Tag: Indian-Origin

VIRGINIA (TIP): Krystle Kaul, a noted Indian American defense and national security expert, is running for Congress from Virginia’s 10th District in the Democratic primary to inspire the next generation of young Indian American girls. Kaul with a 20-plus-year career with the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, says she is seeking to bring her wealth of national security knowledge and experience to the halls of Congress.
Her campaign is driven by a passion for public service, a commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our nation, and a desire to shape a better future for her constituents and the country, she says.
Currently, Kaul runs a defense technology company helping small to large tech companies work with the government. Her clients include startups owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, disabled veteran-owned and women-owned companies, medium-sized businesses and large companies, including Bank of New York Mellon, McKinsey, Intel Corporation and Bain & Company.
Virginia’s 10th Congressional district includes all of Rappahannock County, Fauquier County, and Loudoun County, parts of Fairfax County and Prince William County, as well as the independent cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
“My motivation to run for Congress stems from my desire to be an inspiration for the next generation of young Indian American girls,” she told The American Bazaar. “I aim to empower them to pursue any leadership role they set their sights on in life.”
“I was publishing articles about getting more Indian Americans into politics while working on Capitol Hill when I was 19 years old participating in the Washington Leadership Program,” recalled Kaul.
“Indian Americans have succeeded in virtually all industries in the US, but they are vastly underrepresented in politics,” she said.
“I believe our government system is broken and we need more authentic leaders with moderate voices to help foster an environment of dialogue and effect change for this generation and the next generation to come.”
Asked why she thought she was the best candidate, Kaul said, “As a fervent proponent of defense and national security, with a 20+ year career with the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community I have committed my career to protecting the homeland.”
“As such, I am committed to upholding the importance of defense and security in District 10 which is the predominant industry considering most constituents work in the US defense space,” she said.
“I understand the issues the constituents face because I have walked in their shoes and understand the daily challenges of working in the US defense industrial base,” Kaul said.
“I commit my career to public service where I can make a difference in the lives of our military, veterans, government officials, government contractors, small businesses, minority groups and all of District 10.”
“I am committed to bettering our education, health care and public safety in VA District 10 because our elected officials have not adequately served the people in the VA House,” Kaul added.
According to her website, Kaul has played pivotal roles in shaping the way America approaches its most critical security challenges, particularly through her work with the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service and a deep passion for shaping the future of our nation, it says.
As the former Director of Strategic Communications (GS-15) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Krystle demonstrated her ability to navigate complex national security communication strategies. Her leadership in this role exemplified her dedication to safeguarding the nation and ensuring the clear, effective communication of vital security information.
She also served as the Chief of the Political-Military Intelligence Night Cell on the Department of Defense’s ISIS Crisis Group under Secretary Lloyd Austin at US Central Command contributing significantly to the defense of the homeland during a time of war, the website says.
Notably, she has also contributed her expertise to the National Counterproliferation Center at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as Senior Advisor.
In this capacity, she played a critical role in addressing proliferation threats, reinforcing the security of the nation, and fostering collaboration between intelligence agencies.
Her service as a Senior Advisor to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center underscores her forward-thinking approach to tackling emerging technology-related national security challenges.
Her contributions to projects such as the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Project Salus, an AI predictive modeling effort aimed at combatting the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate her dedication to crisis management and public safety.
Krystle holds double MA degrees from Brown University and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She was working on her PhD at Brown University in Political Science. Kaul has participated in 12 competitive fellowships with the Department of Homeland Security and others.
She also participated in seven elite delegations to India, Israel, China and several other countries. She has in-country experience in 71 countries.
She speaks eight languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, Arabic, Punjabi, Italian and Dari. Kaul holds an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance with a polygraph.

WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): Varun Raj Pucha, the 24-year-old Indian student who was stabbed at a fitness center in the US state of Indiana, has succumbed to his injuries, the university where he was studying has said.

Varun, a computer science student at Valparaiso University, was stabbed in the head with a knife by the assailant Jordan Andrade, 24, at the public gym on October 29 for reasons that the authorities are still investigating.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Varun Raj Pucha. Our campus community has lost one of its own, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Varun’s family and friends as we mourn this devastating loss,” Valparaiso University, a private university in Valparaiso, Indiana, near Chicago said in a statement on Wednesday.

Following the incident, the attacker was arrested and is facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted murder. “The university continues to be in contact with Varun’s family, and we will continue to offer assistance and support wherever possible as they navigate this extremely difficult time. We ask that you join us in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers,” the university said.

A service of remembrance and memorial for Varun is being planned on campus for November 16.

“Our university gives the family and friends of Varun Raj Pucha our deepest condolences. Our thoughts are with his family, and we pray for their healing,” said the university.

Varun had been pursuing an MS in Computer Science and left for the US in August 2022. He was expected to return home (Telangana’s Khammam) after completion of his course next year.

His cousin told ABC7 Chicago that his condition did not improve after the incident. He only had movement on one side of his body and remained unconscious at a hospital in Fort Wayne before his death. Anile Balleboyne is one of just a couple of relatives the student had in the US as his parents and the rest of the family are in India. She said he came to Indiana about a year and a half ago in hopes of getting a good education.

“It’s very difficult because no one would expect this kind of situation for their kids. He had many dreams. He came with many dreams, to financially and emotionally support his family,” Balleboyne said. By Wednesday, the North American Telugu Society had raised USD 90,000 through GoFundMe for Varun’s family.
(Source: PTI)

TORONTO (TIP): Indo-Canadian Sikh poet Rupi Kaur has declined an invitation for a Diwali event on Wednesday from US President Joe Biden’s administration over its response to the situation in Gaza.
“I decline any invitation from an institution that supports the collective punishment of a trapped civilian population—50 per cent of whom are children,” Kaur, 31, wrote in a statement posted on X on Monday, November 6. “I’m surprised this administration finds it acceptable to celebrate Diwali, when their support of the current atrocities against Palestinians represent the exact opposite of what this holiday means to many of us,” the author of “Milk and Honey” said.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health said on Monday that the Palestinian death toll has crossed 10,000, including 4,104 children, with no signs of a ceasefire in the besieged enclave.
In addition, 16 of Gaza’s 35 hospitals, running low on fuel supplies, have been forced to suspend operations, and according to the UN, more than 1.5 million people — more than half of Gaza’s population — have been displaced since Hamas launched its war against Israel on October 7.
Kaur implored other South Asians in the US to do the same and hold the Biden administration accountable in the wake of the spiraling civilian death toll.
“I implore my South Asian community to hold this administration accountable. As a Sikh woman, I will not allow my likeness to be used in whitewashing this administration’s actions.”
Kaur, who immigrated to Canada from Punjab at the age of four with her parents, said: “We must not be tokenized by their photo-ops. When a government’s actions dehumanize people anywhere in the world, it is our moral imperative to call for justice.”
The Diwali event is being hosted by America’s Indian-origin Vice President Kamala Harris.
Among Sikhs, Diwali is celebrated as Bandi Chhor Divas (Day of Liberation), commemorating their sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, who helped free 52 fellow political prisoners from unjust imprisonment by a Mughal emperor. “I have always used this day to reflect on what it means to fight for freedom against oppression. Today, the American government is not only funding the bombardment of Gaza, but they also continue to justify this genocide against Palestinians regardless of how many refugee camps, health facilities, and places of worship are blown to bits,” Kaur wrote.
Kaur, whose work encompasses love, loss, trauma, healing, femininity, and migration, also urged her followers to sign petitions, join boycotts and attend protests in support of a ceasefire.
Her collections have sold over 11 million copies and have been translated into over 43 languages, with “Milk and Honey” surpassing Homer’s “Odyssey” as the best-selling poetry of all time. She was also regarded as “writer of the decade” by the New Republic and recognized on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.
In 2022, Kaur released her fourth book, “Healing Through Word”. Earlier this year, her X account (formerly Twitter) was withheld in India over the Khalistan issue.

MELBOURNE (TIP): Five Indians, including two children aged nine and 11, were killed and several others injured after a car driven by an elderly man ploughed into the beer garden of a pub in the Australian state of Victoria, police said. Vivek Bhatia (38), his son Vihan (11), Pratibha Sharma (44), her daughter, Anvi (nine), and partner Jatin Chugh (30) died after an SUV mounted a kerb and hit patrons on the front lawn of the Royal Daylesford hotel on Sunday, November 5 evening. Five other people, including Bhatia’s wife, Ruchi (36), younger son Abeer (six) and an 11-month-old child, are in hospital being treated for injuries. While addressing a news conference on Monday, November 6, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the victims were all visitors to the area, and described the incident as “an absolute tragedy”.

Patton said the driver of the white BMW, a 66-year-old man from Mount Macedon, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, where he was breath tested and did not have alcohol in his system.

The police chief said it was too early to determine if speed was a factor in the fatal crash.

Gurjit Singh, secretary of the Australian Sikh Support group, confirmed to The Age that Pratibha Sharma and her partner, both from Point Cook, died on the spot. Her daughter was taken to hospital where she succumbed to injuries. Singh said Sharma joined the group as a volunteer in 2020 during the pandemic and helped deliver food and groceries to people in quarantine.

She also ran for Victorian parliament and local council and, according to friends, was involved in multiple charities in the communities, the Melbourne-based newspaper reported. Bhatia’s parents are now reportedly on their way to Victoria from India to watch over Ruchi and her son as they recover in the Royal Melbourne Hospital intensive care unit after suffering broken legs and internal injuries. Meanwhile, hundreds of members from the Daylesford community turned up for a vigil for those who met with a tragic end.

Expressing his condolences, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote on X: “We are all shocked by what happened in Daylesford, and so deeply saddened — for those whose lives were so cruelly cut short, and for those who can never be the same again. The hearts of all Australians go out to everyone affected, including loved ones, friends, first responders and the Daylesford community.”

A total of 204 people have reportedly died on Victorian roads so far this year.
(Source: IANS)

LONDON (TIP): India-born author Nandini Das has been named the winner of the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, a leading international non-fiction prize worth GBP 25,000, for her book ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire’.

The UK-based academic’s debut work, described as the “true origin story of Britain and India told through England’s first diplomatic mission to the Mughal courts”, was revealed as this year’s winner at a ceremony at the British Academy in London on Tuesday evening.

As a Professor in the English faculty at the University of Oxford, the 49-year-old author has sought to present a new perspective on the origins of empire through the story of the arrival of the first English ambassador in India, Sir Thomas Roe, in the early 17th century. “By using contemporary sources by Indian and British political figures, officials and merchants she has given the story an unparalleled immediacy that brings to life these early encounters and the misunderstandings that sometimes threatened to wreck the whole endeavor,” said Professor Charles Tripp, Chair of the prize jury. “At the same time, she grants us a privileged vantage point from which we can appreciate how a measure of mutual understanding did begin to emerge, even though it was vulnerable to the ups and downs of Mughal politics and to the restless ambitions of the British,” he said.

He described how through her beautiful writing and exceptional research, the jury was drawn to the contrast between an impoverished, insecure Britain and the flourishing, confident Mughal Empire and the often-amusing, sometimes querulous exchanges between their various representatives.

The British Academy Book Prize, formerly known as the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize, was established in 2013 to reward and celebrate the best works of non-fiction that demonstrate rigor and originality and have contributed to public understanding of other world cultures and their interaction. Das will receive GBP 25,000 for winning the prize.

CHICAGO (TIP): An influential Jewish group has felicitated Indian American physician Dr Bharat Barai for his relentless effort to strengthen ties between India, the US and Israel and his stand against antisemitism.

“We stand with you, our Jewish brothers and sisters,” said Dr Bharat Barai, an ardent advocate of the India-Israel relationship who has made six trips to Israel, adding that the collaborative relationship between the Hindu and the Jewish communities has benefited both. Dr Barai was presented the award “for standing against antisemitism” at the “Campus Championship Gala” of StandWithUS on Sunday,  October 29.

“Hindus all over the world, along with most of the civilized world have condemned these brutal barbarian Hamas, affirming their solidarity with the Jewish people, and supporting the right of Israel to defend itself and demolish the demand of mass,” Barai said amidst standing ovation from the hall full Jewish people in a suburb of Chicago.

He hoped that after Hamas is eliminated by Israel, more countries from the Middle East would join the Abraham Accord. Referring to some of the news reports, he said these are by individuals who are misinformed or uninformed or hardcore religiously indoctrinated individuals. These are fabricated narratives, playing the victim card after committing a barbaric atrocity.

Peggy Shapiro Director of Special Projects “Stand With US” praised Dr Barai for his relentless support of the Jewish communities and the relationship between India, the US and Israel. She referred to the ongoing atrocities against the Jews by Hamas this month.

“That’s the special level of evil,” said Peggy Shapiro Director of Special Projects “Stand With US” referring to the recent brutalities and atrocities perpetrated by Hamas against innocent Jews in particular young children and calling for the destruction of the only Jewish State. “We are all here in solidarity,” she said, “Never again is not an expired slogan,” she asserted. Born in Mumbai, Dr Barai is a distinguished physician, a respected leader of the Hindu American community, and an outspoken Zionist who helped pave the road for closer ties between Israel and India as well as between the Hindu and Jewish American communities.

“Dr Barai has been very active in promoting India, US, and Israel relations,” StandWithUS said.

In his leadership role in the Indian American community, Dr Barai has made it a priority to establish and strengthen ties to the Jewish and Pro-Israel community, it said.

Barai was instrumental in StandWithUs’s outreach. He made it possible for StandWithUs to host events such as “Ancient Cultures-Modern Miracles,” a community celebration of 65 years of India and Israel’s independence, a Hindu-Jewish Festival of Lights Celebrating Chanukah and Diwali, and dozens of programs, including a memorial for Daniel Pearl, underscoring the commonalities between the two communities, it said.

“When Israel was under attack by Hamas and in the media, Dr Barai mobilized Hindu support for three Interfaith Vigils for the Victims of Hamas,” the organization said.

LONDON (TIP): The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has awarded the prestigious Faraday Medal to Arogyaswami Joseph Paulraj, an Indian American professor at Stanford University for his contributions to wireless technology. Paulraj was among 11 of the world’s top engineering and technology talent honored by the UK-based multidisciplinary professional engineering institution for services to the industry, on Oct 23 at IET 2023 Achievement Awards. Described as “one of this year’s most significant awards, the Faraday Medal,” was awarded to Paulraj for the invention, advancement, and commercialization of Multiple-antenna Input, Multiple-antenna Output (MIMO) wireless technology, according to a media release.

MIMO is a fundamental breakthrough technology that multiplied the link speed and improved the range and reliability of wireless networks. The performance of today’s extensive 4G/5G mobile and WiFi networks would not be possible without MIMO.

On winning his award, Paulraj said, “The Faraday Medal is such an honor. I am humbled to be included in this distinguished cohort of former recipients. Though the prize is presented to an individual, it also recognizes the field of wireless communications systems and the thousands of researchers and engineers who contributed to MIMO technology for the benefit of humanity.”

The IET Achievement Awards recognize individuals from all over the world who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of engineering, technology and science in any sector. This can be through research and development in their respective technical field or through their leadership of an enterprise.

Dr. Gopichand Katragadda, IET President, emphasized the importance of Engineering Excellence achieved through knowing and practicing the fundamentals, being systems-oriented and detailed, and having a delivery mindset while preparing for the next. “We’re honored to present these talented individuals with our Achievement Awards. Our medal winners are innovators and pioneers, making a difference to the world in which we live,” he said. Paulraj, Professor Emeritus Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, a pioneer of MIMO wireless communications did his BE from Naval College of Engineering, Lonavala, and earned his PhD from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

He is the author of over 400 research papers, two textbooks, and a co-inventor in 80 US patents.

Paulraj has won over a dozen awards, notably the National Inventors Hall of Fame (USPTO), Marconi Prize and Fellowship, 2014 and the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal, 2011. He is a fellow of eight scientific / engineering national academies including the US, China, India, and Sweden.

In 1999, Paulraj founded Iospan Wireless Inc. – which developed and established MIMO-OFDMA wireless as the core 4G technology. Iospan was acquired by Intel Corporation in 2003.

In 2004, he co-founded Beceem Communications Inc. The company became the market leader in 4G-WiMAX semiconductors and was acquired by Broadcom Corp. in 2010. In 2014 he founded Rasa Networks to develop Machine Learning tools for WiFi Networks. The company was acquired by HPE in 2016. During his 30 years in the Indian (Navy) (1961-1991), he founded three national-level laboratories in India and headed one of India’s most successful military R&D projects – APSOH sonar. He received over a dozen awards (many at the national level) in India including the Padma Bhushan, Ati Vishist Seva Medal and the VASVIK Medal.

JERUSALEM (TIP): A 20-year-old Indian-origin Israeli soldier was among the Israeli combatants killed while fighting in Gaza, community members and the Mayor of the town said on Wednesday, November1.

Staff-Sgt. Halel Solomon was from the southern Israeli town of Dimona. “It is with great sorrow and grief that we announce the death of a son of Dimona, Halel Solomon, in the battle in Gaza,” Dimona’s Mayor, Benny Bitton said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“We share in the grief of the parents, Ronit and Mordechai, and the sisters: Yasmin, Hila, Vered, and Shaked …. Halel aspired to do meaningful service and enlisted in the Givati (Brigade). Halel was a devoted son and had respect for his parents always in his eyes. Possessing immense good qualities, he believed in endless giving, modesty, and humility. The whole city of Dimona is grieving his passing,” Bitton wrote.

Dimona is a town in the south of Israel identified with Israel’s nuclear reactor, but some also describe it as “little India” given the large concentration of Jews from India in the township.

Indian community members told PTI that he was “a young man with pleasant manners and a very bright future ahead.” They expressed huge sorrow at his passing away and at the loss of lives of other young Israelis “fighting a just war for Israel’s existence.”

At least 11 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the battle in Gaza in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a “difficult war” with “painful losses,” but vowed to continue “until victory.” “We are in a difficult war. This will be a long war. We have so many important achievements but also painful losses,” Netanyahu said.

“We know that every soldier of ours is an entire world. The entire people of Israel embrace you, the families, from the depth of our hearts. We are all with you during your heavy sorrow. Our soldiers have fallen in the most just of wars, the war for our home,” the Israeli Prime Minister said.

“I promise the citizens of Israel: We will complete the work – we will continue until victory,” he stressed.

At least 1400 Israelis were killed in a deadly attack carried out by Hamas on Israel’s southern communities on October 7. They also took at least 240 people as hostages during that surprise infiltration. Israel, backed by the United States and some other Western nations, declared war against Hamas which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 with two stated goals – elimination of the terror organization and freeing the hostages. More than 8,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel launched a counter-offensive by first carrying out widespread air strikes and then slowly launching ground incursions that have been intensifying over the last three days.

NEW YORK (TIP): Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center (The Kerala Center) has honored eight individuals for notable contributions in their professions and to society with selfless dedication.

Dr. Shyam Kottilil from Baltimore was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions in the field of virology and scientific research by New York Senator Kevin Thomas at the Center’s 31st Annual Awards Dinner in Elmont, New York on Oct 28.

In his keynote speech, Kottilil explained the successes and failures of managing the Covid outbreak and how to prevent future outbreaks which according to him will certainly happen sometime in the future, according to a media release. The award for entrepreneurship went to Sajeeb Koya, the man behind the LED Façade lighting that lights up Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. His company 3S International headquartered in Pickering, Ontario, Canada, has executed numerous vibrant Architectural and Media Façade LED projects all over the world. Koya said that his goal is to complete 100 such projects all over the world.

The award for Media and Journalism went to Ajay Ghosh, Chief Editor and Co-Publisher of The Universal News Network (www/theunn.com). He serves as Media Coordinator for the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and ITServe Alliance. Ghosh was the founding President of Indo-American Press Club and is Secretary of its Board of Directors. The award for community service went to Gopala Pillai who has served as the President and Board Member of several organizations in Texas and Detroit and has been with the World Malayali Council from1995 as its Secretary, President, and Chairman. Through these organizations, he has been able to provide many services for the good of society.

The award for outstanding achievements in Medicine went to Dr. Shelby Kutty, a physician-scientist and academic leader, serving as the Helen B. Taussig endowed professor and director of pediatric and congenital cardiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

He also chairs the analytic intelligence program at Johns Hopkins and is one of the world’s preeminent experts on multimodality cardiovascular imaging.

The award for contributions to Pravasi Malayalam Literature went to Jayant Kamicheril, a recipient of the Kerala Sahithya Academy award for 2022 for his book “Oru Kumarakom Karantay Kuruthamketta.”

The award for excellence in Nursing went to Dr. Anna George, current president of the Indian Nurses Association of New York (INANY).

She is a Nurse, a nurse practitioner, a human rights advocate, and a social activist. She is a leader who transformed the nursing professional organization INANY into a professional entity.

The award for legal service went to Lata Menon, an accomplished barrister and solicitor and active community member, who has become a recognized name in the legal community in Ontario as well as the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala, where she practiced as a lawyer before immigrating to Canada.

Kerala Center president Alex K. Esthappan provided a brief description of the activities and goals of the Center.  New York Senator Kevin Thomas and Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages presented the awards. They were introduced by Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of the Trustee Board and Award Committee member.

Sen. Thomas, a prior awardee himself, praised the Kerala Center for honoring individuals who excelled in their professions and served society with dedication.

Legislator Solages remarked that students of Indian and Malayalee descent made him a better student and that helped him to go to George Town University.

Dr. Madhu Bhaskaran, the chairman of the Award Committee and Board of Directors, explained the process of selecting the awardees. The ceremony was attended by leaders of many community organizations including FOMAA and FOKANA. As part of the Award Ceremony, a souvenir was released by the souvenir committee consisting of P.T. Paulose and Jose Kadapuram, by giving a copy to U. A. Naseer.

Inaugurated in 1993 Kerala Center has honored over 200 individuals of Keralite descent who excelled in their profession and/or made great contributions to the larger society in the last 30 years.

LONDON (TIP): A 79-year-old Sikh man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 15 years after murdering his wife with a bat at their house in east London in May this year. Tarsame Singh was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to killing his 77-year-old wife, Maya Devi. On May 2, Singh walked into the Romford police station and told the front desk that he had just killed his wife, following which officers immediately attended the house on Cowdray Way in Elm Park and found Maya unresponsive on the living room floor.

The wooden bat was found nearby and a significant amount of blood staining was found on the carpet and nearby walls. Maya was pronounced dead at the scene and a post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be head injuries. Singh was charged the next day and remanded into custody.

Met Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, who led the investigation, said: “This is a tragic case and one which has left the couple’s three children utterly distraught. No-one should ever lose their mother in this way and we will continue to think of, and support them, at this difficult time.

“Singh has never admitted what caused him to act in such a violent way that evening but we are pleased he has pleaded guilty and will now face a significant custodial sentence.”

Singh ran a post office along with his wife in Rainham, an east London suburb close to his home, for years before retiring recently. Both Singh and Maya, parents of a son and two daughters, are originally from India but had been living in Britain for more than 50 years.

(Source: IANS)

VALPRAISO, INDIANA (TIP):  Varun Raj Pucha, the 24-year-old Indian student who was stabbed at a fitness center in the US state of Indiana over the weekend, continues to be in a critical condition and is on life support, sources familiar with his treatment said.

Varun Raj Pucha, a computer science student, was stabbed with a knife in the temple by assailant Jordan Andrade, 24, at the public gym on Sunday morning for reasons that the authorities are still investigating.

“After three days of treatment, Varun continues to be on life support and has severe neurological impairment. He is likely to sustain permanent disability and have partial, if not complete, vision loss and left-sided weakness,” sources told media. Following the incident, Jordan was arrested and is facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted murder.

Varun has now been transferred to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne because of the serious nature of the injuries.

Meanwhile, assailant Andrade, who appeared before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer, pleaded not guilty to the charges of Level 1 felony, and a Level 3 felony.

The judge set his bond at US$ 500,000 cash and US$ 500,000 surety. According to media reports, Andrade said he could afford a USD 300,000 bond. The judge deemed Andrade a flight risk.

The university president expressed shock over the brutal attack on one of its students.

“We are shocked and saddened by the attack on Varun Raj. At Valparaiso University, we consider each other’s family, and this incident is horrifying for us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with all his friends and family,” José Padilla, the university’s president, said in a statement provided to the media on Wednesday.

“In addition to our thoughts and prayers, the University and Valpo Community are offering all assistance and resources available to help Varun’s family get to the United States as quickly as possible,” Michael Fenton said in an email to media, adding that the university also is providing full support to the ongoing investigation by the Valparaiso Police Department. The North American Telugu Society (NATS) has started a fundraiser on GoFund and by Wednesday, November 1  night raised over US$ 38,000.

“Currently, he is in critical condition, battling for his life, and his family is facing a harrowing journey filled with uncertainty and overwhelming medical bills. We were contacted by the family with a heavy heart, asking for our support to cover his extensive medical expenses and travel expenses for his parents to the US,” NATS said.

• Acting Commissioner of Police says move a testament of the organization’s commitment in upholding the fundamental principles of equality and diversity

SUVA, FIJI (TIP): Navjeath Singh Sohata has become the first Sikh cop to don a turban with the official Fiji Police crown after the island nation’s police force approved changes to the uniform in a bid to promote diversity, IANS reports.

Recognizing that the respect for diversity and inclusivity are integral to the success of policing efforts, Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew approved the wearing of a turban with the official Fiji Police crown.

Police Constable Sohata, 20, is a member of Batch 66 undergoing the Basic Recruits Course Training in Nasova, after being selected from the open market recruitment drive.

A devout Sikh, Sohata had marched into the academy knowing the training requirements would require personal sacrifices on his part.

“However, the Acting Commissioner of Police, in respecting Sohata’s rights, approved the wearing of the turban with the official Fiji Police crown,” the Fiji Police said in a statement.

Commissioner Chew said the move was a testament of the organization’s commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of equality and diversity.

According to a book by Stanley Brown, ‘The History of the Fiji Police Force’, the first Sikh constables were recruited in force the early 1910s.

Sharing his experience as a recruit, Sohata, who hails from Dreketi village in Northern Division of Fiji, said it was difficult at first being away from his family.

“I have a number of people in my life who I look up to as inspiration and role models, and it is my goal to make them proud and be just as good as them when it comes to my professional life,” Sohata said.

According to records kept by the Lautoka Gurudwara, Sikhs arrived in Fiji towards the end of the indentured labor system and mostly established themselves as farmers, policemen and teachers.

The first school built by Sikhs in Fiji was the Khalsa High School in Ba district and the Suva gurdwara, built in 1922, is the oldest of all.

• Says wants to gain experience and advice from a mentor to help change lives with EasyBZ

SAN JOSE (TIP): Indian-American teen Shripriya Kalbhavi won second place at the annual 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge, a premier science competition for middle school students in the US. Kalbhavi, a ninth grader at Lynbrook High School in California, received a $2,000 prize for developing EasyBZ — a cost-effective micro-needle patch that allows for self-automated drug delivery without pills or needles. Kalbhavi said in a blog post on the 3M Young Scientist Challenge website that she entered the contest because she wanted to help change lives. “Scientific research and innovations have always interested me, and I find the scientists, especially doctors, all around me to be extremely inspiring because they work to help people every day,” Kalbhavi, who wants to become a practicing neurosurgeon, said.

“I want to gain experience and advice from a mentor to help improve people’s lives with my invention, BZ reaction-automated micro-needle patches, by making their medication painless and more affordable,” she added. She also hosts a podcast called ‘Famous Personalities’, and as part of the theme of her show, she does research about women scientists and speaks about their lives, achievements and research.

Apart from Kalbhavi, five other Indian-American teens were among the top 10 finalists and each of them received a $1,000 prize and a $500 gift card.

The first prize of $25,000 with the prestigious title of ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’, went to Heman Bekele from Virginia for his compound-based skin cancer-treating soap.

“For 16 years, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge has exemplified our belief in harnessing the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what’s possible. The remarkable young innovators of this competition share our determination to help shape a brighter future.” said John Banovetz, 3M executive vice president.

“By asking students to think creatively and apply the power of science to everyday problems, incredible solutions and leaders arise.” Each finalist in the challenge was evaluated on a series of challenges, including a presentation of their completed innovation.

America’s Top Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found non-profit organizations, make it to the Forbes 30 Under-30 list, ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and exhibit at the White House Science Fair.

The young innovators have also been named Time magazine’s first Kid of the Year, featured in The New York Times magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider.
(Source: IANS)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Two Indian American scientists — Subra Suresh and Ashok Gadgil — were among 19 Americans honored by President Joe Biden for “exemplary achievements in science, technology, and innovation to strengthen our nation’s well-being.”
Biden awarded the National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest scientific honor, to Suresh of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University along with eight other scientists at a White House ceremony on Tuesday.
Gadgil of the University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation’s highest award for technological achievement, with nine others.
Suresh was awarded the science medal “for pioneering research across engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences. A transformative educator, he has advanced the study of material science and its application to other disciplines.  His commitment to research and collaboration across borders has demonstrated how science can forge understanding and cooperation among people and nations,” the White House stated.
Suresh was the first Asian-born professor to lead any of the five schools at MIT. Born in Mumbai, Suresh received a BTech degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. Later, he received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.
Gadgil received the technology and innovation medal for “providing life-sustaining resources to communities around the world.. His innovative, inexpensive technologies help meet profound needs, from drinking water to fuel-efficient cookstoves.  His work is inspired by a belief in the dignity of all people and in our power to solve the great challenges of our time,” the White House stated. Born in Mumbai, Gadgil graduated in Physics from the University of Mumbai and completed his postgraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He earned an MSc and PhD in physics from the University of California, Berkeley.
“I’ve long said America can be defined by a single word — Possibilities,” Biden told the winners. “The fact that several of today’s honorees immigrated from other countries is proof of the assertion that everything is possible.”
“You know, there will be more technological change in the next 10 years, maybe in the next five years, than in the last 50 years,” he said.  “There’s a — in large part to the minds sitting in front of us.  And I want America to lead — to lead that change.”
“Because the greatness of a country is measured not only by the size of its economy or the strength of its military,” Biden said. “The strength of the nation is also measured by the boldness of its science, the quality of its research, and the progress it helps bring forth for not only the country but whole the world,” Biden said.
“These trailblazers have harnessed the power of science and technology to tackle challenging problems and deliver innovative solutions for Americans, and for communities around the world,” the White House stated.
“These medalists have made discoveries that enable lifesaving medical treatments, help fight the opioid epidemic, improve food security, advance accessibility, protect our democracy, and much more.” “Their accomplishments advance American leadership in science, technology, and innovation, and their work inspires the next generation of American minds,” it added.
Established by Congress in 1959 and administered by the US National Science Foundation, the National Medal of Science is bestowed on individuals deserving of special recognition for their outstanding contributions in biology, computer sciences, education sciences, engineering, geosciences, mathematical and physical sciences, and social, behavioral, and economic sciences, in service to the Nation. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes American innovators whose vision, intellect, creativity, and determination have strengthened America’s economy and improved our quality of life.
Established by Congress and administered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the first Medal of Technology was presented in 1985.