The Indian Panorama

Tag: Indiaspora

  • The U.S.-India Relationship is Durable, Underpinned by People to People Ties

    The U.S.-India Relationship is Durable, Underpinned by People to People Ties

    NEW YORK (TIP): At Indiaspora, a nonprofit U.S. based organization of global Indian diaspora leaders across diverse professions, we take great pride in our deep bonds with both the United States—our homeland—and India—our country of origin. With over 5 million Indian Americans contributing meaningfully to the U.S. economy, culture, and civic life, the diaspora serves as a living bridge between the world’s two largest democracies. The Indian diaspora in America are key contributors to making the relationship between the countries unique, special, deep rooted and impactful.

    Over the past several decades, this community has helped cultivate vital connections across business, technology, academia, philanthropy, and the arts. At Indiaspora, we have convened high level people to people dialogues in both nations for more than a decade to foster mutual understanding and collaboration.

    We believe the U.S.-India relationship is not just important—it is essential. As global dynamics shift, this economic partnership should stand as a cornerstone for stability, innovation, and progress in the 21st century.

    We believe that the current setback in what is otherwise an enduring, robust and broad-based people to people relationship will be temporary. We remain optimistic that the ongoing discussions, when concluded, will reflect the aspirations of both nations and the global Indian diaspora that believes in them.

  • The Indian Panorama Editor Indrajit S. Saluja among Top Indian Americans honored as Jewels of India

    The Indian Panorama Editor Indrajit S. Saluja among Top Indian Americans honored as Jewels of India

    Former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind released the  book  “Jewels of India” featuring 75 “Jewels”

    Parveen Chopra

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP):  It was a superb celebration of India and the Indian diaspora. In a glittering, power-packed event organized  by Maneesh Media here on January 28, 2023, none other than the former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, congratulated 75 leading Indian Americans as the Jewels of India and released the lavishly mounted coffee table book profiling them.

    Lauding the achievements and contributions to society of the Indian diaspora and of Indian Americans in particular, were Hon. Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India in New York, MR Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora, Dr Bharat Barai, oncologist and co-author of Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery, and Dr Kiran C Patel, a top philanthropist.

    Shri Ram Nath Kovind, former President of India addressed the gathering via satellite. He congratulated 75 leading Indian Americans as the Jewels of India and released the lavishly mounted coffee table book profiling them. (Photo / Maneesh Media)
    Dignitaries on the dais with the book “Jewels of India” (Photo/ Maneesh Media)

    Seated on the dais alongside those illustrious people were Chandmal Kumawat, Founder and Chairman of Maneesh Media; distinguished guests Dr Santosh Kulshrestha Kumar, Founder President, International University of Vedic Wellness; Haridas Kotahwala, Chairman of Navika Group of Companies; and Darshan Singh Bagga, real estate tycoon. At the standing room only event the massive coffee table book, Jewels of India in America, was released simultaneously in the ballroom as well as by Honorable Ram Nath Kovind in India, who spoke live via video link from Kochi. The book contains profusely illustrated profiles of 75 leading Indian American personalities, out of which about 25 were present in person to receive the honors from Consul General Jaiswal and other distinguished guests.

    Notable honorees included Naveen Shah, CEO of Navika group; Vijaydev Ratanjee Mistry,  first trustee of the charitable foundation of his family that made a fortune in the hat business; Dr Vivek Lall, CEO, General Atomics Global Corporation, CA; Raj Gopal Asava, Founder, Hunger Mitao, TX; Kailash N Jhalani, President, Prompt Gem Importers; Dr Manbir Singh, Medical Director, McFarland Singh Medical Clinic, CA; Mohamad Faroqui, Founder, Print Early & New York Banner Stands; Dr Samin K Sharma, Director, Cardiovascular Clinical Institute Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC; Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, Editor-Publisher of The Indian Panorama; and Sparsh Shah, a child prodigy, rapper and motivational speaker.

    Patrons, Sponsors and Supporters included Foundation for Global Understanding, International University of Vedic Wellness, Indiaspora, Bulk Petroleum, Vijaydev Ratanjee Mistry Family Trust, Vardhamana Charitable Foundation and Print Early.

    With the Jewels of India in America Part 2 (part 1 was released 10 years ago) Maneesh Media also celebrated its 50th publication over a proud journey of 23 years. All of their publications have been often released and endorsed by top dignitaries such as US Presidents, Indian President, Vice President, Prime Ministers and have reached the Indian community across the world. With offices in New York, Toronto and Jaipur, Founder Chandmal Kumawat is ably supported by his 3 sons, Maneesh Media directors Manish, Abhishek and Siddharth. Manish and Siddharth were at hand managing the event on January 28 which also celebrated India’s Republic Day. Siddharth gave a vote of thanks.

    A group photo of awardees with dignitaries.
    Some awardees had left by the time the group photo was announced. . (Photo : Maneesh Media)

    Entertaining the 250+ guests in the overflowing ballroom at the Mandarin Oriental premier 5-star hotel in the heart of Manhattan were plumed showgirls, Arya Dance Academy’s Bollywood performances, and Sparsh Shah belting out a patriotic song and a rap-raga fusion number.

    (Parveen Chopra is founder of alotusinthemud.com, wellness and spirituality web magazine. He can be reached at editor@alotusinthemud.com)

  • Indian American Students Win Big at IPA Youth Essay Competition

    Indian American Students Win Big at IPA Youth Essay Competition

    NEW YORK (TIP): Maher Adoni, an 11th grade student of Champaign, Illinois, and Rohan Chalamalasetti, a sixth grade student of West Des Moines, Iowa have won a youth essay competition organized by the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA).

    While Adoni was the winner among high school students, Chalamalasetti was the winner among middle school students with Adhitya Ajith of West Des Moines, Iowa and Shreeya Yarlagadda of Johnston, Iowa being runners-up in the two categories respectively.

    Rohan Chalamalasetti , a sixth grader from Moines, Iowa, and Maher Adoni, a junior from Champaign, Illinois, are winners of a youth essay competition organized by the India Philanthropy Alliance.

    The results of the youth essay competition held earlier this year were announced by (IPA), a coalition of 13 US-based organizations working on humanitarian and development issues in India, Tuesday on the eve of a major online philanthropy summit.

    One of the goals of the Alliance is to grow the culture of philanthropy among the Indian diaspora in the United States, according to a media release from IPA.

    As a first step towards nurturing this philanthropic culture in Indian-American youth, IPA sponsored a nationwide youth essay competition focusing on issues facing India and its people, it said.

    IPA asked students to discuss how philanthropy and Indian-Americans can be impactful in these fields and to describe their own work and plans.

    This contest was made possible by a generous grant from the Sarva Mangal Family Trust, based in Orange County, California, the release said.

    Maher Adoni’s winning essay focused on ways to improve education in India using technology and volunteers.

    “I am very grateful for this opportunity to share my ideas with the public and with philanthropic leaders at the Philanthropy Summit,” he said.  “This will motivate me to want to do more.”

    Rohan Chalamalasetti’s winning essay investigated the issue of clean drinking water in India.

    “Participating in this essay competition was a great experience and I learned a lot.  I’m very excited to have this opportunity for my essay to be published and to receive feedback on my ideas,” he said.

    A panel of judges composed of leaders from IPA’s member organizations and Mona Shah, representing the Sarva Mangal Family Trust, reviewed numerous essays submitted by middle and high school students from across the country.

    “It was inspiring to see how passionate these young authors were about solving issues facing India today,” said Shah.

    “These middle and high school students had clearly given a lot of thought about how philanthropy can benefit India, and many of them are already actively engaged in helping address the issues they care about.”

    As part of the competition, the winners were each able to direct $1,000 grants to the nonprofit organization of their choice, and the runners up were able to direct $500 each.

    Chalamalasetti, Yarlagadda and Ajith all chose to support the Sehgal Foundation, based in Des Moines, Iowa.  Adoni directed his grant to the American India Foundation, based in New York City.

    The judges also recognized six high school finalists and two middle school finalists for their outstanding essays.

    The high school finalists were Mira Bhatia of Chicago, Illinois, Rhea Chakradeo of Rutherford, New Jersey, Amit Kamma of Atlanta, Georgia, Nithya Myneni of Clive, Iowa, Bedansh Pandey of Johns Creek, Georgia, and Shreen Shavkani of Alpharetta, Georgia.  The middle school finalists were Sameer Agrawal and Deetya Pai, both of Austin, Texas.

    All essays written by winners, runners-up and finalists have been published on IPA’s website.

    The philanthropy summit was organized by Indiaspora, a member of the IPA that works to transform the transform the success of the Indian diaspora into meaningful impact worldwide.

    IPA’s member organizations are Akanksha Education Fund, American India Foundation (AIF), Arogya World, CRY America, Ekal USA, Foundation for Excellence (FFE), Indiaspora, Magic Bus USA, Pratham USA, Project ECHO, the Sehgal Foundation, Vision Spring, and WISH Foundation.

  • Indiaspora Releases Report on Philanthropic Impact of Indian Americans on COVID-19 Relief

    Indiaspora Releases Report on Philanthropic Impact of Indian Americans on COVID-19 Relief

    WASHINGTON (TIP):  Indiaspora, a nonprofit organization of global Indian diaspora leaders from various backgrounds and professions, released  last month 2020 Indian Diaspora in Action: Tracking the Indian American Response to COVID-19, a report detailing the philanthropic impact of the diaspora on COVID-19 relief.  The tremendous outpouring of support for both the U.S. and India has been witnessed across the board from helping to provide meals to migrant workers in India, personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers, education through e-learning and healthcare.

    The report details the actions of 58 non-profit organizations re-purposing their efforts in response to the pandemic and illustrates the power of the Indian Diaspora community.

    “Never before have we witnessed such a united all-out community relief effort amongst the diaspora. One of the most unique aspects we witnessed was the efforts by the next generation of philanthropists through their incredible volunteer efforts,” said Gabrielle Trippe, Indiaspora Philanthropy Initiatives Manager.

    A notable group that has been at the forefront of the response since the onset of the pandemic is the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA). IPA is a coalition of twelve development and humanitarian organizations working together to mobilize resources and build alliances to benefit India. Charmain of India Philanthropy Alliance Deepak Raj stated, “It is an honor to lead such a remarkable group of organizations coming together in a historic response to support those most in need during these incredibly challenging times.”

    The actions taken by the Indian Diaspora show they are committed to providing sustained long-term relief during the pandemic and serve as a model and inspiration for individuals and communities across the globe.

    “We feel it is our dharma, or duty, to help others during this time,” said Arun Kankani, President at Sewa International, USA, whose nonprofit has been providing on-the-ground relief, and also began a COVID-19 plasma registry to help physicians treat patients with respiratory failure from COVID-19. “When we saw so many affected, we didn’t feel like we had a choice in the matter.”