*New India Abroad is a Registered trademark and not affiliated with the newspaper named India Abroad marketed in the US from 1972 to 2021. Snacks that make you feel like you're at home! Order now - www.rajbhog.com PM Modi proposed a virtual meeting of the G20 Leaders in November to review progress on the topics discussed in New Delhi A platform for the voice of next generation Indian Diaspora Year 1, Volume 48 Washington DC, Monday 11 September, 2023 www.NewIndiaAbroad.Com STAFF REPORTER Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the G20 Leaders Summit closed after handing over the ceremonial gavel of the G20 presidency to Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Expressing faith in the Troika (the current, previous and the incoming presidencies) spirit, Modi asserted that Brazil will further the shared goals of member countries under its presidency, that is set to begin in November 2023. Speaking of the outcomes and discussions of the New Delhi Summit, Modi said, “In these two days, all of you have put forth many things, given suggestions, made many proposals. It is our responsibility to look at the suggestions that have come forward to see how our progress can be accelerated,” Modi said in his speech. Highlighting that India still had two months of its presidency left, the Indian Prime Minister suggested that the G20 leaders meet again for a virtual session in November to “review the topics” decided during the New Delhi summit. Reiterating India’s G20 presidency theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” Modi concluded his speech by wishing for hope and peace in the entire world and thanking the heads of state for participating in the Summit. G20 family paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat Agriculture products and crafts exhibition organized for the leaders’ spouses/partners Ambassadors of US, UK, Australia and Canada to India meet to discuss international cooperation India hands over G20 presidency PM Modi passes the G20 Gavel to President of Brazil On the sidelines...
2 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 Indian Star LLC Published Weekly Copyright © 2023 Indian Star LLC Editor in Chief Dr. Sridhar Krishnaswami [email protected] Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Bhambri [email protected] Editor (Hindi) Dr. Rameshwar Dayal [email protected] Registered Address Indian Star LLC, 6215 Rockhurst Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817 USA Email [email protected] Ph. 908-472-0006 Website www.NewIndiaAbroad.Com Disclaimers: 1. New India Abroad is a Registered trademark and not affiliated with the newspaper named India Abroad marketed in the US from 1972 to 2021. 2. Indian Star LLC assumes no liability for claims / assumptions made in advertisements and advertorials. Views expressed by the writers are their own. A publication of Advisory Board Albert Jasani Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Dr Suresh Kumar President TIE-NJ Media Partner Bollywood Insider At the inaugural session the Indian Prime Minister welcomed the African Union formally into the G 20 fold SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Against the backdrop of growing global divisiveness on political, economic and environmental issues the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi called on leaders attending the Group of 20 summit to move away from trust deficit to one of trust and reliance. In his opening remarks to the mega event in New Delhi, the Prime Minister also invited the Chair of the African Union to take seat as a permanent member of the grouping. “Today, as the president of G20, India calls upon the world to come together to transform the global trust deficit into one of trust and reliance,” Modi said. “This is the time for all of us to move together… Be it the divide between North and South, the distance between the East and West, management of food and fuel, terrorism, cyber security, health, energy or water security, we must find a solid solution to this for future generations”, he added. The G 20 summit got under way this morning at the Pragati Maidan with the Prime Minister personally welcoming every one of the leaders and invited dignitaries of international organisations to what promised to be a hectic agenda with a dose of apprehension on whether the attendees will be able to hammer out a joint statement or communique at the time of closing. Modi, aside from Chairing the sessions of the summit, will also be involved in at least 15 bilaterals with heads of state and governments, not to mention the interactions at the working lunch and at the dinner hosted by the President of India tonight. Even before the summit started Modi had his meeting with the President of the United States, Joe Biden last night soon after his arrival in New Delhi. After the morning session, the Indian Prime Minister has scheduled meetings with the leaders of Britain, Japan, Germany and Italy; and on Friday Modi had also a meeting with his counterpart from Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, where the two nations inked three agreements. To loud applause from those gathered today, the Indian Prime Minister welcomed the 55 member African Union formally into the G 20 fold. For quite sometime now the African Union, representing the continent of Africa, had been a guest invitee along with other major international organisations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. PM Modi addressed the inaugural session of the G20 Leaders Summit Transform global trust deficit to one of trust and reliance, PM tells G20 Leaders G20India Biofuels alliance launched at G20 Summit STAFF REPORTER I n a significant development for the global energy sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Led by India, the alliance will bring together Governments, International organizations, and Industry to facilitate the adoption of biofuels. It will promote collaboration between the biggest consumers and producers of biofuels to drive biofuels development and deployment, as well as position biofuels as a key to energy transition and contribute to jobs and economic growth. “It will facilitate mobilizing a virtual marketplace to assist industries, countries, ecosystem players and key stakeholders in mapping demand and supply, as well as connecting technology providers to end users,” the news release stated. “It will also facilitate development, adoption and implementation of internationally recognized standards, codes, sustainability principles and regulations to incentivize biofuels adoption and trade,” it added. The G20 nations who have joined the alliance include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, South Africa, and the United States of America. According to an official statement 19 countries and 12 international organisations have already agreed to join the alliance. “The launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance marks a watershed moment in our quest towards sustainability and clean energy,” PM Modi said on X after the alliance’s launch. India spearheaded the launch of the alliance X/@narendramodi Bharat-India row: PM Modi sends message at G20 STAFF REPORTER Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the inaugural session of the G20 Leaders Summit on September 9 in New Delhi sat behind a nameplate that read “Bharat” instead of the usual India. This comes after a controversy over the name change from India to Bharat as evident in the dinner invitation from President Murmu to leaders attending G20 Summit. The invitations were sent out in the name of the “President of Bharat”, and not the President of India. While there is no official confirmation on the name change, reports indicate that a proposal for the same will be tabled by the BJP-led NDA government during the Parliament’s special session, that is scheduled to begin on September 18 for a period of five days. For the name change to become official, the Constitution will need to be amended which will need to be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament. The ruling government has previously renamed Rajpath as Kartavya Path, and the Race Course Road, on which the Prime Minister’s official residence is located, as Lok Kalyan Marg among others.
New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 3 This legislation is designed to streamline the process of selling highperformance computers and associated equipment to India. The leaders reviewed progress under the India-U.S. Strategic Partnership AVANI ACHARYA The President of the United States, Joe Biden, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s residence for a bilateral discussion after he landed in New Delhi for the G20 Leaders Summit. The two leaders discussed various aspects of their strategic partnership and built on the commitments made during Prime Minister Modi’s historic state visit to the United States in June 2023. Important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were finalised during the meeting including one between Bharat 6G Alliance and Next G Alliance, to further public-private sector partnership in networking and telecommunications and the other between Indian universities, represented by the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT Council), and the Association of American Universities (AAU) to establish the India-U.S. Global Challenges Institute. “…with a combined initial commitment of at least US$10 million. The Global Challenges Institute will bring together leading research and higher-education institutions from across our two nations, including beyond AAU and IIT membership, to advance new frontiers in science and technology,” a joint statement read. An “Innovation Handshake” agenda under the India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue was agreed upon to bring together startups, private equity and venture capital firms, corporate investment departments, and government officials to forge connections between the two countries’ innovation ecosystems. Two events, one in each country will be hosted during Fall under the program. India-U.S bilateral meeting at Prime Minister Naredra Modi’s residence in New Delhi. In the defence sector, the Indian Ministry of Defense submitted a Letter of Request to procure 31 General Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) remotely piloted aircraft and their associated equipment, to enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of India’s armed forces across all domains. To further progress towards the SDGs, India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation exchanged letters of intent to each provide up to US$500 million to establish a renewable infrastructure investment fund. The leaders also reviewed the discussions from the first meeting of the India-U.S. Renewable Energy Technologies Action Platform [RE-TAP] held in August. President Biden congratulated PM Modi and Indian scientists on Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing on the south pole of the moon as well as the successful launch of Aditya L-1. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are currently making efforts to mount a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024. During the meeting, Biden also lauded India’s role as the president of the G20 and expressed confidence that the outcomes of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi will help in addressing some of the greatest common challenges faced by the global community. He also reiterated his support for India’s permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. In addition to critical and emerging technologies, biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovations, global semiconductor supply chains, climate, energy transition, and energy security were also addressed. Modi-Biden meet, Key MoUs in 5G, education signed Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes United States President Joe Biden in New Delhi X/@narendramodi US to remove obstacles in defence and hightech trade with India MEHAK LUTHRA During President Joe Biden’s visit to New Delhi for the G20 Leaders Summit, two influential members of the US House of Representatives introduced legislation to remove high-tech export restrictions to India. This move aims to significantly increase the free flow of sensitive technologies to India, fostering stronger bilateral technological cooperation between the two countries. Congressman Gregory Meeks, who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Andy Barr, who is the vice chair of the House India Caucus, introduced the “Technology Exports to India Act.” The legislation is designed to streamline the process of selling high-performance computers and associated equipment to India, with the overarching goal of enhancing technology cooperation between the United States and India, a release stated. “As President Biden visits India for the G-20 Summit, we are happy to introduce the ‘Technology Exports to India Act’ to bolster technology cooperation between the United States and India,” the two lawmakers said in a joint statement. “This bill removes restrictions on the sale of US products, such as digital computers and electronic assemblies to India without a Department of Commerce license, thereby enhancing US-India technology trade, linkages between our technology companies, and supply chain resilience for a critical industry,” they wrote. The bill emphasizes that Congress recognizes the significance of enhanced technological and defence collaboration with India in addressing common geopolitical and security challenges. In light of this, it underscores the importance of reducing regulatory obstacles to technological cooperation with India, all while upholding national security interests and advancing strategic priorities. The bill highlights that if President Biden exercises the flexibility to permit the export of high-performance computers to India, it would serve to strengthen technological cooperation between the US and India. As such, the bill underscores that removing India from the “Computer Tier 3” eligible countries’ list as outlined in section 740.7(d) of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations would be a significant step in reinforcing the bilateral relationship between the two nations. Joe Biden and PM Modi Image - X @narendramodi
4 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 [email protected] Jhumpa Lahiri rejoins Barnard College as professor YASMIN TINWALA I ndian American author Jhumpa Lahiri, an alumna of Columbia University’s Barnard College, will return to her alma mater for the second year in a row, as the Millicent C. McIntosh Professor of English and director of the creative writing program. The Pulitzer Prize winner and recipient of the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama recently spoke with Columbia News about her return to Barnard and opinions on writing, reading, and literary translation. From 2015 until 2022, Lahiri was a creative writing professor at Princeton University. Three decades after graduating, it was reported in April 2022 that she will return to Barnard as a professor. She characterized her return to academia as “both comforting and bewildering.” According to her the homecoming is “personally meaningful” because her daughter Noor Lahiri Vourvoulias will be a first-year student at Barnard and her son Octavio Vourvoulias will be a senior at Columbia. This semester, Lahiri will offer a course on exophonic women authors and another on the art and technique of the diary as a literary genre. When asked if there was any overlap between teaching and writing during the interview, Lahiri replied, “I have managed to work on translation projects and teach at the same time. I learn a great deal from my students, and I like to learn alongside them in the classroom. Writing my own stories requires more silence and detachment, generally.” Speaking of her current projects, Lahiri said she is working on the English translation of Roman stories, a collection of short stories she first wrote in Italian. It will be published in October 2023. She is also cotranslating Ovid’s Metamorphoses with her former Princeton colleague. Jhumpa Lahiri Image-Barnard College SUNITA SOHRABJI S ACRAMENTO, California — Reps. Ro Khanna and Ted Lieu, both Democrats from California, recently kicked off the AAPI Leadership Summit, exhorting more Asian Americans to run for elected office and to seek appointments at all levels of government. The Asian American Pacific Islander community is one of the fastest-growing populations in the US, with more than 24 million residents according to 2020 US Census Data. More than 4.9 million Indian Americans reside in the country. AAPIs were the margin of victory during the 2022 mid-term elections in several key battleground states, including Nevada and Georgia. Yet, they currently represent only one percent of elected politicians. Several Indian Americans — including a number of electeds, as well as those seeking office — were sprinkled among the crowd at the day-long event, the largest-ever gathering in California of AAPI leadership. The event was organized by the California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. Lieu is the highest-ranking Asian in the House of Representatives, currently serving as the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus. “Ted Lieu is our best opportunity to get the first AAPI Speaker of the House,” said Khanna, garnering loud applause from the sold-out auditorium. “He has been a strong voice for our community, and will be a really good contender for the seat over the next 10 years.” That same day, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her re-election bid, but said she would not seek a leadership role if Democrats take back the House. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California, currently serves as House speaker, after a contentious battle within the Republican party last year. Lieu in turn praised Khanna, saying he could become chair of the House Oversight Committee, currently chaired by Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky. “He is able to get Republican support, which is not easy to do in these times,” said Lieu, noting Khanna’s multi-year effort on both sides of the aisle to stop US support for Saudi Arabia in its war on Yemen. “We need the committee to engage on real issues,” said Lieu, garnering a laugh as he obliquely referred to the Oversight Committee’s exhaustive investigation of Hunter Biden. “AAPIs are increasingly becoming the margin of victory in battleground states,” said Khanna, who defeated fellow Asian American Democrat Mike Honda in 2016 to obtain a seat in the House. Earlier this year, Khanna floated the idea of running for Sen. Diane Feinstein’s seat, which will be vacant in 2025 as the Democratic senator ends her long tenure. In an interview with New India Abroad in February, Khanna said he would determine whether Rep. Barbara Lee — one of the most progressive members of the House — would be successful in her bid for the seat. As of press time Sept. 9, Khanna had not thrown his hat into the crowded ring, but has until Dec. 8 to announce his possible bid. “The reality is, if you have a different name, a different skin color, it may take more than one run for people to understand your story,” said the congressman. Khanna himself lost to Honda in 2014, in his first run for the seat, but won by an overwhelming margin two years later. “You have to feel like you belong, tune out the skepticism, and surround yourself with people who encourage you. It’s not the presentation, it’s your comfort level,” he said. Both politicians discussed the spike in hate crimes against the AAPI community. More than 11,500 hate incidents reported to the Stop AAPI Hate web portal since March of 2020. The portal was co-founded by Indian American community activist Manjusha Kulkarni. Rep. Ro Khanna headlines AAPI Leadership Summit The congressman from California urged Asian Americans to run for elected office. Reps. Ro Khanna (left) and Ted Lieu, Democrats from California, kicked off the first AAPI Leadership Summit in Sacramento, California. California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Chair Assemblyman Evan Low, with Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains, the first Indian American woman in the California state Legislature. Sunita Sohrabji
Two Graduate Certificate Courses open to professionals from all countries and backgrounds Apply before To ask any questions or schedule a one-on-one meeting, please email About the Courses Admission Requirements Hindu Chaplaincy Pathway (HCP) Fees CHT + HCP Curriculum Graduate Certificate Course in Counselor of Hindu Tradition Counselor of Hindu Tradition (CHT) 12-session online course (100 hours) 24-session online course (250 hours) A college degree in any field from an accredited university English language proficiency Interest in the teachings of Bhagavad Gita Interest in serving the community prepare applicants for a career in Chaplaincy Designed especially for the Diaspora Countries Taught by 50 world-class faculty and experts from various fields Combined worldwide class discussions interchange Administrative fees of US $500 (different for each country) HCP requires 30 hours of service CHT requires 50 hours of service Bhagavad Gita and Hindu tradition Spiritual care in the community Essential counseling skills Knowledge of wellness services Enhancing Quality of Life prepare applicants to perform community service 2023 Global Admissions Open September 30, 2023 Classes begin October 13/14, 2023 Apply Here https://www.hsciglobal.org/learn.htm l [email protected] Meet the graduates from prior years HINDU INSTITUTE https://hsciglobal.com SPIRITUAL CARE a 501c(3) non-profit California corporation dedicated to service-learning. New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 5
6 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 She was featured by Forbes as one of the top 30 most powerful young change agents in the world. Janaki Gooty’s research paper identified three systemic challenges in business schools across the United States Janaki Gooty makes effort to advance gender-inclusivity at business schools YASMIN TINWALA I ndian American professor at the Charlotte Belk College of Business at the University of North Carolina has authored a paper that offers practical solutions for systemic transformation in business schools to advance genderinclusive leadership. Janaki Gooty’s research paper co-authored with the help of global colleagues, offers actionable solutions to three systemic challenges in business schools – “the masculine social structure of business schools, a muddled approach to performance evaluation, and an underrepresentation of research topics that affect women in the workplace.” A 2022 research on gender imbalance in academia by a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, found that from 2009 to 2017 only 16 per cent of finance faculty across the top 100 business schools in the U.S. were women. It was further found that women are less likely to get tenure and work at top-tier universities than males are. During this time span, the data also revealed that the percentage of female tenured finance teachers was consistently less than 15 per cent. Speaking of her research, called ‘Stronger Together: A Call for Gender-Inclusive Leadership in Business Schools’, Gooty said societal meanings of leadership and the systems are biased towards masculine realizations of leadership, power, and influence. As an example she highlighted how leadership development programs have taught women to sometimes change themselves and how they communicate while holding leadership. “Our team’s work dispels the myth that women are less interested or less capable than men to take on leadership roles, or that they need to somehow fundamentally change who they are to do so. Instead, we call for a focus on systemic changes to business school power structures and cultures to create a new, vibrant playing field that benefits all,” Gooty said. The researchers urged academic department chairs and members of committees responsible for deciding promotions and tenure to take action, stating that addressing the three systemic challenges “could benefit all members (of business schools), not just women, because it could signal more equitable pathways to multiple business school stakeholders and intended beneficiaries, such as students, donors, practitioners, and policymakers.” Janaki Gooty UNC Charlotte Robin Sharma to address IGCF 2023 SUPRIYA SINGH The 12th International G o v e r n m e n t C o m m u n i c a t i o n Forum, with the theme “Today’s Resources.. Tomorrow’s Wealth,” will be held on September 13- 14 at Expo Centre Sharjah, and renowned author Robin Sharma will give a speech titled “Leading without a title” at this year’s event. Sharma, a Canadian-Indian author and the chief executive officer of “Sharma Leadership International,” is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities on leadership and self-mastery. In addition to advising prominent figures in business, he devotes much of his time and energy to helping disadvantaged children through the Robin Sharma Foundation for Children (RSFC), as reported by the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF). On the second day of the international event hosted by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), Sharma will draw on his extensive experience to offer concrete advice on how to unleash the leadership potential in every member of an organization. He will offer his take on leadership personality, its traits, and how it engages with the environment, the release said. Sharma, who thinks anyone can lead and influence others, will also talk about the misconceptions people have about leadership. His aim in his many public talks, consultations, and workshops is to break down the complexities of leadership. Facebook Robin Sharma Sharma is most wellknown for his book, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Indian American CEO creates first flying electric boat MEHAK LUTHRA S ampriti Bhattacharyya is the Indian-origin founder and CEO of Navier, a company that is revolutionizing the maritime industry with its electric hydrofoil boat, the Navier 30. Speaking to digital creator Nas for his show Nas Daily, Bhattacharyya said that despite failing Physics in school she was in love with the subject, which led her to start a successful venture. At the age of 20, India-born Bhattacharyya applied to 540 companies for internships and was accepted by only one particle physics laboratory in the United States. “In each of the 540 emails I told them what I could do for them and only four responded. And then ultimately only one worked out and that was an internship at Fermilab,” she told Nas. Bhattacharyya’s journey in science and innovation began when she moved to Chicago to work as a research assistant. It was during this time that her passion for science truly ignited. She then worked as an intern for NASA, earned a master’s degree from Ohio State University, and finished her PhD at MIT. Following her academic accomplishments, Bhattacharyya relocated to San Francisco, where she successfully secured $12 million in funding and assembled a dedicated team to embark on the ambitious project of building the Navier 30 electric hydrofoil boat, a significant milestone in her career. “In the last 13 years, I learned so much, it gave me the confidence to tackle any kind of hard problems whether it was to design nuclear reactors or building flight controllers or building this flying boat,” Bhattacharyya said in the video. In 2016, she was also featured by Forbes as one of the top 30 most powerful young change agents in the world. The Navier 30 has three underwater wings that give it a planelike appearance. When the boat reaches a high enough speed, the wings lift it out of the water. This innovative design not only improves speed and energy efficiency, but also provides a noticeably smoother and nearly silent sailing experience, revolutionizing traditional boating. Sampriti Bhattacharyya Image - Instagram @sampriti_bh
New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 7 The resolution includes recommendations aimed at providing support to those who have been adversely affected by profiling and targeting in the two decades since the September 11 attacks. MEHAK LUTHRA Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Judy Chu, and André Carson introduced a resolution with a dual objective. First, it acknowledged the tragic events of September 11, and then it condemned the hatred, xenophobia, and racism that negatively impacted Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities in the United States in the wake of the attacks. “On September 11, 2001, we lost thousands of lives to the worst terrorist attack to ever happen on American soil. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the attack and more than 4,500 others have died since from related illnesses – this day irrevocably changed our country and its impact is still felt. As we mark this tragic day, we must also reflect on the lasting damages faced by Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities in the aftermath,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “The murders of Balbir Singh Sodhi, Waqar Hassan, and Adel Karas in the days following the attack were shocking displays of hatred. Xenophobia and racism have no place in this country, and today we recognize the shared trauma that these communities faced as they experienced stigma, discrimination, and losses of liberty,” she added. The resolution includes a list of suggestions for helping those who have been profiled or targeted in the two decades since the September 11 attacks. These include the establishment of an interagency task force, in collaboration with community-based organizations, to assess government policies, investigate their impact, and dismantle any policies that continue to unfairly profile and target Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities. The resolution also calls for hearings by congressional and civil rights bodies to further explore the findings and suggestions put forth by this interagency task force in consultation with community-based organizations. Furthermore, the resolution advocates for the allocation of resources to independent communitybased organizations, separate from law enforcement, that prioritize the experiences and needs of these communities. These resources would support hate crime prevention efforts and assist victims of hate and state violence, including services like language support, mental health support, comprehensive assistance, system navigation, and crisis response and recovery. Rep. Jayapal introduces resolution for 9/11 racism victims Image - X @PramilaJayapal Pramila Jayapal She formerly worked as a legislative assistant and scheduler for Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY). Asha Armstrong hired as cloakroom assistant BHAVANA P Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the House minority, has hired Asha Armstrong as his cloakroom assistant. The young Indian American announced the news on LinkedIn. “I am happy to share that I am the new House Democratic Cloakroom Assistant for the Office of the Democratic Leader,” she wrote, adding that she’s ‘grateful’ for her time in Ranking Member Nadler’s office and is ‘looking forward to taking this next step.’ The cloakrooms, which are located away from the House and Senate chambers’ floors, provide members “the ability to converse, relax, discuss legislative strategy, or prepare for Floor business,” according to the website for the House Democratic Cloakroom. Every party has a separate cloakroom. The duties of cloakroom attendants include “alerting lawmakers when votes are coming up, telling them whether the chamber will be open on a snow day and working with pages to deliver messages,” CNN noted in a report. According to her LinkedIn profile, Armstrong began her career in Washington as an intern in the office of California Democrat Rep. Ami Bera. Before joining Rep. Nadler’s staff, she worked as an intern for Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.). Previously, she interned for the Democratic Party, the state Senate, and Molina Healthcare’s legal department in California. Armstrong received a Political Science and Government degree from American University in 2021, as well as a Communications minor. Asha Armstrong Image - LinkedIn MADHU BALAJI Retired Indian Army General Dr. Manoj Mukund Naravane has joined the advisory board of the USIndia Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) along with Retired General Richard Clarke, former United States Army general and former commander of US Special Operations Command; and Peter Marrs, president of Dell Technologies for the Asia-Pacific and Japan region. Welcoming the new members, USISPF president and chief executive officer (CEO), Mukesh Aghi said, “The additions of Peter Marrs, General Naravane, and General Clarke epitomize the importance and synergy of critical and emerging technology, especially in the defence domain.” Aghi added that leaders from the private sector and former distinguished military officials exemplify USISPF’s holistic approach to understanding the commercial and geostrategic aspects of the partnership. “I look forward to engaging with Peter, General Naravane, and General Clarke as part of the USISPF Board,” he said. Commenting on the appointment, General Naravane said, “It is an honour and a privilege to have been invited to the Board of USISPF, a forum that has steered US-India relations. There is immense scope for further enhancing this partnership and I look forward to being part of this effort.” General Naravane recently served as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 2020 to 2022. Recipient of several national and international awards, he also received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for ‘service to the country of the most exceptional order’. In 2022, USISPF felicitated General Naravane with the Distinguished Public Service Award 2022 for his contributions to US-India relations. General Naravane was born in Pune, Maharashtra, in 1960. He completed his master’s degree in Defence Studies from the University of Madras, Chennai; and an M.Phil. in Defence and Management Studies from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore. He attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Army War College, Mhow. Gen. Naravane joins USISPF advisory board General Dr Manoj Mukund Naravane Image: Wikipedia
8 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 Patel worked with State Rep. Brenda Shields, R-Mo., and the Susan G. Komen organization to get the SB106 legislation drafted and passed. UMKC professor leads the charge for free diagnostic breast imaging YASMIN TINWALA An Indian-origin professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine (UMKC), played a leading role in bringing about a new law in Missouri that requires health insurance companies to pay the full cost of diagnostic breast imaging without charging patients a co-pay or deductible. Gov. Mike Parson signed the SB106 law in July 2023, which will take effect on January 1, 2024. Amy Patel worked closely with Rep. Brenda Shields, R-Mo., and the Susan G. Komen organization to get the SB106 legislation drafted and passed, according to a university news release. An assistant professor of radiology at the UMKC, medical director of the Breast Care Center at Liberty Hospital, and a 2011 alumna of the UMKC School of Medicine, Patel said that if a patient required additional breast imaging testing such as a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI, it must be covered without co-pay or deductible. Diagnostic breast imaging also encompasses patients with a lump or pain or those who have undergone prior surgeries for breast cancer which require follow-up mammograms for several years. Patel revealed that she has had patients with breast cancer, who were recommended additional diagnostic breast imaging testing by doctors show up much later, due to the associated costs. By the time, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit and even other parts of the bodies at times. “I worked hard on this because I live and breathe this every day in clinical practice,” she said. Dr Patel Image-Brandon Parigo/UMKC Indian-origin CEO unveils Crown Coin in honor of Queen Elizabeth II MEHAK LUTHRA I n honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s death anniversary, East India Company CEO Sanjiv Mehta, who hails from India, unveiled a magnificent diamond and gold Crown Coin. The remarkable creation known as “The Crown” took 16 months to complete and is estimated to be worth around $23 million, making it the most valuable coin in history. “The Crown was meticulously handcrafted: the diamonds were painstakingly cut and individually placed to fit seamlessly within the design, while two distinct settings were used to mirror the flowing fabric of the British Union Jack,” the East Indian Company said. “The result is a truly unique design that captures the aesthetic essence of the Commonwealth while honouring the East India Company’s deep engagement with these places,” it added. The coin features 6,426 diamonds that were obtained in an ethical manner. It includes eleven 24-carat gold coins, all dedicated to the memory of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, who passed away at the age of 96 on September 8 last year. Additionally, it is made up of ten 1-ounce coins that surround a central 1-kilogram coin, all of which are set in a delicate diamond lattice. The production of this masterpiece utilized a total of 3.6 kilograms of gold, and the numerous diamonds were meticulously inspected and assessed for their cut, clarity, colour, and carat by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Expert artisans and craftspeople from eight different countries worked together to create “The Crown” coin. Crown Coin Image - X @TheEastIndia This ‘objet d’art’ represents a harmonious blend of master craftsmanship and exceptional materials. In her role, Gadhia will partner with a variety of internal and external stakeholders including current HBS students, alumni, faculty, and administrators. SUPRIYA SINGH Harvard Business School (HBS) has named Indian-origin Rupal Gadhia as the next managing director of MBA admissions and financial aid. In her role, Gadhia will partner with a variety of internal and external stakeholders including current HBS students, alumni, faculty, and administrators. She will oversee an admissions process that aims to deliver a high-quality, MBA class with wideranging talents and experiences, as per the release by HBS. Praising Gadhia for her professional achievements, Matt Weinzierl, senior associate dean and chair of the MBA program said, “Her authentic belief in and experience with – the transformational experience of the HBS MBA, combined with her superb analytical, marketing, and strategic skills, will inspire the world’s most promising young leaders to join the HBS MBA community of which she has been such an engaged and active member.” Gadhia will begin her new role in October and the School “looks forward to welcoming her back to the HBS campus,” Weinzierl added. Speaking of the new role, Gadhia who is also an alumnus of HBS said, “Returning to HBS in this role is the opportunity of a lifetime. The school had such a profound impact on my life and career that leading the admissions effort was the unquestioned next step for me.” According to the release, Gadhia is also tasked with building upon previous efforts to increase access and affordability and remove financial barriers for applicants and students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Gadhia’s career began in brand management with Sara Lee and Campbell Soup Company, followed by a move to Booz & Co. as a management consultant. Leveraging her passion for brand and consulting, she joined the Brand Union, managing North American strategy and research for consumer and corporate clients and was recruited to Interbrand to lead the relationship for two of their largest clients. In 2017 she joined Genpact as global vice president of brand and digital marketing. In her most recent role, Gadhia was senior vice president and global head of marketing for SharkNinja’s robots and home environment categories, where she was focused on bringing innovations to market. HBS names Rupal Gadhia head of MBA admissions and financial aid Rupal Gadhia Image HBS
New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 9 The event featured a lineup of keynote speakers and themed panel discussions that delved into various aspects. Seattle -Setu conference bolsters India-US relations MEHAK LUTHRA S eattle University recently hosted the Seattle-Setu conference, bringing leaders together to discuss issues around the important USIndia relationship. Setu means “bridge” in Sanskrit. The conference highlighted the benefits that Indian businesses have brought to the state of Washington. It also emphasized the numerous investments originating from the state and flowing into India. The event featured a lineup of keynote speakers and themed panel discussions that delved into various aspects. These discussions covered a wide range of topics, including business collaborations and talent acquisition between India and the United States, philanthropic endeavors, and the distinctions and challenges that set India’s legal system apart from the more common legal practices in the U.S. U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement delivered the keynote address.. She stressed on the importance of immigration reforms in her speech. “That’s what we need to do,” she told the audience. “We haven’t had comprehensive immigration reform for decades. ... It is hurting us economically and culturally. We’re losing people to other countries, like Canada.” Commenting on the Roundglass India Center that was launched during the event, Jayapal said, “This opportunity to really center a dialogue about India and U.S. relations and specifically the opportunity and challenges of this region, which I am so, so proud to represent, is phenomenal. This exciting new venture has enormous potential and builds on an already strong foundation of engagement between our city and India.” Topics discussed at the conference included “Empowering Change: Impact on Social & Economic Development in India,” “Global Collaborations: Embracing Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges,” and “U.S.-India Relations: Past, Present, and Future.” President Eduardo Peñalver, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, state Senator Manka Dhingra and Sunny Singh, founder of Edifecs also addressed the gathering. The “Empowering Change: Impact on Social & Economic Development in India” panel RoundGlass Foundation to foster collaborations with India BHAVANA P S eattle University, in association with the RoundGlass Foundation, has announced the launch of the RoundGlass India Center, a key step in fostering cross-regional collaboration between Seattle and India, encouraging discussion, collaboration, and multidisciplinary research. “In partnership with the RoundGlass Foundation, Seattle University is uniquely positioned to build on the existing connections between Seattle and India among the business, academic and other communities,” remarked Eduardo Peñalver, president of Seattle University. The Center’s activities will include highlevel public events in Seattle that will bring together leaders from both nations’ business, law, government, and other sectors. It will also encourage economic growth, the rule of law, and justice in India, with a concentration on the state of Punjab. In addition, it will grant scholarships for Indian students to study at Seattle University. Sital Kalantry has been named executive director of The RoundGlass India Center. Kalantry is a Professor of Law and the Associate Dean of International Programs and Graduate Studies at Seattle University. His research focuses on comparative legal studies in India. “The RoundGlass India Center will create opportunities for high-level substantive events on India in Seattle, scholarships for students from India and will build on Roundglass Foundation’s deep commitment to economic development and rule of law in the state of Punjab,” said Gurpreet (Sunny) Singh, founder of the RoundGlass Foundation. The center was launched at recently held Seattle-Setu conference. The full-day conference, hosted by Seattle University in collaboration with Greater Seattle Partners, brought together business leaders, lawyers, philanthropists and civic leaders, as well as renowned scholars from India and the United States, to engage in meaningful discussions aimed at forging and expanding bridges between the two countries. The event also included a speech by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and a taped message from Infosys founder Seattle University Narayana Murthy. Image - Instagram @/Seattleeu The collaboration aims to enhance the India-US relationship and encourages Indians to study in the US
10 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 A signboard honoring Corporal Ronil Singh Memorial Highway has been installed at the California intersection of Highway 33 and Stuhr Road California highway renamed after late Indian-origin cop BHAVANA P The Newman Police Department in California recently named a stretch of Highway 33 after Ronil Singh, a police officer of Indian descent. He was fatally shot by an unauthorized immigrant in December 2018. A memorial highway sign honoring Corporal Ronil Singh was installed at the junction of State Route 33 and Stuhr Road. “Today the community came together to honour the memory of Cpl. Ronil Singh, who was tragically killed in the line of duty in December 2018. The memorial highway sign was unveiled today and will be displayed on Highway 33 and Stuhr Road,” Assemblyman Juan Alanis posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Singh, a native of Fiji, joined the force in July 2011 and was fatally shot on December 26, 2018, by an alleged drunk motorist. His assailant, Paulo Virgen Mendoza, was apprehended after a three-day manhunt. In November 2020, he admitted to the murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. After the community’s annual Tunnel to Towers 5K walk and run, an unveiling ceremony was held to reveal the sign. The gathering was attended by the widow of the deceased police officer, Anamika, their young son Arnav, who was only 5 months old at the time of the unfortunate tragedy, as well as other family members. County Supervisor Channce Condit, State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, United States Representative John Duarte, and Assemblyman Juan Alanis were also present, as were members of the Newman Police Department. The memorial highway sign honoring Corporal Ronil Singh Image-X/@JuanAlanisCA
New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 11
President World Bank Ajay Banga “We are becoming a better Bank. We are becoming more efficient – incentivizing output, not input... Impact is our new measuring stick.” EDITORIAL A UNITED G 20 AND THE NEW DELHI DECLARATION 12 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 NY Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar “As the daughter of immigrants, it was education that threw open the doors of opportunity for me. Now, I am committed to ensuring all the children in my district have those same opportunities.” Diaspora Talks Already on the global stage for sometime now, India could not have had it better. Defying doomsayers and brushing aside all those sceptics who were maintaining that the Summit of the Group of 20 was bound to fall by the wayside for one reason or another, a global consensus was indeed achieved and that too on the first day itself of the mega event. Noteworthy and of special significance is that the 55 member African Union will now take a formal seat at the Table as the 21st member and in the process bringing to the grouping the critical voice of the African continent to the issues of the international community. And it was no small feat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team that world leaders agreed on a common language reflecting a desire to move forward on issues and challenges before them instead of falling back on the usual yesterday- type rhetoric and hyperbole that would have led them nowhere. That the leaders took seriously what Prime Minister Modi said in his inaugural address that only a unified approach could get over the several crisis facing the world that culminated in a “global trust deficit” is indeed to be taken note of. The Indian leader was right on the mark when he argued that in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, a huge lack of trust has come about in the world with conflict only deepening it. He did not mention Ukraine or Russia by name but the obvious could not be missed not merely by death and destruction but also of regional and global economic ramifications including on the food supplies front. Hopefully the parties involved in the safe movement of food grains through the Baltic will take necessary steps. The New Delhi Declaration had messages for everyone, not just for the participants at the table. From condemning terrorism in all its manifestations and curbing money laundering, the Declaration addressed xenophobia, racism and intolerance; on a global biofuel alliance; an international climate action platform; and expanding renewable energy capacity including the setting up of the Green Hydrogen Innovation center. The multiple agreements spoken of in the Declaration includes reform of multilateral development banks, a framework for cryptocurrency, a lifestyle for sustainable development and cooperation on artificial intelligence. At the end of it all, India showed the G 20 and the world what teamwork could achieve with a singular message being that constant cribbing about what has happened is unlikely to be a useful map for the future. For instance there is the element of disappointment in Ukraine that the New Delhi meet did not condemn that war “against Ukraine”. Therefore to make the argument that the G 20 had “nothing to be proud of” misses the point. The leaders assembled in New Delhi looked at the future course especially in the context of a dangerous drift in the war particularly in repeated suggestions of the use of nuclear weapons. Given the magnitude of the event and in all the contentious issues on hand, credit must be given to both the organisers of the program as well as the negotiating teams to have weaved through complex details and language sensitivities to come up with a consensus document without a single note of dissent. The onus is now on the next Presidency of Brazil to build on the gains achieved in New Delhi. Every global organisation must reform to be relevant: PM Modi (Translated remarks during Session 3 “One Future”) Your Highnesses, Excellencies, Yesterday, we had extensive discussions in the One Earth and One Family sessions. I am satisfied that today the G-20 has become a platform for optimistic efforts regarding the vision of One Earth, One Family, One Future. We are currently discussing a future where we transcend the concept of Global Village and witness the Global Family becoming a reality. It’s a future where not only the interests of countries are intertwined, but also where hearts are interconnected. Friends, I have continuously drawn your attention to Human Centric Vision instead of GDP Centric Approach. Today many countries like India have so much that we are sharing with the whole world. India has talked about sharing the data of Chandrayaan Mission with everyone in the interest of humanity. This is also a proof of our commitment towards Human Centric Growth. India has harnessed technology to foster inclusive development and facilitate last-mile delivery. Even in our most remote villages, the small-scale traders are using digital payments. I am happy that under India’s chairmanship a strong framework for Digital Public Infrastructure has been agreed upon. Similarly, “G20 Principles on Harnessing Data for Development” have also been accepted. It has also been decided to launch “Data for Development Capacity Building Initiative” for the development of Global South. Formation of Startup 20 engagement group during the Presidency of India is also a big step. Friends, Today, we are witnessing an unprecedented scale and speed in new-generation technologies. Artificial Intelligence is such example in front of us. In 2019, the we adopted the “Principles on AI”. Today, we need to take one step further. I propose that we establish a framework for Responsible Human-Centric AI governance. India will also give its suggestions in this regard. It will be our endeavor that all countries get the benefits of AI in areas like Socio-Economic Development, Global Workforce and R&D. Friends, Today, our world is also facing some other burning problems, which are affecting both the present and future of all our countries. We are familiar with the challenges of cyber security and crypto-currency. The field of cryptocurrency, has emerged as a new topic for everyone i.e social order, monetary and financial stability. Therefore, we have to develop global standards to regulate crypto-currencies. We have the Basel standards on bank regulation in front of us as a model. It is imperative that we take concrete steps in this direction as soon as possible. Likewise, global cooperation and a framework for cybersecurity are essential. Terrorism is exploiting new channels and new funding methods from the cyber world, making it a critical issue for the security and prosperity of every nation. Only when we take care of the security of every country and the sensitivity of every country, the feeling of One Future will be strengthened. Friends, To take the world towards a better future, it is necessary that global systems are in accordance with the realities of the present. Today the “United Nations Security Council” is also an example of this. When the UN was established, the world at that time was completely different from today. At that time there were 51 founding members in the UN. Today the number of countries included in the UN is around 200. Despite this, the permanent members in UNSC are still the same. From then till today the world has changed a lot in every respect. Be it transport, communication, health, education, every sector has been transformed. These new realities should be reflected in our new global structure. It is a law of nature that individuals and organizations that fail to adapt to changing times inevitably lose their relevance. We must think with an open mind as to what is the reason that many regional forums have come into existence in the past years, and they are also proving to be effective. Friends, Today, it is necessary for every global organization to reform to increase its relevance. With this in mind, yesterday we have taken the historic initiative of making the African Union a permanent member of the G-20. Similarly, we will also have to expand the mandate of Multilateral Development Banks. Our decisions in this direction should be immediate and also effective. Friends, In a world marked by rapid change, we require not only transformation but also sustainability and stability. Come! Let us pledge that we will take our resolutions of Green Development Pact, Action Plan on SDGs, High level Principles on Anti-corruption, Digital Public Infrastructure, and MDB Reforms to fruition. Image -G20 Indonesia Image - PIB
New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 13 DR. SRIDHAR KRISHNASWAMI Nikki Haley, one of the Republican contenders for the party nomination for the 2024 Presidential election, has been perking up not just Americans but perhaps even irritating many in the Grand Old Party when she has been consistently calling for term limits for politicians along with mental competency tests for those aspiring for positions of power at 75 and above. On the face of it, Haley’s idea would come to apply those running for the White House, Congress and even those sitting for life at the United States Supreme Court. Tempting as it may be to toss out Haley’s thinking as usual campaign rhetoric and fluff that does not stand a chance in the current settings of American politics, the age limit, at least, appears to be getting some attention in opinion polls. About three quarters of America believe that President Joe Biden is “too old” to seek re-election in 2024; and two thirds or slightly more of Democrats feel the same way too. Somehow folks have suddenly come to realise that Biden will be 85 years old at the time of stepping away from the Presidency in 2029, if elected for a second term! Some would argue that Haley at 51 has the luxury of talking of “age”; but her competition for the party nomination Vivek Ramaswamy at 38 is not inclined to touch her ideas with a barge pole; and many politicians on both sides of the aisle have either blatantly ignored it or defied the notion. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein at 90 is unwilling to step aside from the Senate; despite two so-called black outs or “freeze” Senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell at 81 says everything is fine; and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just announced that she is in the reelection fray at 83. It is highly unlikely that Haley’s attempt to raise the issues of age and mental competency is going to get traction in this election season and certainly not within the Grand Old Party which is seeing the popularity of former President Donald Trump at record levels in spite of his state and federal felony counts. At 77 Trump is not seen in the same age bracket as that of President Biden and few have questioned the mental competency of the former occupant of the White House. If Haley is looking at raising her age and competency factors as a way to get the better of Trump, she has miles to go even within the Republicans Party. Haley’s point is not too difficult to understand. “This is not just a Republican or Democrat problem, this is a congressional problem There is a reason the American people want term limits. It’s because they don’t want people staying there forever, they don’t want people drunk on the power… The American people are saying it is time to go. If they would approve term limits, the American people would show that. But until then, they’ve got to know that look, we appreciate your service, but it’s time to step away.” US 2024 ELECTIONS When age and mental competency become an issue on campaign trail Nikki Haley says she will be the GOP presidential nominee, not Trump YASMIN TINWALA I ndian American 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley spoke with CBS News’ Robert Costa about her pledge to back embattled former President Donald Trump if he becomes the Republican nominee. When questioned whether she still stands by her choice and if a convicted criminal like Trump should be the nominee, Haley answered that she and the other candidates just vowed to execute what they signed. All candidates that were part of the GOP’s first presidential debate had to sign a pledge to support the eventual 2024 nominee, RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel had told CNN in February 2023. “I do not think President Trump’s going to be the nominee. I think it is going to be me.” Haley said adding that she would back any Republican candidate as they will be better than what “better than what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are doing.” “The American people are not going to vote for a convicted criminal. The American people are going to vote for someone who can win a general election. I have faith in the American people. They know what they need to do,” Haley stated when asked further about whether she would back a Republican candidate regardless of their criminal record. Meanwhile, Trump is the first President to have ever been indicted in the history of the United States. Over the course of four and a half months, he has faced criminal charges on four separate occasions. He was indicted in New York for making hush money payments to a pornstar in 2016. The trial is scheduled for March 25, 2024. In June 2023, he was indicted in his current state of residence, Florida, by a federal grand jury for hoarding classified documents and resisting the government’s efforts to retrieve them. The trial for the same is scheduled for May 2024. The District of Columbia state court issued Trump’s third indictment on August 1, 2023. He is being charged with four felonies related to his attempts to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election. According to media accounts, the indictment claims that Trump along with a co-conspirator “attempted to exploit the violence and chaos at the Capitol by calling lawmakers to convince them … to delay the certification” of the election. He also faces 13 felony counts in Georgia for his election interference in that state. The trial is set to begin on March 4, 2024, one day before primary elections in over a dozen states. The Georgia grand jury accused Trump and 18 others on August 14 for conspiring to reverse their 2020 election loss. Nikki Haley Image-X @TeamHaley Haley said the American people are going to vote for someone who can win the general election, not a “convicted criminal.” It is highly unlikely that Haley’s attempt to raise the issues of age and mental competency is going to get traction in this election season and certainly not within the Grand Old Party Vivek Ramaswamy calls for ‘strategic clarity’ on Taiwan STAFF REPORTER I ndian American GOP presidential candidate for 2024, Vivek Ramaswamy has suggested that the U.S. shift from strategic ambiguity to strategic clarity on Taiwan, and commit to defend it against Chinese annexation until the U.S. achieves semiconductor independence. Taiwan accounts for 65 per cent of the global semiconductor supply and nearly 90 per cent of the smallest and most sophisticated chips, as per a media report. Ramaswamy’s comments come after Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the U.S. does not support Taiwan’s independence in June 2023, while President Biden in August 2023, approved a military transfer of US $80 million to Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF), which is normally used for independent sovereign states. China’s state-run newspaper published an editorial in response to the funding, warning “lethal consequences” for Taiwan due to the “malicious and grave” actions of the U.S. “Right now the U.S. embraces the “One China” Policy, which fails to recognize Taiwan as a nation & adopts “strategic ambiguity” about whether or not the U.S. will defend Taiwan against invasion. This creates mutual confusion with China about red lines & increases the risk of major conflict between the U.S. and China, especially heightened in the nearterm when the entire U.S. economy and modern way of life relies on leading-edge semiconductors manufactured in Taiwan,” Ramaswamy said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. He suggested that the U.S. must commit to defending Taiwan against China till achieving semiconductor independence after which the country could go back to its strategically ambiguous stance. The Indian American further added that Taiwan could work on doubling its own military expenditures to 4-5 per cent of GDP while the U.S. strengthens its own military and economic alliances with India, Japan, and South Korea. “This is how we can stop Chinese aggression and advance vital long-run U.S. interests while avoiding World War III,” Ramaswamy maintained.
14 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023
New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 15 l न्यू इंडि्ा अब्रॉि नेटवर्क भारती्य-अमेररकी दंपती और उनके शकिोर बेटे को िबशलन, ओहा्यो शसथत उनके घर पर मृत पा्या ग्या है। तीनों की मौत गोली लगने से हुई है। पुशलस मृत्यु का कारण पता लगाने में र्ुटी है। दंपती और उनके बेटे की हत्या हुई ्या ्यह सामूशहक आतमहत्या का मामला है, इसकी पडताल की र्ा रही है। मीशि्या ररपोटस्र में बता्या ग्या है शक भारती्य मूल के रार्न रार्ाराम (54), िांशतलता रार्न (51) और उनके बेटे अनीर रार्ाराम (19) के िव 18 र्नवरी को उनके घर में शमले। पररवार के एक र्ानने वाले ने उनकी खैरर्यत र्ानने के शलए फोन शक्या था लेशकन शकसी ने उठा्या नहीं। इसके बाद उसने पुशलस को इत्ला दी। पुशलस मौके पर पहुंची तो घर में िव शमले। पुशलस के खुशफ्या सूत्ों ने अपनी प्ारंशभक र्ांच में कहा है शक तीनों की मौत गोली लगने से हुई है। ्यह हत्या ्या सामूशहक आतमहत्या का मामला हो सकता है। अशधकारर्यों का कहना है शक उनहें इस बात के सुबूत नहीं शमले हैं शक घर में कोई र्बद्रसती घुसा हो। ्यह भी लग रहा है शक घर के अंदर िव कई शदनों से पडे हुए थे। रिेंकशलन काउंटी का्या्रल्य के ररकॉडस्र के आधार पर बता्या ग्या है शक रार्न पररवार उस घर में 1998 से रह रहा था। रार्न शसनशसनाटी शसथत टेक्ोसॉफट कॉपटोरेिन में इंर्ीशन्यर थे। उनकी पत्ी र्ेपी मॉग्रन चेस में काम करती थीं। बेटा अनीर ऑकसफोि्ट, ओशह्यो शम्यामी शवशवशवद्ाल्य के फाम्रर सकूल ऑफ शबर्नेस में अकाउंशटंग प्मुख था। शवशवशवद्ाल्य ने एक ब्यान में कहा है शक छात् अनीर की मृत्यु की खबर से संसथान के कम्रचारी और बेहद दुखी हैं। पररवार के पररशचत और दोसत भी घटना को लेकर व्यशथत हैं। िबशलन कॉफमैन हाई सकूल के एक शिक्षक एली शर्मरमैन ने मीशि्या से कहा शक वह अनीि को तब से र्ानती हैं र्ब वह कॉफमैन में पहले साल आ्या था। वह सामुदाश्यक सेवा संगठन से भी र्ुडा हुआ था। एक समझदार, िांत और मेहनती बच्ा था। वह पढाई में तो अचछा था ही, उसमें नेतृतव के भी गुण थे। अनीर के बचपन के एक दोसत गाबे शफनटा ने मीशि्या से कहा शक उनकी मुलाकात तब हुई थी, र्ब वे आठवीं कलास में थे। हाल ही में वह दुबई की ्यात्ा पर गए थे र्हां अनीर ने अपने एक िर पर र्ीत हाशसल की थी, वह िर था सकाईिाइशवंग का। अनीि ऐसा लडका था र्ो शर्ंदगी को पूरी तरह र्ीना चाहता था। उसकी और पररवार की मौत से हमें बहुत दुख है। 16 न् यू इंडि्ा अब्रॉि सोमवार, 30 जनवरी, 2023 ओहायो में भाितीय मूल िे दंपकत औि बेटे िे िव कमले, हतया या सामूकहि आतमहतया? खबरों में बताया गया है लक भारतीय मूल के राजन राजाराम (54), िांलतलता राजन (51) और उनके बेटे अनीष राजाराम (19) के िव उनके घर में लमले। तीनों की मौत गनोली लगने से हुई बताई गई है। Nikki Haley when pitted against Biden in a hypothetical matchup in the poll, secured 49 per cent votes, while 43 per cent went to Biden. Nikki Haley only Republican who can beat Biden: CNN poll YASMIN TINWALA According to a new poll conducted for CNN by SSRS, President Joe Biden is trailing the majority of Republican presidential candidates vying for a nomination in the primary. While there is no clear winner in hypothetical matchups between Biden and GOP candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, and Mike Pence, Nikki Haley has emerged as the only candidate in the poll who could potentially pose a threat to the reigning President if it came down to the two of them. Haley holds a clear lead with 49 per cent of respondents voting for her while 43 per cent voted for President Biden in the hypothetical contest between the two. Ron DeSantis and Biden fared even with both receiving 47 per cent of the votes, Ramaswamy held 45 per cent of votes while 46 per cent voted for Biden. The CNN poll was conducted between August 25-31 among 1,503 adult respondents drawn from a probability-based panel. As per the results, Republican and Republican-leaning voters are deeply motivated to vote in 2024, compared to Democraticaligned voters. 71 per cent of GOPleasing voters said they would most definitely head to the polling booths compared to 61 per cent of Democrats who said the same. The poll results came on the heels of Haley’s recent interview with CBS where she claimed she does not think Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee. “I do not think President Trump’s going to be the nominee. I think it is going to be me,” she said, further adding, “The American people are not going to vote for a convicted criminal.”
16 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 Classifieds [email protected] Book Your Activists urge Gov. Newsom to sign caste equity bill SUNITA SOHRABJI S ACRAMENTO, California — The California Coalition for Caste Equity has initiated a hunger strike to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign SB 403, a bill that would add caste as a protected class under ancestry to the California Civil Rights Act. The California state Senate passed SB 403, sponsored by Sen. Aisha Wahab, on a 31-5 vote. The California state Assembly earlier passed an amended version of the bill. The bill must now be signed by Newsom before it becomes law; the governor has until Oct. 14 to render his decision on the legislation. If Newsom signs the bill, California would be the first state in the US to formally recognize caste discrimination. A spokesperson for Newsom’s office told New India Abroad Sept. 6 that the bill has not yet been submitted to the governor. “As with all measures that reach the Governor’s desk, the bill will be evaluated on its merits,” said the spokesperson. She noted that Newsom has not issued a formal statement on whether he intends to sign the bill. Thenmozhi Soundararajan, executive director of Equality Labs which has headed up the fight for caste protection, spoke to New India Abroad on the second day of the hunger strike. “The governor’s office has been incredibly supportive of this bill. Gov. Newsom understands that this legislation is the pathway to democracy for so many people in this state.” “California is a leader in human and civil rights. It is very important for us to start this fast to remind the community of what is at stake here,” she said, adding that people have lost their homes and jobs and have suffered mental and physical abuse due to caste discrimination. “People are feeling a little bit tired. It’s 90 degrees out here. But we will remain out here until the bill is signed,” Soundararajan maintained. The NAACP and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association have expressed support for the measure, said Soundararajan. She noted that other people were supporting the hunger strike in their homes. Dr. Nirmal Singh, a physician from Bakersfield, California who joined the hunger strike outside 1021 O Street, told New India Abroad that he is the product of India’s affirmative action policies for its minorities. “As the father of two girls, it is up to me to provide a safe environment, free of discrimination. People are very afraid to raise their voices. I want to be the voice for people who cannot speak about the discrimination they have faced,” Singh, who has faced discrimination in his profession, said. Meanwhile, the bill has received opposition, most prominently from the Hindu American Foundation, which notes that caste discrimination is already illegal under the current law. Samir Kalra, managing director at the Hindu American Foundation told New India Abroad, “We were certainly disappointed that the bill passed the Legislature. But there were quite a few abstentions (legislators who did not vote on the bill) which indicated there is not universal support in the Legislature.” “This is not the way to address castebased discrimination, which is already protected by existing law,” he added. “It puts a target on the back of all South Asian Americans. We hope the governor will see that this bill violates the rights of our community.” Kalra stated that he and other groups opposing the measure will convey their concerns to the governor’s office. Rallies opposing the measure are being planned. Members of the California Coalition for Caste Equity are staging a hunger strike in Sacramento, California. Image- Thenmozhi Soundararajan Dr. Nirmal Singh of the Sri Guru Ravidassa Community The governor has until Oct. 14 to render his decision on the legislation Rep. Krishnamoorthi reintroduces ‘STOP’ Bullying Act MEHAK LUTHRA US Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Jenniffer González-Colón jointly reintroduced the State Taskforce Opportunity Program (“STOP”) Bullying Act, which aims to encourage the creation of statewide anti-bullying task forces through a federal grant initiative under the Department of Education. The task forces will focus on studying, addressing, and reducing bullying in primary and secondary schools, with a special focus on addressing the pervasive issue of bullying against LGBTQI+ students, a news release stated. They will also bring together educators and community leaders to assess and enhance bullying prevention measures in elementary and secondary schools. They are also expected to collaborate with other state boards and commissions to ensure consistency and positive outcomes for students. Ultimately, each task force will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive report to the Chief Education Officer of the state and the U.S. Secretary of Education. This report will encompass task force findings, legislative recommendations, effective strategies for reducing and preventing hostile school environments, and initiatives to raise awareness among parents and school staff. “Every child deserves a healthy environment to learn and grow in the classroom and their social environment. The presence of bullying in K-12 schools across our country increases student exposure to adverse childhood experiences, which contribute to not only unsatisfactory educational outcomes but also to poor mental health outcomes across the lifespan.,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “The STOP Bullying Act addresses hostile school environments by building on successful state-level initiatives and establishing a new grant program to incentivize and fund state taskforces combating bullying by working with communities to make schools safer for all children, regardless of their actual or perceived race, colour, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion,” he added. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi Image - Raja Krishnamoorthi
New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 17 Immigrant-founded Fortune 500 firms generated $8.1 trillion in FY 2022 YASMIN TINWALA Arecent report by the American Immigration Council (AIC) found that 224 of the 500 largest corporations (44.8 percent) in the United States based on revenue were founded by immigrants or their children. The report noted a spike in immigrantfounded companies, compared to the first New American (moniker used to describe companies founded by immigrants or second/third generation immigrants) Fortune 500 report released in 2011, where it found that more than two out of every five Fortune 500 companies had at least one immigrant or child-of-immigrant founder. Out of the 224 immigrant-founded New American companies, 103 were founded directly by foreign-born individuals, while children of immigrants founded the remaining 121. The 224 New American companies collectively brought in US $8.1 trillion in revenue, during the fiscal year 2022. The number is greater than the GDP of developed countries including Japan, Germany, and the UK, as per the International Monetary Fund data. In addition, each of the New American Fortune 500 companies employs 66,192 workers on average. These companies, together, employ over 14.8 million people worldwide. The report acknowledged the efforts of immigrants and their children in breaking new grounds and being the vanguard of new businesses that fueled job creation for American workers, directly contributing to the growth of the country’s economy, said an AIC news release. The New American Fortune 500 companies are a testament to their success and an indication of the strength of the U.S. economy that embraces entrepreneurial spirit, the release stated. Unsplash According to an American Immigration Council report, 224 of the Fortune 500 companies in the United States were founded by immigrants or their children. The winner will represent the NJ chapter at the TiE Global Summit 2023, to be held at Singapore in November 2023. TiE NJ declares winner of 2023 Women Pitch Competition STAFF REPORTER The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) New Jersey chapter recently announced the winners of its inaugural Women Pitch Competition, held at the NJEDA, Bioscience Center. This high-stakes event highlighted the state’s most innovative business minds, heralding a new era of female leadership in the startup world. After the Semi-final rounds in August, six finalists were chosen from a pool of fourteen female entrepreneurs. Madhu Stemmermann founder of SunRay Scientific emerged as the winner, and will represent the NJ capter at the TiE Global Summit 2023, to be held at Singapore in November 2023. XN Health’s Elizabeth Jaworski came in second, and Symba’s Nikita Gupta took third. Among the finalists were Sloane Tilley of DIA, Donna Conroy of SciMar ONE, and Kirthika Parameshwaran of Vital Start Health. Judge Neha Desai Shah, president and co-founder at GEP in her speech at the competition highlighted the challenges women face while running a business and finding a balance between their entrepreneurial pursuits and personal responsibilities. “Despite these challenges, women entrepreneurs contribute significantly to economic growth, innovation, and job creation. They bring unique perspectives and problemsolving skills to their businesses. Organizations such as TiE and policies that support work-life balance, gender equality, and entrepreneurship can help women overcome these challenges and thrive as both caregivers and business leaders.” she said. Highlighting the significance of the competition, Lata Shetty, founding limited partner at How Women Invest Funds and one of the judges said, “The TIE-NJ Women’s Pitch was much more than just a competition —it spotlighted our determination and collaborative spirit to disrupt the 2 percent of Venture Capital invested in US female founders and less than 0.5 percent invested in Women of Color Founders, even though female founders outperform their male peers by 35 percentb ROI while generating 10% more in cumulative revenue over a 5-year period.” According to the organization’s news release, each of the six finalists benefited from a number of educational initiatives, such as Mentor Walks, company Model Canvas workshops, and Pitch Deck preparation sessions, all designed towards polishing their company concepts and presenting skills. Dr. Suresh U. Kumar, president of TiENJ lauded the NJ Women’s special interest group for being the most active and taking initiative to create a positive change for women founders.”TiE is at the forefront of changing the landscape of Women’s entrepreneurship at a global scale,” he added. Representative Image
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New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 19 Srinivasan has an experience of over 37 years in the insurance industry. Parvaneh has previously served served at Spireon Inc., and Deloitte. Dubai National Insurance names A. R. Srinivasan as CEO SUPRIYA SINGH Dubai National Insurance, a leading name in the UAE insurance industry, has announced the appointment of A. R. Srinivasan, a chartered accountant from India, as its chief executive officer (CEO). Before joining DNI Insurance, Srinivasan played a key role in establishing the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) subsidiary of MNK Re Limited, a prominent Lloyd’s Broker based in London. Srinivasan has spent the last 29 years serving in senior managerial capacities within the Middle East, providing him with an intricate understanding of the region’s insurance landscape. His insurance experience has spanned across India, Oman, Dubai, and Bahrain, encompassing leadership roles such as CEO of DAR Al TAKAFUL in Dubai, CEO of Arabia Falcon in Oman, and Al Ahlia Insurance Oman. “The entire team at DNI Insurance is excited about the new chapter under Srinivasan’s leadership. His depth of knowledge, strategic vision, and proven ability to drive transformation align seamlessly with the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation,” said Khalaf Al Habtoor, chairman of DNI. “Under Srinivasan’s guidance, DNI Insurance is poised to reinforce its position as a pioneer in the insurance sector, delivering innovative solutions and outstanding service to clients while achieving new heights of prosperity,” he added. Sharing his view on the new role, Srinivasan said, “I am honoured to be appointed as CEO of DNI, and I look forward to leveraging my experience and expertise to drive transformative growth, build lasting partnerships, and deliver unparalleled value to our clients and stakeholders. Together, we will navigate the evolving landscape and chart a course towards continued success.” “I thank Mr. Al Habtoor and the board for this opportunity and for their confidence in my skills to lead the company and I look forward to working closely with the board, the team and the business partners,” he added. MADHU BALAJI I ndian origin Sugumar Raman has been appointed as the chief program officer (CPO) of Fair Trade USA, a non-profit organization. In the new role, he will be responsible for designing, innovating, and implementing Fair Trade USA’s programs with the goal of increasing the organization’s scope and scale of impact and tackling some of the most pressing global challenges. Delighted to welcome Raman to the team, Fair Trade USA’s founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Paul Rice, said, “His years of leadership experience on the front lines of the global sustainable sourcing movement will be a tremendous asset to our organization as we continue to reimagine how to best deliver the deepest and broadest impact to the farmers and planet we serve.” Raman said, “I am truly humbled by the prospect that I can continue to be involved in driving farmer and worker empowerment, and fostering a better planet.” Assuming office, the press statement revealed that he will be a stakeholder in Fair Trade USA’s new groundbreaking Innovation for Impact Initiative, a multi-stakeholder engagement and design lab aimed at developing a more scalable, higherimpact Fair Trade Certified™ coffee program. Before taking charge at Fair Trade USA, Raman served as the director of operations at FLOCERT. He led the organisation’s transformation towards a 360‐degree assurance provider by digitizing its core processes while inspiring internal teams and influencing stakeholders through that evolution. Before his stint at FLOCERT, Raman with expertise in the private agribusiness sector, served as global production manager at Chessumplants Limited in Kenya & Nigeria, as the group general manager at Solai Plantations in Kenya, and as the deputy manager and assistant manager of production at Tata Global Beverages and Harrisons Malayalam Limited in Munnar, India. The India-born executive earned his bachelor’s degree in Botany / Agronomy from Bharathiar University, India, and an Advanced Management Program qualification from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore. The IIM alumnus previously served as the director of operations at FLOCERT Fair Trade USA appoints Sugumar Raman as CPO Sugumar Raman (Image: LinkedIn profile) Sectigo appoints Rita Parvaneh as CFO MADHU BALAJI S ectigo, a US-based provider of automated Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions and digital certificates company announced the appointment of Rita Parvaneh as its chief financial officer (CFO) to oversee financial health and strategic planning as well as increase the company’s market presence. The appointment takes place with immediate effect. The chief executive officer (CEO) of Sectigo, Kevin Weiss welcomed Parvaneh to the company and acknowledged her proven track record of adeptly steering financial strategies and operations as well as identifying new avenues of growth and expanding market presence. “Her experience will be invaluable to Sectigo, enabling the business to meet its strategic goals, and I look forward to sharing in her success once more,” Weiss said. Reacting to the appointment, Parvaneh said, “Sectigo has a significant opportunity to further its leadership in the Certificate Lifecycle Management space. I am looking forward to working with the executive team and our investors to play my part in Sectigo’s continued success.” Parvaneh possesses over three decades of experience in finance, software technology and services sectors. She earlier served as the chief financial officer at Spireon Inc., a vehicle intelligence company for dealers, lenders, and fleets, where she held the role for nearly a decade. An expert in guiding entities through transitions associated with mergers, acquisitions, and accelerated growth, Parveneh has held several financing and accounting roles, including over eight years at Deloitte, an international accounting firm. She completed her bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from California State University and is a certified public accountant. Rita Parvaneh Image: Sectigo
20 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 The content partnership will also include South Asian-themed stories from the UK and the U.S. Simplifying international fee payments for Indian students MEHAK LUTHRA Cashfree Payments, a prominent payments and API banking solutions provider has joined forces with Jamboree, a leading educational consultancy, to facilitate the payment of fees for Indian students studying abroad. This collaboration utilizes Cashfree Payments’ crossborder payment solution, which simplifies and digitizes the entire payment procedure, covering KYC verification, fee collection, and outward remittances. It eliminates the requirement for in-person bank visits, offline KYC submission, and verification, offering students a convenient, rapid, cost-efficient, and transparent payment experience. This partnership brings increased flexibility to students, allowing them to initiate transactions 24/7, including weekends and holidays. It empowers students to make remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), covering a wide range of payment needs allowed by regulations. These include admission fees, education rental payments, student maintenance expenses, Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) payments for students going to Canada, as well as blocked account payments for students heading to Germany. Additionally, it significantly reduces forex markup, making transactions more costeffective for Indian students. By utilizing Cashfree Payments’ cross-border payments solution, Jamboree can effortlessly offer remittance services to students, including those who cannot visit physical branches. This partnership has equipped Jamboree with the tools to streamline, expedite, and make the payment process more cost-effective. Through Cashfree Payments’ cross-border payment solution, Jamboree can seamlessly deliver educational consulting and manage international fee payments in one place, eliminating the need for separate investments in developing a technology infrastructure. Representative Image Image - Unsplash Applause Entertainment, Zindagi to produce South Asian-content YASMIN TINWALA Aditya Birla Group’s Applause Entertainment, a media and content creation studio, has partnered with Zee Global’s Zindagi, an over-the-top (OTT) block that focuses on the Indian subcontinent, to create South Asian-themed content in Hindi and Urdu, initially, and expand into some of the other local languages later. According to Variety, the partnership will follow Applause’s model of commissioning and producing films and series before licensing them. A slate of all the planned releases will be revealed shortly as development of content has been in the works for the past eight months. “It’s a great synergy for South Asian content. I’m a firm believer in going South Asian, rather than just Indian and opening up more for people from Pakistan or Bangladesh or different parts. We’ve seen so much content coming out of these various countries, as the big content producer in the region, the more you open up and include diverse storytellers and talent, the richer the content is going to be,” said Shailja Kejriwal, the chief creative officer of special projects at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. The partnership will also include South Asian-themed stories from the UK and the U.S. “The good thing about the streamers is that it allows us to tell different stories, and it can go on to audiences all over the world, not just restricted to a geography,” said Sameer Nair, managing director of Applause. “They will be stories about South Asia versus stories for South Asia.” Kejriwal said they hope to “cross-pollinate as much as possible” by getting artists to collaborate from different parts of the world, even if they cannot shoot in each other’s countries. Pakistani artists were banned from working in India after the Uri attack in 2016, and vice versa. In such cases, there are plans for some of the content to be shot in neutral locations. Airbus and Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya sign MoU RISHIKA BHARDWAJ I n a move aimed at improving the Indian aviation sector, Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement, signed at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, was inked by Rémi Maillard, president and managing Director of AIRBUS India and South Asia, and Prof. Manoj Choudhary, vice-chancellor of GSV.. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and IT and first chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Jaya Varma Sinha, Railway Board chairperson and CEO, and other senior Railway Board officials attended the signing ceremony. Airbus, the world’s largest commercial aircraft manufacturer and a leader in helicopters, defense, and space equipment, recognizes India’s critical role in global aviation as well as its abundant talent pool. In line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the company is committed to fostering an integrated aerospace ecosystem in India, an official statement said. Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw emphasized that GSV’s focus is on fostering strong industryacademia partnerships. All GSV courses will be developed in collaboration with industry to ensure that students are well-prepared for careers in transportation and logistics. According to him, the MoU with Airbus marks a significant step toward achieving this goal. Maillard said, “As a company that is committed to developing the aerospace ecosystem in India, we realise our responsibility to invest in human capital development. The partnership with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya will develop a strong pipeline of skilled workforce in the country that will be future ready to serve its fast-growing aerospace sector.” This collaboration between business and academia will allow for the creation and distribution of sector-specific programs and courses for students and working professionals, as well as the participation in research projects, internships, and scholarship opportunities. It is anticipated that this collaboration will generate 15,000 job opportunities for students in Airbus Indian operations. Signing of MoU Image - Ministry of Railways Press Release
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22 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 If convicted of the charge, the four men would be sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of US $250,000. 4 Indian Americans held for unlicensed money-transmitting business YASMIN TINWALA F our Indian-origin men were arrested in New York on September 7 and charged with illegally processing more than US $600 million through unlicensed money-transmitting businesses, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey. Rakesh Vaidya (51), Neel Patel (26), Raj Vaidya (26), and Shrey Vaidya (23) of Edison, New Jersey were charged by complaint with one count of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money-transmitting business. As per the complaint documents and statements made in court, the Vaidyas and Patel operated numerous purported diamond, gold, and jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District since 2019. The businesses through which these transactions were made were not registered as money-transmitting businesses with New York, New Jersey, or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The defendants converted cash to checks or wire transfers in exchange for heavy commissions. At times they moved millions of dollars in cash in a single day. They conducted hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal financial transactions for customers through these businesses. “Law enforcement learned that the Vaidya Entities have conducted more than $673 million in cash deposits and other transactions using multiple different financial institutions from in or around March 2017 through in or around August 2023. In addition, these cash deposits were nearly always large, round-dollar figures, and the funds were usually quickly moved out of the Vaidya Entities’ accounts after deposit,” the attorney’s statement read. The charge of operating, and aiding and abetting the operation of an illegal money-transmitting business carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of US $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any monetary gain derived by the defendants from the offence, or any monetary loss sustained by any victims of Representative Image the offence, whichever is greater. Image: FBI
New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 23 India’s first AIpowered anti-drone system unveiled MEHAK LUTHRA AHyderabad-based robotics company, Grene Robotics has invented an advanced autonomous anti-drone system, driven by artificial intelligence. The system, a first-of-its-kind in India, is designed to safeguard critical facilities such as nuclear installations and oil rigs, as well as cover extensive areas, potentially an entire city, from various types of drones. Known as Indrajaal, the revolutionary Autonomous Drone Defence Dome has garnered global recognition. It boasts cutting-edge features, offering an astounding coverage range of up to 4000 sq. km per unit. The expansive capability ensures comprehensive protection against drones of various types and classifications, making it a remarkable advancement in drone defence technology. “What truly sets Indrajaal apart is its “made in India” pedigree. Developed entirely on Indian soil, by Indian talent, using Indian resources, it stands as a testament to our nation’s growing capabilities in the field of technology and defence. My appreciation to the research and development team at Grene Robotics for their commendable innovation,” Uttrakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), who was the chief guest at the launch said. Kiran Raju, the founder of Grene Robotics, which was established 12 years ago, explains that the design of Indrajaal incorporates a modular mechanism similar to LEGO blocks, featuring 12 distinct layers of technology all driven by artificial intelligence. “The system provides 360-degree protection, with the ability to detect, identify, classify, track, and neutralise threats in real-time. The threat lifetime can be as short as 30 seconds to a few minutes,” he told NDTV. Indrajaal is distinguished as the world’s sole wide-area Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS). It introduces an integrated security solution capable of addressing mobile threats that static defence systems struggle to combat, NDTV reported. The technology has been developed by Grene Robotics, a cutting-edge deeptech company specializing in AI-powered security solutions tailored for defence, enterprise, and government sectors. It introduces an integrated security solution capable of addressing mobile threats that static defence systems struggle to combat World Bank applauds India’s progress in DPI RISHIKA BHARDWAJ Arecent World Bank report praised India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for its transformative effect on the country. The G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion document commended India’s approach under the Central Government. The report lauded India’s DPI strategy, noting that the country accomplished in just six years what would have taken roughly five decades to accomplish. A significant contributor to this success was the JAM (short for Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) Trinity, which boosted the financial inclusion rate from 25 per cent in 2008 to over 80 per cent of adults in the past six years, effectively shortening the journey by up to 47 years. Other factors, such as the legal and regulatory framework, national policies to expand account ownership, and the use of Aadhaar for identity verification, were equally important, the report emphasized. Since its launch, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has seen a threefold increase in accounts, reaching 462 million by June 2022, with women owning 56 percent of these accounts. In just five months, the Jan Dhan Plus program recorded over 12 million female customers and a 50 percent increase in average balances. It is estimated that by engaging 100 million low-income women in savings activities, public sector banks in India can attract approximately Rs 25,000 crore ($3.1 billion) in deposits. As of March 2022, India’s Government to Person (G2P) Payments architecture transferred approximately $361 billion directly to beneficiaries via 312 key schemes, resulting in savings of $33 billion. The report also highlights the success of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), with more than 9.41 billion transactions valued at about Rs 14.89 trillion in May 2023 alone. For the fiscal year 2022–23, the total value of UPI transactions accounted for nearly 50% of India’s nominal GDP. DPIs have not only benefited the public sector but have also enhanced efficiency for private organizations. Some NonBanking Financial Companies (NBFCs) reported an 8% higher conversion rate in SME lending, a 65% reduction in depreciation costs, and a 66% decrease in costs related to fraud detection. Industry estimates even indicate that banks’ customer onboarding costs decreased significantly, from $23 to just $0.1, with the implementation of DPIs. IndiGo starts direct flights from North Goa to Abu Dhabi SUPRIYA SINGH I ndiGo has commenced direct flights from North Goa’s Manohar International Airport (MOPA) to Abu Dhabi. The inaugural flight took off on September 2. According to the release the airline seeks to bolster global connectivity while catering to the escalating travel demand between Goa and the Middle East through the newly launched route. Currently, IndiGo provides direct connectivity between five major Indian cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, and Hyderabad – and Abu Dhabi. Speaking on this new route, Vinay Malhotra, head of global sales of IndiGo said, “We are extremely pleased to commence operations between the popular seaside destination of North Goa (Mopa Airport) and the majestic skyscraper-filled city of Abu Dhabi. Over the years, we have witnessed a mounting demand for travel to the UAE, a demand that has only intensified in the postpandemic era. As India’s largest carrier, we are driven to meet this demand by connecting these two prominent tourist hubs.” “With the addition of these flights, IndiGo will fly 52 times a week to Abu Dhabi from eight cities in India, bringing the UAE even closer and complementing the growing trade as well as tourism. As we venture into new skies, bridging people with their favoured destinations, we are committed to delivering on our promise of providing affordable, punctual, courteous, and hassle-free travel experiences across our extensive network,” Malhotra added. These new flights to Abu Dhabi will enhance access to attractions such as Ferrari World, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, and more. As a worldclass destination, Abu Dhabi’s plan to attract 24 million visitors by 2023 highlights its significance. The additional flights will offer travellers expanded entertainment and travel options in Abu Dhabi, the release stated.
24 New India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 3 Monday, 6 February, 2023 New India Abroad Ami Bera on the Select Committee on Intelligence, Raja Krishnamoorthi on the Select Committee that looks at Strategic Competition between the US and China; Ro Khanna on the Sub-committee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems and Pramila Jaypal on the Sub-committee on Immigration. Indian American Legislators in key House Committees STAFF REPORTER The Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives has picked four Indian American law makers for critical Committee positions: Ami Bera of California for Select Committee on Intelligence: Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois as Ranking Member in the Select Committee that looks at Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party; Ro Khanna of California as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems (CITI) and Pramila Jaypal of the State of Washington as Ranking Member in the Sub-committee on Immigration. Bera’s influential House Permanent Select Committee oversees intelligence activities of the United States including that of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the National Security Agency (NSA) and military intelligence programs. “At a time of increased threats, both at home and abroad, I take seriously this new role and the responsibility entrusted to me to protect and defend American families”, Bera has said. In a new Committee formed in the 118th Congress to specifically investigate and develop policy to address America’s economic, technological and security competition with the Communist Party of China, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi will be serving as Ranking Member. “The Chinese Communist Party poses serious economic and security threats to the United States and to democracy and prosperity across the globe, illustrated by its threats against Taiwan’s democracy, its weaponization of TikTok, and its theft of hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American intellectual property”, the Illinois Democrat said. “… at a time when anti-Asian hate and violence are on the rise, it’s essential that this committee focuses its vital work on protecting all Americans from the threat posed by the CCP, while avoiding dangerous rhetoric that fuels the types of xenophobia that have endangered members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community”, he added. Congressman Krishnamoorthi is also a senior Member in the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. While Ro Khanna is also a member of the committee on the Chinese Communist Party, he has been selected as a Ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems (CITI) in the 118th Congress. “Our adversaries are making advances in emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence for their defense systems and have the potential to unleash cyberattacks against our critical infrastructure,”Khanna said. “In planning for the future of defense, our emerging and commercial technologies must be at the forefront. One of my goals on this committee will be to strengthen the bridge between Silicon Valley and the Department of Defense,” he added. Pramila Jayapal has been tapped to serve in the sub committee of the House Judiciary Committee on Immigration, Integrity, Security and Enforcement as a Ranking Member making her the first immigrant in a leadership role. “As the first South Asian woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and one of only two dozen naturalized citizens in Congress, I am honored and humbled to serve as the Ranking Member…”, she said in a statement. “ It is extremely meaningful to me that I will now be in this position to better move the needle and re-center our broken immigration system around dignity, humanity, and justice”, she added. Congresswoman Jayapal’s Sub committee will have jurisdiction over immigration law and policy, naturalization, border security, refugee admissions, nonborder immigration enforcement, and other various issues. Images- Twitter Mohanty will take charge from February 23, 2023. Kuldip Mohanty is Chief Information Officer in North Dakota MADHU BALAJI Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum has announced the appointment of Kuldip Mohanty to the North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) department as the state’s next chief information officer (CIO). Mohanty will take charge from February 23, 2023. He has served the private sector for about 30 years. “Kuldip brings a wealth of experience in modernizing services and transforming IT that will help the State of North Dakota become more efficient and responsive, serving citizens 24/7 with smart, easy-touse systems. With his leadership of the outstanding team at NDIT, we look forward to building upon North Dakota’s reputation as a national leader in cybersecurity as we reduce redundancies, improve services and enhance the security of citizens’ data,” Burgum said. “It is a great honor and privilege to serve the people of North Dakota. I’m thankful to Gov. Burgum for the opportunity to lead the amazing team at North Dakota Information Technology,” Mohanty said. “I look forward to building on the momentum and successes of NDIT and collaborating with all stakeholders to build a citizen-centric, frictionless customer experience,” he added. Mohanty has served as senior vice president of IT and North America CIO for ManpowerGroup, a leading global workforce solutions company, from 2018- 2019. He has also served as vice president of enterprise IT strategy and services for CNO Financial Group from 2014-2018. Mohanty has a master’s degree in computer applications from Jorhat Engineering College and a master of business administration degree from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University in Chicago. He serves on the board of the executive service corps in Chicago and has worked to improve education and health care in rural India with the Abhaya Foundation. Kuldip Mohanty Image: Twitter 22 Monday, 6 February, 2023 New India Abroad Known for combining Bollywood influences in her music, Aurora said she had so much to learn from all the artists performing at the event. SRK after Pathaan success My genuine desire is to spread happiness Khan said the overwhelming success of the film on the worldwide box office has “still not sunk in” SANJEEV KUMAR Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan a.k.a SRK on Jan 30, 2023 expressed his love for acting after the success of his new film, Pathaan, and said, “My genuine desire is to spread happiness and I feel bad if I fail to do so’. Khan made these remarks during the first press meet organized for the success of Pathaan, which has proved to be a blockbuster earning around US$ 67 million in just five days. His co-stars, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, and director Siddharth Anand were also present on the occasion. SRK started the press meet by thanking fans, cast and crew for all the love and said, “There were some things that could have stalled happy release of the film, Pathaan and we can’t thank people enough on behalf of all Bollywood colleagues for bringing life back in cinemas.” Commenting on the controversy surrounding the movie, Khan said, “Our aim by making movies is to spread love and kindness even if we are playing bad characters, say bad things and it isn’t intended to hurt any sentiments. Fun and entertainment should left at that and it shouldn’t be taken seriously,” Khan added. He shared that his intention in film making was to ensure that people can watch it with love. Yet there were some incidents when some fans got too excited and might have broken a chair or two. “But It shouldn’t hurt or disturb anyone. Cinema watching, film making and film experience is an experience of love, more than an empty box of popcorn,” the Bollywood superstar said. Responding to a query on getting immense love after his movies become a hit, Khan retorted that his fans’ love remain the same even after a film doesn’t work. of fans who love me. My elders had told “I have millions, billions me that if some things don’t work go to the people who loves you. So whenever I am happy or sad, I go to my balcony (to meet people who love him). I am grateful that the God has given me lifetime ticket to the balcony.” Talking about his four year hiatus from movies, the actor said two and half years got marred by Covid and I, too, like everyone else, had good and bad parts. But most importantly, I was with my children and for first time, I saw my children, Aryan, Suhana and Abram grow up. “After Zero tanked then many people said my films wont work anymore now. So I had even thought of an alternate career during Covid, cooking and learned Italian cooking,” he said, adding he was planning to open Red Chillies Food Eatery. at Pathaan 2 by saying that he was grateful King Khan also hinted to Yash Raj Films (YRF) and Anand for giving him the opportunity to work in the movie and would definitely like to work in the sequel of the spy thriller. Image- Twitter/@JacyKhan “Feel so welcomed” Indian American singer Raveena Aurora on performing at Lollapalooza India STAFF REPORTER I ndian American singer and songwriter Raveena Aurora was overwhelmed with the love she received from the audience during her performance, at the inaugural Lollapalooza music festival held in Mumbai, India on January 29, 2023. Aurora took to Instagram to share her feelings after the show, “First show in India, can’t even explain how special this was, especially because of how much ‘Asha’s awakening’ (her new music album) was inspired by here.” “I think maybe in a way I was always searching for a sense of belonging somewhere and I think for a moment I felt it at this show,” the singer added. Known for combining Bollywood influences in her music, Aurora said she had so much to learn from all the artists performing at the event. “There is so much beauty and talent in every corner of my country. I love u all so much and thank u for making me feel so welcomed, I hope this is a spark to many more shows in India,” the 29-year-old singer wrote. It is worth noting that Aurora who is recognized for her ability to pair soothing sounds with powerful and soulful lyrics previously created headlines as the first ever Indian American to perform at Coachella 2022. Inspired by Indian singing legends such as Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle, Aurora’s songs usually bring attention to social issues such as sexual assault, identity politics, sexuality, and heartbreak. Raised by Sikh parents in New York and Connecticut, she is considered a trailblazer for her exploration of sexuality and identity in her art, especially in the representation of the queer South Asian Community. Image - Instagram/@Raveena Aurora 15 Monday, 6 February, 2023 New India Abroad Dr. Shivangi maintained that health care across the world is regarded as an important determinant in promoting the general, physical, mental, and social well-being of people around the world and can contribute to a significant part of a country’s economy STAFF REPORTER S tressing that the diaspora wants to make India’s health care a world class endeavour by utilizing information technology, medicine, finance, banking and politics, Dr. Sampat Shivangi, a physician, an influential community leader and a veteran of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) recommended that the government of India must collaborate with the professional body. “I want to stress the importance of working together with solid cooperation and partnership, which will make such a tremendous change in the Indian healthcare system,” Dr. Shivangi said in remarks made to delegates at the recently held Pravasi Bharatya Diwas in Indore. During the recent Covid catastrophe, AAPI provided extensive support to India raising more than US$ 5 millions that were used to procure and provide Oxygen Concentrators, Ventilators, High Flow Oxygen and setting up dozens of Oxygen plants, and Chemiluminescence ImmunoAnalyzers (CLIA). The AAPI also adopted several villages and closely coordinated the overall development by providing primary care and preventive medicine to dozens of rural villages across India. A close friend of the Bush family, Dr. Shivangi was instrumental in lobbying for the first Diwali celebration in the White House and for President George W. Bush to make his trip to India. He had accompanied President Bill Clinton during his historic visit to India. The prominent Indian origin Physician also played a critical role during the United States-Indian Civilian Nuclear Agreement, seen as a landmark deal of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and George Bush tenures. Dr. Shivangi maintained that health care across the world is regarded as an important determinant in promoting the general, physical, mental, and social well-being of people around the world and can contribute to a significant part of a country’s economy, development, and industrialization when efficiently improving human health and providing access to affordable highquality health care. “India has made striking progress in health standards in the postindependence era. The sustained efforts to control the country’s population & the political will to march towards the SDG in health will help India to make a significant impact in the international health sector”, he said. Dr. Shivangi, an obstetrician/gynecologist, has been elected by a US state Republican Party as a full delegate to the National Convention. He is one of the top fund-raisers in Mississipi state for the Republican Party. Besides being a politician by choice, the medical practitioner is also the first Indian to be on the American Medical Association, the apex law making body. Dr. Sampat Shivangi was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Sanman in 2016 in Bengaluru by the then President Pranab Mukhejee. He was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York in 2008. Diaspora has role in promoting healthcare ecosystem during Amritkaal… Dr. Sampat Shivangi Dr. Sampat Shivangi with Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya 7 Monday, 6 February, 2023 New India Abroad India’s Republic Day celebrated at Vaishnav Temple of New York BHAVANA P The first traditional Pashtimargiya temple in North America, The Vaishnav Temple of New York (VTNY), along with the The Cajani Sam of New York (CSNY) celebrated 74th Republic Day of India, with almost 300 Indian “Desh Bhakts” on January 29, 2023. Founded by the late Dr. Arvind Shah, in 1986, VTNY along with the Indian community have been celebrating India’s Republic Day for more than 30 years. Dr. Bobby Kalotee, chairman of the Nassau County Commission on Human Rights, and Ragini Srivastava, Town Clerk of the Town of North Hempstead, in Nassau County, New York, were the event’s chief guests. Dr. Pratix Shroff and his family, who are devout Vaishnavs, sponsored the event. Famous for both general and cosmetic dentistry, Shroff has for long supported VTNY. The celebration began with a parade of the Indian and American flags, in which all the dignitaries, trustees, executive committee members, and other Indians from VTNY and CSNY participated. Everyone was welcomed by Kamat Madaria, secretary of VTNY. Champakbhai Parikh and his sons Bharathbhai Parikh Charpakhat led the flag hoisting event, which has been conducted for more than 20 years, while all the senior members of VTNY and CSNY joined on the stage with the dignitaries. Avantika Shah sung the American National Anthem, which was followed by the Vande Mataram, flag hoisting by dignitaries, Rashtra Dwaj salami, and everyone singing India’s National Anthem. The community members were then honoured for their altruistic contribution by Kalotre and Srivastava. The festivities also included patriotic song dance performances by young kids and teenagers from the community. The celebration grandly commenced with a parade of the Indian and American flags, which recorded participation from the dignitaries, trustees, and executive committee members. As part of India’s commitment to the idea that “the world is a family,” BMVSS (Jaipur Foot), which is the largest lower limb rehabilitation facility, aims to help people worldwide. Bobby Kalotee and Ragini Srivastava presented Citation to Mrs. and Mr. Jignesh Pratix Shroff, addressing the gathering, as the events sponsor. 74th Republic Day Flag Hosting at Vaishnav Temple of New York. Images - Provided Jaipur Foot camp inaugurated in Beirut STAFF REPORTER On the occasion of India’s 74th Republic Day, the Jaipur Foot artificial limb fitment camp was launched in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon at the Rafik Hariri University Hospital. Organized by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayati (BMVSS), Jaipur, under the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ “India for Humanity” initiative, the camp was was attended by Dr. Jihad Saadeh, chairman of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Colonel Nadim Kakoun, who represented the Lebanese Armed Forces, and Joseph El Helo, Minister of Public Health. The Elite Center of Culture and Education Tripoli, Dar El Handassa, El Khalil Foundation, and Rotary club were among the partner associations represented at the inauguration ceremony. Speaking on the occassion, Joseph El Helo commended the Indian government’s efforts and thanked it for supporting the handicapped people of Lebanon. He hoped that this partnership would persist. Dr. Jihad Saadeh emphasized the necessity of such programmes in Lebanon and recognized the efforts of the Government of India and the Jaipur Foot organization. Charge d’Affaires Sandeep Grover stressed on the value that India places on its long-standing relations with Lebanon and expressed his happiness that the inaugural Jaipur Foot camp was launched on India’s Republic Day, a day of special significance. According to D R Mehta, the founder and chief patron of BMVSS the ‘India for Humanity’ campaign was inaugurated in 2018 to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday by late External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayati (BMVSS) in the Jaipur foot camp Images - BMVSS A platform for voice of the next generation Indian American. Bringing you the Latest from Indian communities around the world New India Abroad thenewindiaabroad NewIndAbroad New India Abroad Email [email protected] Website www.NewIndiaAbroad.Com For advertising Rajeev Bhambri 908-472-0006
Louisville Mayor proclaims Sanatan Dharma Day *India Abroad is a Registered trademark and not affiliated with the newspaper named India Abroad marketed in the US from 1972 to 2021. Year 1, Volume 48 Washington DC, Monday 11 September, 2023 Melange Indian American Janani Krishnan- Jha among contestants on CBS ...Page II show ‘Survivor’ ...Page V Dallas gets new cricket team ...Page VIII Devotees celebrate Krishna Janmashtami with enthusiasm in Sydney The ISKCONorganized Janmashtami festival took place in Shanes Park in Sydney. SARASWATI SINGH S ydney residents celebrated Janmashtami with great fervor and happiness. The festival commemorates the birth of the most powerful human incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu month Bhadon, Krishna Paksha. On this day, after praying at home, worshippers flocked to temples. Long lines of devotees were seen outside the temples, echoing the words “Jai Kanhaiya Lal.” Many devotees attended the ISKCON-organized Janmashtami festival that took place in Shanes Park in Sydney. The devotees of ISKCON also put on a theatrical performance of the Mahabharata’s central events. On Janmashtami, devotees dress in traditional attire, take a bath, dress the idols of Lord Krishna in new clothes and jewelry, and pray for the wellRadha Krishna / Iskcon Sydney Temple. Devotees participating in the Krishna Janmashtami Havan. Photo by - Saraswati Singh being of their families. People decorate their homes with flowers and rangoli and observe ritualistic fasts. While some people observe ‘Nirjala Vrat’ until midnight, which is believed to be Lord Krishna’s birth time, others eat light, sattvic food all day. After midnight, when Lord Krishna was born,the devotees worshipped him by offering his favorite foods—milk, curd, and Makhan Mishri bhog as well as swinging his idol while reciting the Hare Krishna mantra. After eight years of service, devoted ISKCON member Rajni Sharma said “The purpose of our community is to increase the love of Krishna. After joining here, I have never felt the absence of family away from my country. Through this festival, we are giving exposure to the nextgeneration about what love for Krishna means.” In addition, many Sydney temples hosted Dahi Handi events, which the younger kids seemed especially excited about. Kunj Gali of Vrindavan was brought to life in Sydney as boys dressed as Krishna and girls dressed as Radha and Gopis. Cincinnati Sikhs serve langar, tie turbans at city’s Festival of Faiths STAFF REPORTER S ikhs from Cincinnati and neighboring Dayton came together to celebrate diversity and unity at the “Cincinnati Festival of Faiths.” The yearly celebration by “Equasion” honors the community’s diversity and spiritual cohesion. This year’s festival attended by 30 faith organizations representing 13 world religions commenced with a multi-faith prayer service. Aasees Kaur, the late Jaipal Singh’s (one of the Festival’s original members) wife, spoke about the “Mool Mantar,” the central tenets of the Sikh faith. Offering her prayers, she said,, “May we be blessed by the Grace of the Guru, to merge into the Divine Being, as water merges into water and light merges into light... this is our prayer to dwell together in peace and justice.” The Sikh booth was one of many religious groups from the Cincinnati area that participated in the fair. booklets outline Sikh values, traditions, and beliefs were distributed to visitors. The exhibition table included books, brochures and Kakkars (5K’s). Members of the community also hosted turban-tying workshops to educate on the significance of the “dastaar,” the traditional Sikh head covering. “Volunteers patiently guided visitors through the process of tying a turban, emphasizing its symbolism of equality, humility and commitment to Sikh values. The festival was immersed in the colors and traditions of the Sikh Culture,” a release stated. Community members of the Sikh faith prepare and serve Langar (community kitchen food) at the gathering, every year. This year, the Hindu community members also helped in the langar service. Appreciating the Sikh Community for their Sewa, the Mayor of Cincinnati, Aftab Purewal, said, “I am proud of the local sikh community not just from the Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati but Dayton Sikh community as well. We are out here serving langar to various people at the festival. I am excited for the Sikh community to continue to grow, continue to be proud and continue most importantly to share our religion of service and commitment to those around us, lifting up our community. It makes me so proud to see so many people join langar, many for the first time.” Sikh Volunteers at their booth Book reading and Turban Tying for the visitors at the Sikh booth Images - Supplied Cincinnati Mayor Appreciated the Sikh community for their dedication to Sewa and interfaith unity
II India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 Louisville Mayor proclaims Sanatan Dharma Day STAFF REPORTER I n a major win for the Hindu community of Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Craig Greenberg issued a proclamation declaring September 3 as Sanatan Dharma Day in the city. The historic announcement was made during a huge event celebrating the Maha Kumbha Abhishekam at the Hindu Temple of Kentucky in Louisville Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, along with several other spiritual leaders and dignitaries including Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Deputy Mayor Barbara Sexton Smith, Deputy Chief of Staff Keisha Dorsey were present on the occasion. The Deputy Mayor of Louisville, Barbara Sexton Smith, read the proclamation on behalf of the Mayor. “The declaration is a testament to not only the spiritual significance of the Maha Kumbha Abhishekam event but also to the great, positive impact that the Hindu community has had in Louisville, in Kentucky and across the United States,” a news release stated. On receiving a 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism (a project conceived, led, and guided by Swami Chidanand Saraswati), as a gift, former Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher proclaimed July 20 as “Encyclopedia of Hinduism” Day in Kentucky. The leaders of the temple began the Maha Kumbha Abhishekam by ascending to the temple’s rooftop, where they showered the deities with holy water and flowers. On the occasion, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explained the significance of each of the elements offered in the puja – the fire, the water, the flowers, etc. He emphasized the importance of bringing spirituality into our daily lives and truly understanding how these rituals infuse our lives with purpose and meaning. In his remarks, Swami Chidanand Saraswati emphasized the great power and importance of Sanatan Dharma and Sanatan tradition. “It is so sad that in India some people are creating such negativity around Sanatan Dharma without realizing or understanding its value and depth, and yet here in America, in Louisville, Kentucky, we are celebrating the great declaration by the Government of a day dedicated to Sanatan Dharma!,” Swami said. The intersection of science and spirituality in Hinduism was emphasized by Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, a Stanford graduate originally from Los Angeles, California who has lived at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh for nearly 30 years. She presented studies from Johns Hopkins University showing how spirituality improves our physical well-being in addition to our mental and emotional states. After the speeches, the Deputy Mayor of Louisville presented Sri Sri and Swami Chidanand with official certificates of Honorary Citizenship of Louisville. Swami had already been honored with the Key to the City of Louisville and named a Kentucky Colonel, both of which are high honors bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Deputy Mayor of Louisville presenting the proclamation Special guests at the event. Temple Leaders and special guests performing Maha Kumbha Abhishekam. Image - Supplied September 3 was proclaimed as Sanatan Dharma Day in the city Acharya Lokesh highlights religious tolerance at G20 Interfaith Summit STAFF REPORTER J ain Spiritual leader and founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti (AVB) Acharya Lokesh and prominent representatives of various religions from around the world attended the inaugural session of the three-day G20 Interfaith Summit recently held at MIT World Peace University, Pune. In his opening remarks, Acharya Lokesh emphasized the importance of religious tolerance for a prosperous and peaceful world. According to him, religious leaders can help in the fight against both environmental and ideological pollution. He maintained that religion has a deep connection with development, peace, and goodwill. Pandit Vasant Gadgil stated that efforts should be made to spread religious texts, promote religious literacy, and foster social cohesion. Only when all faiths and denominations cooperate in this way will India’s message of “Vasudhev Kutumbakam” have any impact, he highlighted. Archbishop Felix Machado encouraged the audience to incorporate meditation and yoga into their daily lives. He emphasized the significance of this by saying that it leads to personal contentment, family harmony, and community peace and at the same time, many diseases can be cured. According to Dr. Lesan Azadi, Director, Baha’i Academy Panchgani, it is everyone’s responsibility to spread the message of peace and harmony across the country and the world, so that people everywhere can put aside their differences in religion, caste, and society to stand together in times of need. Saint Baba Balwinder Singh asserted that religion teaches us to unite rather than divide, and that only by embracing this teaching will we be able to achieve world peace and harmony through India’s pluralistic culture and the principle of Vasudev Kutumbakam. All religions and all sects have something to teach humanity, Hazrat Rifiya Sahib said. Providing today’s youth with positive role models is crucial he said adding that it is important to inspire them to serve the national interest. G20 Interfaith Summit, Pune Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti
India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 III ARSHA VIDYA PITHAM 651, Route 115, SAYLORSBURG, PA 570-992-2339 The Gift For a Day Program Arsha Vidya Gurukulam was founded in 1986 by Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati. The Gurukulam is situated on 99 acres of partially wooded land in the Pocono Mountains, graced by a Lord Dakṣ iņ ā mū rti temple. The facility houses a 400-seat state of the art auditorium and dining complex, library, reading room, bookstore, modern accommodations suited to contemplative study, The traditional study of Vedanta & Yoga, Sanskrit, Jyotisha, and Ayurveda camps are organized at the Gurukulam . The ashram is run on the donations of the members. The Members value the teachings at AVG and support the gurukulam by donating $500 for a day’s expense of running the gurukulam under Gift For a Day Program. When $2000 is donated for four Gift-For-A-Day programs per family of 2 adults & children and they become Patron Members for that year. The features of Patron Membership are as given below: 1. The new patron members (who opt for 4 GFDs per year) can avail one week camp for free in place of free books for the first year. 2.All the existing patron members can avail themselves of any one of the long weekend camps if they do not get a chance to attend the patron camps. 3. There is no need to pay donation for using homa building once a year for all the patron members depending on the availability of the priest’s slot for that day. 4.The donation is tax exempt.
IV India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023
India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 V The film, which is being billed as India’s first Bio-Science film, will premiere in theaters on September 28, 2023. NY Times Square hosts “The Vaccine War” premiere STAFF REPORTER Ascreening of Vivek Agnihotri’s latest film, The Vaccine War, was presented at the AMC 25 theater in New York City’s iconic global cultural hub, Time Square, before its official release. The event attracted a huge crowd comprising of doctors ,nurses , scientists , businessmen , students, film makers ,technocrats , teachers, realtors, journalists, and politicians. Thousands of New Yorkers from all walks of life came out to see the mesmerizing dances composed by legendary kathak maestro Archana Joglekar and performed by the students of her dance academy. The highlight wasd the performance of Rig Veda’s Nasadiya Sukta, which portrays the science of how the Universe was created from the film. American finance lawyer and current chairman of the New York Republican State Committee Edward Ridley Finch Cox attended both events in Time Square and later reflected on how he had only recently come to appreciate India’s power and diversity and the significance of Indian Americans in the United States. He urged all Americans to watch ‘The Vaccine War.’ Software executive and philanthropist Mohan Wanchoo hosted ‘The Vaccine War’ events in New York. Wanchoo credited Al Mason, a prominent New York-based real estate investment advisor and entrepreneur, with assisting him in the enormous success of both of the New York events. Produced by the three time national award winning actress Pallavi Joshi and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, the film is slated for release all over the world on Sept 28, 2023. For the unversed, the couple’s last film ‘The Kashmir Files’ was one of the highest grossing Indian film in the year 2022. The Vaccine War will tell the inspiring story of the victory of the scientists and 130 crore people who fought the battle during the Covid-19 era. It stars Anupam Kher, Nana Patekar, Raima Sen, Pallavi Joshi and Sapthami Gowda in key roles. The young musician will contest with 17 others in the show for the grand title of “sole survivor” Indian American Janani Krishnan- Jha among contestants on CBS show ‘Survivor’ BHAVANA P J anani Krishnan-Jha, an Indian American musician, known as J. Maya is one of 17 new candidates and one returning player in the 45th season of ‘Survivor,’ which premieres on CBS on September 27. According to CBS, they will compete for a $1 million cash prize and the title of ‘Sole Survivor.’ The 24-year-old singer and composer, took to her social media to announce the new gig. “Little life update: I got to go on an adventure I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid!!!!! You can watch me this fall on Survivor 45,” she posted on Facebook. A Tik Tok star, Krishnan-Jha is well-known for her conversational videos about her life as well as her favourite music and lyrics. In early 2020, she made her TikTok debut with the video “Ed Sheeran helped me make pasta today.” She became one of the world’s youngest pun champs. The Indian American created a singing duet in late 2021 that went viral with over 3 million views. Her TikTok account, j.mayamusic, has 500,000 followers. Her music “Achilles Heel” gained traction in January last year, helping her achieve over 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. “A lot of people call my music nerd pop because I write about a lot of things I am interested in — crossword puzzles, Greek mythology, literature,” she says in the “Survivor” promotional video. “Millions of people listen to my music and it is surreal.” Survivor presents a group of strangers in a secluded environment where they must provide their food, fire, and shelter. The players participate in activities that test their physical ability, such as running and swimming, as well as their mental abilities, such as riddles and endurance challenges, for rewards and immunity from elimination. The participants are gradually eliminated from the game as they are voted out by their peers until only one remains and is dubbed “Sole Survivor.” Janani Krishnan-Jha contestant in CBS show survivor Image - CBS SRK’s Jawan mints US$15 million on opening day MADHU BALAJI The film Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, grossed more than $15 million (129.6 crore) on its first day of release worldwide. The blockbuster has shattered all opening day records for a Hindi film in India. According to reports, Jawan made approximately US$9 million (₹75 crore) in India on its first day, of which US$7 million (₹65.5 crore) came from the Hindi version. In doing so, the latest film overtook SRK’s previous film Pathaan which opened at US$ 6.6 million (₹55 crore) to deliver the biggest single-day collection for a Hindi film. The pan-India film directed by Kollywood director Atlee, featuring actors Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi and Deepika Padukone released on September 7. Actors Sanya Malhotra and Priyamini have also appeared in pivotal roles. According to film trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film debuted at number one spot in Australia and New Zealand and number 3 in Germany. It grossed US$ 2,55,680 (AUD 400,000) in Australia to become the first Indian film to top the country’s box office, India Today reported. It further added that the film had a flying start in countries including North America, the UK and Canada. “Thank you for all the love and appreciation for #Jawan!! Stay safe and happy… Please keep sending in the pics and videos of all of you enjoying at the movies…. And I will be back soon to see all of them! Until then… Party with Jawan in the theatres!! Lots of love and gratitude!,” SRK said in a tweet after the film’s recordbreaking achievement. Jawan Opens to record-breaking collection X/@RedChilliesEnt Fans in Michigan, United States celebrating the release of Jawan. Image- x/@SRKUniverse
VI India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023
Aries You have ahead of you a week full of creativity, which will be very useful in your work, Aries, both now and later. You will also express your emotions and ideas with great ease. But in your environment, you may encounter some resistance to the recognition of your merits. Do not try to impose your ideas and your tastes on the people around you, because you will not succeed in this way. You will get better results by using your persuasiveness. Sometimes you’re upset because you’re having trouble progressing professionally, competition is high, and things seem to be stagnant. However, don’t stop working. As for your personal development, it is linked to a course, which will not happen immediately. A bit of patience In love, you may experience some moments of suffering due to jealousy. You doubt your partner’s fidelity because he may have had contact with his ex. Stop suffering for this reason. He loves you. Taurus A good surprise awaits you in the professional world, Taurus. A person in this field with whom you have never communicated much will suddenly ask you to participate in one of their projects, on which you will have to work as a team. You may be suspicious because you don’t know it in depth, and you may think it might actually harm you. But this is not the case; this person is in good faith and seeks to reach an agreement in which you could both benefit from your mutual knowledge because, in reality, you are very complementary. Think carefully about whether the project interests you, but don’t dismiss it out of mistrust; your suspicions are unfounded. In any case, you have a few days left to think about it and work out the details. In love, you are tired of your partner not caring and having to take on all the tasks. Try to get him to react. You are united by a very intense love. Gemini It’s all up to you, Gemini. Your week will depend on your attitude. Focus on the issues that concern your work and your goals, because soon nothing and no one will be able to stop your professional progress. Plan, take care of everything that requires special attention, and pay attention to details. An intense week also awaits you in love. If you are a Gemini crazy about love and want to solidify your relationship, be careful how you express yourself. Avoid long silences, but don’t spend all day sending messages either. If your partner doesn’t respond to you, don’t let it get you down. Respect his freedom and give him all the time he needs to make up his mind. This is the best strategy. Cancer You’ll have more time to think now, Cancer, and you’ll be able to find the reason why, no matter how hard you try, you’re failing to move your work forward. You will realise that someone more experienced than you is putting obstacles in your way and ensuring that your qualities are not noticed. The only solution is to act intelligently and, above all, with a lot of cunning. You need to plan a strategy, so get to work this week. In the field of business or finance, you sometimes lack the courage to decide and achieve what you want. Psychologically, you are not ready to take risks like this. In love, you can experience good times. Your partner is everything—your lover, your friend, and your travelling companion. I can’t ask for more. You can trust him, and you have his full support. Now, for this to be consolidated, you need to take more responsibility. You need to move forward in your relationship. These days will bring you closer to each other. Leo You may have recently started a new job and are now in the adjustment phase. If you’re worried about how things are going to turn out from now on, relax because you got it right. You will achieve great success over time. Now you have to have a little patience. If you have a business, you are worried because you now see the future as very uncertain. Remember that sometimes things take a complicated path, and that seems to be the case for you. Prepare to face difficulties, but do not lose heart, because you will manage to get back on your feet. Take advantage of your current financial possibilities to increase your future resources; this will allow you to get through this difficult stage. On a sentimental level, a few tense days await you, but since you know this, try to avoid any situation that could lead to an argument. Nerves are on edge; do your best to control yourself and don’t say things you’ll regret. Virgo You’re going through a very nervous time, Virgo, and it’s not all work. In matters of the heart, you have a lot of emotional insecurity right now. This may be because your recent relationship with someone was established in an open, non-committal manner. But now you realise that you have fallen in love and would like to have something more. Give yourself time to take stock of your feelings, to find out if you really feel love, and also to try to find out what he or she is thinking. It could be that he or she has also changed and is also afraid to tell you. These next few days will be important and decisive as you realise the true nature of what binds you at this moment. Although you initially thought you would approach it a certain way, events may have led you to act differently. It wouldn’t be the first time; it’s more common than it seems. And because of the favourable astral conjunction that affects you this week, you will gain the upper hand. Libra Now that you have time, Libra, your mind is spinning around certain situations in your professional environment. You have become a bit paranoid. You always need to control everything, and when something unexpected happens, you panic. You are wrong, but such distrust can offend those around you. You need to be empathetic to your team members, whether they are at the bottom or at the top. Fantastic plans for next weekend may fall through, but don’t be negative about it. Remember that everything in life has a purpose, so adapt and plan another activity, even at home. Why don’t you go around your wardrobe? But it is also true that very intense days are ahead on a social level, even on your phone or computer screen. You will talk to people you can’t even imagine. If you have a lonely heart, you may find your soul mate in one of these people. Scorpio Keep all negativity away from you, Scorpio. You must be 100% positive now. Maintaining this attitude is the best way to deal with certain adverse circumstances. You, who are so organized, should make a schedule so that you can do all the things every day that you never have time for. Outside of work, your list might include a little yoga or stretching, natural beauty treatments, reading, etc.Take advantage of tutorials on languages, music, painting, and much more that you can find on the internet. And if there’s an idea in your head, maybe it’s time to put it into practice. In the sentimental domain. Sagittarius You’ve probably had a few run-ins with one of your superiors in recent days, Sagittarius. This has caused you a lot of discouragement, among other things, because you think that the question is unresolved. But in a few days, a new project may arise, and you will be the first to be surprised when your boss asks you for help. This will be the time to iron out this conflict once and for all. In these days begins for Sagittarius a period of great economic growth that will last about six months. You won’t notice it too much at first, but your business will move forward. You don’t have such an easy life in the sentimental field. A little patience is needed before everything goes back to normal. Capricorn Life will surprise you with an unexpected situation these days, Capricorn. Something you didn’t think would happen is going to happen right now. On a personal level, it will be a stressful week, not only because you want to go out and travel, and you won’t be able to do that now, but also because a friend will need your emotional support. Do what you can in this regard. You may have noticed that your partner has been moving away from you over the past few days, but he or she hasn’t given you an explanation either. Don’t get upset or angry with him or her. It is possible that this attitude is due to the fact that he or she does not assimilate a certain situation or that he or she has problems in his or her family environment. Don’t worry, it will pass. You must be patient now and forgive what you would not have done otherwise. Aquarius If you were expecting changes in the professional environment, Aquarius, in a few days, maybe a few weeks, there could be very positive changes. This week, you will receive a call for a future interview, which will boost your morale. Start preparing; be confident that everything will go well and you will get what you want. You may also receive an offer to participate in a commercial operation. You will do well to think about this before you decide, as it could harm you financially. In love, an excellent sentimental week awaits you. You might be contacted by someone who blows your mind, and it seems like they are very interested in you too. Your doubts come from the fact that it seems too good to be true, but you must put aside your distrust. This is a very good opportunity to be happy in the very near future. Pisces This week, Pisces, you will receive a great lunar impulse that will allow you to successfully face difficult situations and adapt perfectly to some important changes that may occur in your life. For this reason, if you have to make important decisions during these days, be guided by your own judgment, as it will be the most accurate. Now think about that proposal you received, which would mean career advancement. If you accept it, you will adapt to the new situation in the blink of an eye. In the sentimental domain, you waste a little time recreating the nostalgia of a love that was important to you but ended a long time ago. Even if this person now comes to your mind with intensity, turn the page. There is a person who can make you happy, but he will only appear when you are convinced that the past will not return. Weekly Horoscope Sundeep Kochar Astrologer https://www.sundeepkochar.com India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 VII
VIII India Abroad Monday, 11 September, 2023 Published Weekly Copyright © 2023 Indian Star LLC Editor in Chief Dr. Sridhar Krishnaswami Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Bhambri Registered Address Indian Star LLC, 6215 Rockhurst Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817 USA Disclaimers: 1. India Abroad is a Registered trademark and not affiliated with the newspaper named India Abroad marketed in the US from 1972 to 2021. 2. Indian Star LLC assumes no liability for claims / assumptions made in advertisements and advertorials. Views expressed by the writers are their own. Indian Star LLC A publication of Editor (Hindi) Dr. Rameshwar Dayal Indian contingent to sport Khaki attire at Asian Games RISHIKA BHARDWAJ The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) unveiled the ceremonial dress and playing kit for the Indian contingent set to compete at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Anurag Singh Thakur, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, and PT Usha, the president of the IOA, were among the dignitaries present at the ceremony. The 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8, 2023, and India will be sending its largest-ever contingent to compete, consisting of 634 athletes across 38 different sporting disciplines. The athletes’ ceremonial attire features a khaki textured saree for women and a khaki kurta for men, both of which were designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).The garments, which are made from recycled fabrics and feature Indian prints and patterns, aim to promote sustainability while also showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage. The Sports Minister, emphasized the significance of the uniform, stating, “It’s not just a uniform; it’s a symbol of pride and identity for our athletes. The uniform represents India’s self-reliance and showcases the country’s diverse heritage and design leadership. I am confident that the team will represent the young and new India; we will ensure historic performances and return with the best medal count. I urge the country to stand behind our athletes and cheer for them.” Aaquib Wani, a Kashmiri designer, drew inspiration from Indian art forms for the playing kit, which honors the country’s diversity and cohesion. This design ensures that every athlete carries a piece of their home state with them onto the field. The Indian contingent for the 2022 Asian Games includes 33 members from the sport of rowing, making it the second-largest unit after athletics. Additionally, a 15-member Esports team will also be making its official debut at the Asian Games. In the previous edition of the Asian Games in 2018, the Indian contingent secured a tally of 70 medals, including 16 gold medals. PT Usha, IOA president, said, “We have waited long for the 2022 Asian Games and are delighted that India is sending its largest contingent of 634 athletes. We believe that this squad has the potential to get India its best medal haul as well. In the IOA, we have made every effort to place the athlete in the centre of our universe and ensure that they are well looked after.” Ceremonial Khaki outfits PT Usha (L) and Anurag Singh Thakur unveiling the Playing Kit. X/@SumaShirur Image - Twitter/@WeAreTeamIndia Dallas gets new cricket team STAFF REPORTER Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson recently announced the formation of the National Cricket League (NCL), which will include a new cricket team for the city. In December, the league will hold its inaugural tournament, a nonstop cricket competition lasting nine days. The launch of the Dallas franchise was celebrated by the Mayor in the presence of NCL CEO Azhar Qasmi, Dallas business executive Arun Agarwal in his role as NCL chairman and advisor, former International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Haroon Lorgat, and a number of professional cricketers and celebrities. According to a release, the league aims to introduce the short, fastpaced form of cricket, called “sixty strikes”, to the United States, where recently multiple formats of cricket have been gaining popularity. It will include six teams with international players, coaches and mentors from all over the world. “It is my hope that we will be able to cheer on our city’s team in a stadium in Dallas soon. The National Cricket League has my full support as it works to bring the first dedicated cricket stadium to Dallas,” said Mayor Johnson. “If you aren’t already one of the 30 million cricket enthusiasts in America, now is the time to familiarize yourself with the sport,” he added.. Commenting on the Dallas team, Agarwal said, “This will be a Dallas team. When we say Dallas, we mean Dallas – not Arlington, not Frisco. We’re proud to create another team to represent our city.” Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, will host the inaugural league tournament from December 19-29. The nine-day event will not only feature cricket but also 30+ performances from celebrities from all over the world. Arun Agarwal, Mayor Eric Johnson and Azhar Qasmi FlashBrush Images STAFF REPORTER The BCCI’s All-India Senior Selection Committee announced India’s 15-man team for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be hosted by India. The team will be captained by Rohit Sharma and include Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav. India’s campaign will start against Australia on Oct.8, 2023 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Followed by matches against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Oct. 11, 2023 and Pakistan on Oct. 14, 2023 at the world’s biggest cricket stadium - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The Men in Blue, who won the World Cup title in 1983 and 2011 will then face Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka and South Africa in the following matches. Their last league match will be against the Netherlands on November 12, 2023. India announces ODI World Cup squad