.

    After officially resigning, Haley addressed a crowd in the Capitol lobby.

    “There’s lots of work to do, but we have the right person to do it,” she said, referring to McMaster. “It’s an absolute privilege and honor to turn over the reins to you.”

    Trump’s pick came as a surprise to many as Haley loudly criticized Trump during the GOP primary and endorsed one of his rivals, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

  • 13 Indian-American Students named Finalists in “Super Bowl of Science”

    13 Indian-American Students named Finalists in “Super Bowl of Science”

    Thirteen Indian-American students, including one each from New York and New Jersey, were among 40 high school students who were declared finalists Jan. 24 in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors in the U.S.

    The Indian-American students include Archana Verma from Jericho Senior High School, Jericho, New York and Indrani Das from the Academy for Medical Science Technology, Hackensack, New Jersey.

    The finalists were selected, based on the scientific rigor and world-changing potential of their research projects.

    They will go to Washington, D.C. from March 9-15 to undergo a rigorous judging process to determine the top ten winners. They will also have the opportunity to meet with national leaders and share their projects with the public at the National Geographic Society.

    The selected students will compete for more than $1.8 million in top awards -more than half of the Regeneron Science Talent Search total annual award distribution of $3.1 million. The top 10 awards range from $40,000 to$250,000 for the first place winner. The winners will be announced at a formal awards gala at the National Building Museum on March 14.

    The finalists’ projects cover multiple disciplines of science, including behavioral and social science, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computer science, computational biology and bioinformatics, engineering, mathematics, medicine and health, physics, and space science.

    “These talented young scientists are already exploring life-changing solutions for the world’s problems and are poised to lead innovation for future generations,” said George D. Yancopoulos, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron.

    The Regeneron Science Talent Search, founded and produced by Society for Science and the Public, has been described as the “Super Bowl of Science.”

    Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science and the Public and publisher of Science News, said in a statement that these 40 young scientists, engineers and mathematicians are poised to be the next generation of leaders in business and academia.

    “Science breeds curiosity, enabling innovators to develop solutions that will help solve our world’s most pressing challenges. We are proud to celebrate 75 years of recognizing new innovations and research demonstrating the outstanding capabilities of young minds,” Ajmera said.

    The finalists are from 34 schools in 17 states. Sixty-two percent of them are male while 38 percent are female. The 40 were selected from roughly 300 scholars and more than 1,700 entrants based on the originality and creativity of their scientific research as well as their achievement and leadership both inside and outside of the classroom, according to a Regeneron press statement.

  • Indian-American attorney appointed to key White House post

    Indian-American attorney appointed to key White House post

    WASHINGTON(TIP): US President Donald Trump has appointed prominent Indian-American attorney Uttam Dhillon to a key White House position to assist him on ethics and compliance matters.

    Dhillon, who served as chief oversight counsel for the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, has been appointed as special assistant to the President.

    In this position, he would be part of the legal team to serve under White House Counsel Donald F McGahn with respect to compliance and ethics matters.

    Prior to joining Financial Services, Dhillon served as chief of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement.

    He previously worked as an associate deputy attorney general for the Department of Justice, Chief Counsel for the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, Policy Director for the US House of Representatives Policy Committee, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles.

    Dhillon graduated from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley in 1987.

    Other members of the team are Stefan C Passantino who has been commissioned to serve as deputy assistant to the President and deputy counsel to the President along with Scott Gast and James D Schultz who have been commissioned to serve as special assistants to the President and associate counsel to the President.

    “The appointment of a team of this caliber reflects the importance of ethics compliance to the President and this administration,” said White House counsel Don McGahn.

  • TV Asia Chairman HR Shah and 2 others from USA among recipients of Padma awards

    TV Asia Chairman HR Shah and 2 others from USA among recipients of Padma awards

    NEW YORK (TIP): TV Asia Chairman/CEO and prominent Indian American community leader HR Shah was on Wednesday, January 25 named for the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor in the field of Literature & Education – Journalism. Two other Indian Americans are also named for this year’s Padma Shri award – Ustad Imrat Khan in the field of Art-Music and Anant Agarwal in the field of Literature & Education.

    The Padma awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year. This year the President of India has approved conferment of Padma Awards to 89 persons. The list comprises of 7 Padma Vibhushan, 7 Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri Awardees. 19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 5 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and 6 posthumous awardees.

    Mr HR Shah is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which is bestowed only on those who display significant contributions to their own communities and to the US at large. He has received more than a hundred awards and citations from across the globe in serving ethnic American communities in different fields. He is a founding member of GOPIO as well as Past President and Trustee of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Ellis Island-National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO). As the Chairman and Trustee of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (USA), the world famous institute of Indian culture, education, music and the arts, he has worked for the upliftment in lifestyle of Indians via education. With TV Asia, Mr Shah is the first NRI to run a 24/7 TV station in North America. He is also the first NRI to own a chain store business anywhere in the world – Krauszer’s Food Stores.

    Shah said “I am deeply humbled, honored and overjoyed that the Republic of India has decided to confer on me the Padma Shri”. He said he would “rededicate” himself to help India and US further strengthen their ties.

    “I look forward to receiving the Padma Shri in New Delhi later this year and rededicate myself to helping India and the United States further their close relations, as well as to promote India’s rich culture and heritage,” Shah said, January 25 after he was announced as a recipient of India’s prestigious civilian honor.

    (Click here to Read the profile of HR Shah published recently in The Indian Panorama)

    Ustad Imrat Khan, younger brother of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, has established his reputation not only by an absolute mastery of two different instruments, the sitar and the surbahar, but also by the consistent purity and integrity with which he presents every aspect of the great Indian classical genres, spanning the whole spectrum of feeling and expression. He is the senior performer of the Imdadkhani gharana, the school of sitar and surbahar performance named after his grandfather Imdad Khan. He spends a portion of each year teaching classical Indian music and instructing sitar students at Washington University in Saint Louis. In 1988 Imrat Khan received a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the president of India.

    Anant Agarwal is currently the president of eDX.com in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. In 2012, he was named by Forbes magazine among the 15 “classroom revolutionaries” who are using innovative technologies to reinvent education for students and teachers globally. Agarwal did his early education in city’s St Aloysius College right from std 1 to second PUC (1977). He then moved to IIT-Madras where he did his BTech, and followed it up with MS and PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University, USA. At MIT, he led the development of Alewife, an early cache coherent multiprocessor, and founded Tilera, a fabless semiconductor company focusing on scalable multicore embedded processor design.

    Here is thecomplete list of 2017 Padma award winners. The list comprises of 7 Padma Vibhushan, 7 Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri Awardees.  19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 5 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and 6 Posthumous awardees.

    PADMA VIBHUSHAN / Awardee Field of Prominence

    • Sharad Pawar / Public Affairs
    • Murli Manohar Joshi / Public Affairs
    • P.A. Sangma (posthumous) / Public Affairs
    • Sunder Lal Patwah (posthumous) / Public Affairs
    • K.J. Yesudas / Art – Music
    • Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev / Others – Spiritualism
    • Udipi Ramachandra Rao / Science & Engineering

    PADMA BHUSHAN / Awardee Field of Prominence

    • Vishwa Mohan Bhatt / Art – Music
    • Devi Prasad Dwivedi / Literature & Education
    • Tehemton Udwadia / Medicine
    • Ratna Sundar Maharaj / Others-Spiritualism
    • Swami Niranjana Nanda Saraswati / Others-Yoga
    • H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (Foreigner) / Literature & Education
    • Cho Ramaswamy (Posthumous) / Literature & Education –Journalism

    PADMA SHRI / Awardee Field of Prominence

    • Basanti Bisht / Art-Music
    • Chemanchery Kunhiraman Nair / Art-Dance
    • Aruna Mohanty / Art-Dance
    • Bharathi Vishnuvardhan / Art-Cinema
    • Sadhu Meher / Art-Cinema
    • T K Murthy / Art-Music
    • Laishram Birendrakumar Singh / Art-Music
    • Krishna Ram Chaudhary / Art-Music
    • Baoa Devi / Art-Painting
    • Tilak Gitai / Art-Painting
    • Aekka Yadagiri Rao / Art-Sculpture
    • Jitendra Haripal / Art-Music
    • Kailash Kher / Art-Music
    • Parassala B Ponnammal / Art-Music
    • Sukri Bommagowda / Art-Music
    • Mukund Nayak / Art-Music
    • PurushottamUpadhyay / Art-Music
    • AnuradhaPaudwal / Art-Music
    • WareppaNaba Nil / Art-Theatre
    • Tripuraneni Hanuman Chowdary / Civil Service
    • T.K. Viswanathan  / Civil Service
    • Kanwal Sibal / Civil Service
    • Birkha Bahadur Limboo Muringla / Literature & Education
    • Eli Ahmed / Literature & Education
    • Narendra Kohli / Literature & Education
    • G. Venkatasubbiah / Literature & Education
    • AkkithamAchyuthan Namboothiri / Literature & Education
    • Kashi Nath Pandita / Literature & Education
    • Chamu Krishna Shastry / Literature & Education
    • Harihar KripaluTripathi / Literature & Education
    • Michel Danino / Literature & Education
    • Punam Suri / Literature & Education
    • VG Patel / Literature & Education
    • V Koteswaramma / Literature & Education
    • Balbir Dutt / Literature & Education – Journalism
    • BhawanaSomaaya Literature & Education-Journalism
    • Vishnu Pandya Literature & Education-Journalism
    • Subroto Das Medicine
    • Bhakti Yadav Medicine
    • Mohammed Abdul Waheed Medicine
    • Madan MadhavGodbole Medicine
    • DevendraDayabhai Patel Medicine
    • Harkishan Singh Medicine
    • MukutMinz Medicine
    • Arun Kumar Sharma Others-Archaeology
    • Sanjeev Kapoor Others-Culinary
    • MeenakshiAmma Others-Martial Art
    • GenabhaiDargabhai Patel Others-Agriculture
    • ChandrakantPithawa Science & Engineering
    • Ajoy Kumar Ray Science & Engineering
    • ChintakindiMallesham Science & Engineering
    • Jitendra Nath Goswami Science & Engineering
    • DaripalliRamaiah Social Work
    • Girish Bhardwaj Social Work
    • KarimulHak Social Work
    • BipinGanatra Social Work
    • Nivedita Raghunath Bhide Social work
    • AppasahebDharmadhikari Social Work
    • Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal Social Work
    • ViratKohli Sports-Cricket
    • Shekar Naik Sports-Cricket
    • Vikasa Gowda Discus Throw
    • Deepa Malik Sports-Athletics
    • MariyappanThangavelu Sports-Athletics
    • DipaKarmakar Sports-Gymnastics
    • P. R. Shreejesh Sports-Hockey
    • Sakshi Malik Sports-Wrestling
    • Mohan Reddy Venkatrama Bodanapu Trade & Industry
    • Imrat Khan (NRI/PIO) Art-Music
    • Anant Agarwal (NRI/PIO) Literature & Education
    • H.R. Shah (NRI/PIO) Literature & Education-Journalism
    • Suniti Solomon (Posthumous) Medicine
    • Asoke Kumar Bhattacharyya (Posthumous) Others-Archaeology
    • Dr. Mapuskar (Posthumous) Social Work
    • AnuradhaKoirala (Foreigner) Social Work

    (Source: PIB)

     

  • INOC, USA expresses strong objection at ‘Modi’ replacing Gandhiji on KVIC calendar

    INOC, USA expresses strong objection at ‘Modi’ replacing Gandhiji on KVIC calendar

    NEW YORK (TIP): Indian National Overseas Congress, USA strongly opposes the fact that the Prime Minister has replaced Mahatma Gandhi on the wall calendars and table diaries issued by the Government-owned Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The 2017 Calendars and Diaries carry a cover photograph of Narendra Modi, instead of Mahatma Gandhi, who had been on it for decades.

    “We are indeed pained by the action of the commission that reinforces the deep suspicion in the public domain that this is part of an ongoing effort to diminish the heroes of our independence and to erase their relevance”, said George Abraham, Chairman of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA. “Despite the current Government’s efforts, Gandhiji will continue to live forever in the hearts and minds of the freedom loving people everywhere”, Mr. Abraham added.

    “The entire Khadi industry is based on Gandhi’s philosophy, ideas, and ideals. It is ludicrous to think that Modi can ever replace Gandhi as it biggest brand ambassador” said Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of INOC. He further agreed with the assessment in the media that, ‘sitting in front of spinning wheel will never make anyone a Gandhi.’

    “We hope that KVIC will reexamine its wrongheaded decision and restore those calendars with the decade-long practice of using the image of Gandhi Ji who is adored and respected the world over”, Gilzian further added.

  • Indian American community has come of age, says Ambassador Sarna at FIA-led reception

    Indian American community has come of age, says Ambassador Sarna at FIA-led reception

    India’s new Ambassador to the US Navtej Singh Sarna feels that biggest change in the Indian community in the US is that ‘The community has come of age.’ He said that during a welcomereception hosted by Federation of Indian Associations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut (FIA) at the Royal Albert’s Palace on January 12.

    In his speech Sarna, who served in the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, 14 years ago, noted the tremendous changes that happened in his absence. He pointed out the changes and improvement in the Indo-US engagement. There were political changes, like the changes in the prime ministerial level. There were changes in security engagement too. “But the biggest change is the strength and standing the Indian community has acquired. The community has come of age.”

    “Indians are three million in America which is only one percent of the US population. Yet 13 percent of all start-ups are set up by the Indians, 50 percent of all hotel business is controlled by them and 8 percent of all doctors in the US is of Indian origin. It means all of you carry a weight much bigger than what your number of 3 million would have given. Wherever I go I see Indian elected officials in the local level or county level or state level,” Sarna said.

    He argued that the Fabulous Five people of Indian origin in the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives has shown the growing political clout of the community.

    Sarna said he looks at the community’s work from three angles. “The diaspora is constantly engaged with the adopted country,” he said. “At the same time, they (its members) continue their engagements with the motherland. The third thing I noticed is the passion to bring the two together.”

    Going by these standards the Indian community is a huge success, he said.

    The ambassador pointed out that travel to India used to be hard 15 or so years ago, when he was in the U.S.

    He said that is “no more the same, thanks to Air India,” and added that “technology has helped the engagement with India. On TV, we see instantly what happens in India.

    He said things have changed in India, too.

    “It is not the same India when you had left. Opportunities are many, which you did not see during your time there,” Sarna said. “I know you all have invested in India in one way or the other. The Indian community here is a knowledge-based community. Our strength is our knowledge.”

    He pointed out that the US is moving to a new administration soon and said US-India relations are very robust and that everyone knows the strength of this relationship.

    He said, “We are all proud of the way India is moving forward, keeping its many freedoms, preserving unity in a multi-cultural, multi-religious society and the way the parliament functions.”

    New York Consul General Riva Ganguly Das also spoke on the occasion.

    New Jersey State house member Rep Raj Mukherji presented a proclamation in honor of FIA. He said it was a proud day for the community in New Jersey when Gurbir Singh Grewal was sworn in as the prosecutor of Bergen County, the most populous county in the state.

    Mukherji also lamented the apathy of the community to register as voters and go to vote. He said there are about 400,000 Indians in the state, but only very few are registered as voters. In his District in Jersey City, there are 30,000 Indians, comprising 15 percent of the population. Yet only 4,500 people are registered as voters and only 1,700 actually voted. He called for a change in the situation.

    New York based artist Manoj Vyas presented Sarna with a portrait he had made of the ambassador.

    At the start of the event FIA President Andy Bhatia greeted the ambassador and the community. Former president of FIA Ankur Vaidya was the emcee. Suchita Patel and Gurmail Singh Parmar, president of the Garden State Sikh Association presented flowers to the ambassador.

    Ramesh Patel, chairman of FIA, welcomed the Ambassador. He said there is only one ambassador of India, while all in the community are also ambassadors in an informal way.

    Vandana Sharma, regional manager of Air India noted that they are trying to make more gateways to India.

    Anil Bansal, president of the First National Corp and V-Splash, spoke about his career background and support for FIA. He also spoke of the need to bring the two countries together.

    Dr Ajay Lodha, president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, spoke about the recent health summit held in India.

    Albert Jasani of Royal Albert’s Palace, Philippose Philip, general secretary of Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (fokana) Kenny Desai, president TAK Group and vice chair of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Srujal Parekh, executive vice president of FIA, Dr Sanjay Gupta, Pyare Singh of the Carteret Gurdwara, Neal Modi, president of the Association of Indians in America, and Anil Monga, founder of heavenly Palace in Punjab and trustee of America India Foundation were among the speakers.

    FIA President Andy Bhatia introduced HR Shah, chairman of TV Asia and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Shah spoke about the many faceted personality of the ambassador – as a diplomat who served in UK and Israel and also as a renowned author.