New India Abroad Epaper May 15, 2023

A platform for the voice of next generation Indian Diaspora Year 1, Volume 30 Washington DC, Monday 15 May, 2023 *New India Abroad is a Registered trademark and not affiliated with the newspaper named India Abroad marketed in the US from 1972 to 2021. California Senate bans caste discrimination ...Page 3 White House to host PM Modi in June ...Page 12 ...Page 16 NY Assemblywoman honors Khushbu Sundar MOTHER'S DAY Make this extra special. Gift your mother the sweetest INDIAN TREATS. www.rajbhog.com STAFF REPORTER Congratulating the people of Karnataka to have spoken out that “ enough is enough” the Indian Overseas Congress of USA has said that the real import of the recently concluded Assembly elections in the state was for political leaders to focus on real issues of ordinary people. “It is a great victory for all Karnataka’s freedom and peace-loving people. Having experienced the chaos, conflicts, and instability due to the communal agenda administered by the BJP over the last five years, the people of Karnataka have spoken that enough is enough,” said George Abraham, ViceChair of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA. Staying within the parameters of most exit polls the Congress comfortably got the better of the ruling BJP in a tightly fought political contest with the outgoing Chief Minister handing in his resignation to the Governor as per set democratic norms. The political opposition in the country was keenly watching the outcome in Bengaluru keeping in mind the national parliamentary elections that are due in the country in 2024. “People all over India are getting tired of the polarizing politics of the Modi administration, and they want the political leaders to focus on the real issues the ordinary people are facing in their everyday lives, such as inflation, unemployment especially among the youth, lack of housing and clean water and insufficient educational opportunities for the disadvantaged. That is the message Kannadigas are sending loud and clear through this election”, Abraham said in a statement. “ Let me congratulate the solid local leadership in Karnataka of Siddaramaiah and D. K. Sivakumar for navigating the Congress party to this huge victory. It once again proves that the Congress party has been stronger whenever stronger state leaders guided it. Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra through Karnataka has undoubtedly paid its dividends” the IOC Vice Chair said adding that the victory “could be a turning point for the Congress party and may point to a more robust challenge to Modi’s rule in the 2024 parliamentary election”. Image -INC Karnataka Congress Karnataka Leader Siddaramiah People of Karnataka have spoken says IOC Of America The Congress gained a huge victory in the Karnataka assembly elections after over 30 years in terms of both seats and vote share Congress Karnataka Leader DK Shivakumar

2 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 Indian Star LLC Published Weekly Copyright © 2023 Indian Star LLC Editor in Chief Dr. Sridhar Krishnaswami sridhar54k@newindiaabroad.com Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Bhambri rajeevb@newindiaabroad.com Editor (Hindi) Dr. Rameshwar Dayal rdayal@newindiaabroad.com Registered Address Indian Star LLC, 6215 Rockhurst Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817 USA Email Info@newindiaabroad.com Ph. 7323476511 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 Bera, Khanna and Pureval named Biden-Harris campaign advisors RISHIKA BHARDWAJ Two Indian-American Congressmen, Ami Bera and Ro Khanna, along with Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, are among the 50 members appointed to the National Advisory Board announced by the Biden-Harris Campaign for the 2024 elections The board, which will be chaired by former House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, is aimed at building on and expanding the winning coalition that propelled President Biden to the White House in 2020. As per an official statement, the board members will be involved in consistent media interviews, supporting fundraising initiatives and events, utilizing their networks and platforms to increase the reach of the campaign’s message to voters, and directly interacting with voters through grassroots activities and events in crucial states where the election is closely contested. Bera, who is the longest-serving IndianAmerican in the US Congress, and Khanna, who is co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, are both influential voices in the IndianAmerican community. Pureval, who is the firstever Indian-American and Tibetan-American to be elected as Mayor of a city in Ohio, brings a unique perspective to the board. The three Indian-American leaders are expected to play a significant role in mobilizing support for the Biden-Harris campaign among the IndianAmerican community. “The stakes of this election couldn’t be higher,” said President Joe Biden. “Our freedom and democracy are on the line. I’m grateful to this group of diverse and dynamic leaders who will help us win the battle for the soul of America and finish the job for the American people.” The Biden-Harris 2024 campaign wants to include and represent people from different backgrounds and cultures when they reach out to voters. Thr National Advisory Board is made up of leaders from different parts of the Democratic Party to help them achieve this goal. The board members will work together to support the Biden-Harris campaign. The three Indian Americans will play a significant role in mobilizing support for the Biden-Harris campaign among the Indian-American community. The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023 proposes a set of immigration reforms to address long standing issues of immigrants and bolster economic growth of the US. (L-R) Ami Bera, Aftab Pureval and Ro Khanna. Congress to take up immigration reforms VIKAL SAMDARIYA I n a welcome news for thousands of Indians in the United States aiming for citizenship, Democrat Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez has introduced the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023 before the House of Representatives on immigration reforms in the US. The bill comes after the expiry of Title-42 order on immigrants’ restriction to enter into the US territory. The new legislation seeks a series of measures including elimination of percountry green cards caps, work authorization of H-1B holders’ dependents and preventing children of H-1B holders from aging out of the system and being forcefully deported. The legislation aims to equip the country to responsibly manage the border with smart and effective investments, address the root causes of migration that force people to leave Central America, and restore the United States’ commitment to human rights, according to a press note. It will be a step towards addressing the range of issues of immigrants face and prioritize family reunification and keeping families together and bolster the country’s long-term economic growth. Commenting on the significance of the bill, Sánchez said ,“As the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico, I am honored to introduce the U.S. Citizenship Act—a bold, transformative framework that will help fix our broken immigration system.The U.S. Citizenship Act will help us grow our economy, make our borders safer and more secure, and deliver a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants already living and working here.” The U.S. Citizenship Act 2023 establishes an earned road-map to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants; reforms for the family-based immigration system to keep families together;progress towards country’s economic development; protection for workers from exploitation and improves the employment verification process and supports asylum seekers and other vulnerable populations. . In addition to Congresswoman Sánchez, the legislation is cosponsored by 100 members of the House of Representatives, including Indian Americans Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar. The US Congress. Image - Levin Center

New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 3 Garcetti will be making his first official trips as Ambassador to Mumbai and Ahmedabad Garcetti presents credentials to President of India STAFF REPORTER Eric Garcetti, the United States Ambassador to India presented his credentials to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu during an official ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 11, 2023. According to the U.S. Embassy in India, Garcetti will officially begin his duties as Ambassador and make his first trips to Mumbai and Ahmedabad in the coming week. The embassy also posted a new video introducing the new ambassador to the people of India on Twitter. Speaking of the new role, the Ambassador said, “It was an honor to present my credentials to the President, and it’s an honor to be back in India at such an exciting and historic time in the U.S.-India relationship. I look forward to working with the Indian people to raise our partnership to new heights.” Garcetti, the former Mayor of Los Angeles, was appointed to the top diplomatic post by President Biden in July 2021 and confirmed in March 2023. According to the embassy, the ambassador has studied Hindi and Indian culture and history while pursuing his degree at Columbia College. Eric Garcetti presents his credentials to President Draupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Image - PIB California Senate bans caste discrimination VIKAL SAMDARIYA I n a significant development,the Senate in the state of California passed Senator Aisha Wahab’s SB 403, Discrimination on the Basis of Caste bill with majority vote of 34 to 1 on May 11, 2023. As per the legislative procedure, this bill now will be introduced before the state’s Assembly for consideration. If passed by the Assembly the bill will be signed by Governor assent into law, making California the first US state to have anti caste discrimination legislation in the state’s statutes. SB403 mandates that discrimination on the basis of caste is prohibited under the Unruh Civil Rights Act, an existing law that provides that all people in the state of California the right to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments. Since the caste debate erupted, there were voices from various institutions and individuals in favour and against the bill and same has been noted down in the Senate proceedings. The Senate in its analysis noted, “Caste may not be as visible as race to the California legislature, but it is a longstanding system of exclusion both in our homelands and within intergovernmental bodies like the UN, the EU, and many others…” Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who was instrumental in passing the anti-caste discrimination law in the city welcomed the passage of SB 403 by the CA Senate. “Following our historic victory in Seattle in February, the California Senate has voted in favor of banning caste discrimination. The bill now goes to the Assembly. Anti-caste activists, working people, union members, and my socialist Council office built a fighting movement to win in Seattle, creating national and even international momentum. Solidarity to all fighting oppression under capitalism!”, she said. California Senate discussing the Aisha Wahab’s Discrimination on the Basis of Caste bill. Image - Twitter/ Dilip Mandal ‘Muslim Heritage Month’ will be celebrated every January in New Jersey. NJ designates January as ‘Muslim Heritage Month’ MEHAK LUTHRA New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bipartisan resolution recently, declaring January as ‘Muslim Heritage Month’ in the state. The move intends to increase understanding and appreciation of the numerous contributions made by the state’s Muslim community. “New Jersey greatly benefits from the patriotism, philanthropy, advocacy, civic engagement, business, and culture of Muslim Americans and Muslim American organizations in our state,” Murphy said during the signing. “I am proud to designate January of each year as Muslim Heritage Month as it will shine a light on the rich histories, cultures, and shared principles of Muslim Americans. New Jersey takes great pride in its diversity and we will continue to recognize and celebrate the positive impact Muslims have made, and continue to make, to the advancement of this state.” Many Senators and allies of the Muslim community lauded the move as it advocates for inclusion. Senator Stack said, “New Jersey has the highest percentage of Muslim residents in the nation, and in recent years, the Muslim community has been the target of an increasing number of bias incidents. This designation will allow the State and its residents to respectfully acknowledge and promote awareness while appreciating and recognizing the many contributions of the State’s Muslim community.” President of American Muslims for Democracy, Zainab Syed reiterated the importance of this move. She stated that New Jersey is the fourth state in the country to recognize the vast American Muslim legacy. CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut labelled this move as a “historic moment” stating that it may counter the current narrative surrounding depictions of Muslims. Image - CAIR-NJ Governor Phil Murphy signing a bipartisan resolution declaring January as ‘Muslim Heritage Month’

4 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 aparnadave@immigration2us.com Kidambi’s lab has three patents in the works demonstrating the translational viability of the platforms developed in his lab. Vishal Gaur named new dean of Johnson School MADHU BALAJI I ndian American professor Vishal Gaur has been named the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Andrew Karolyi, Dean of Cornell SC Johnson College of Business announced the appointment on May 5, 2023. According to the University statement, Gaur will take charge as dean from July 1, 2023, succeeding Mark W Nelson, and will serve as a member of Karolyi’s College Leadership Team. At present, the IIM graduate teaches Strategic Operations in an MBA immersion course. “Vishal has demonstrated his outstanding commitment to the Johnson School time and again, as a distinguished scholar, as an awardwinning educator, and especially as an effective leader,” Karolyi said. Gaur, an IIT-Delhi alumnus, said, “The Johnson School is a leader in graduate business education and scholarship. I am excited to work towards the mission of the school.” He stated that the association of Johnson School and SC Johnson College have driven new opportunities for faculty research, teaching and collaboration. Gaur joined the university in 2007 and has served as an associate dean for MBA programs between 2014-2019 at the Johnson School. During his period, he launched the Digital Technology Immersion offering skills in n coding, databases and advanced analytics to MBA and MPS candidates in data science and applied statistics. “The creation of these programs represents Vishal’s forward-thinking leadership, which will continue to serve students well into the future,” Karolyi said. Gaur’s research on data-driven analysis in supply chains, retailing, e-commerce and market space received the Wickham Skinner Early Career Research Accomplishments Award from the Production and Operations Management Society in 2006. He completed his BTech in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in 1993 and his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad in 1995. He earned his PhD from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 2001. Gaur has bagged the Class of 1992 Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2022, Stephen Russell Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020 and three Johnson School’s Core Faculty Awards. Professor Vishal Gaur Gaur will take charge as dean from July 1, 2023, succeeding Mark W Nelson. Image: Cornell University Srivatsan Kidambi named NSRI fellow VIKAL SAMDARIYA I ndian-American medical academician, Srivatsan Kidambi has been selected as a National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) fellow to contribute to the national security missions of the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, in April 2023. Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska, Kidambi is among a cohort of 21 fellows joining the University of Nebraska affiliated NSRI designated by the Department of Defense and sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command. University of Madrasa alumnus, Kidambi has a diverse background and proven track record in the areas of tissue engineering, biomaterials, drug delivery, liver biology and neuroscience, according to his profile. He was selected for the University’s Emerging Innovator Award and as professor has trained and supervised many students, postdoctoral associates, and technicians. Kidambi’s research lab focuses on engineering liposome-based nano particles as drug delivery vehicles for miRNA and small drug molecule targeted delivery, his profile added. Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska, Srivatsan Kidambi. Image -LinkedIn/Srivatsan Kidamb Ritu Jadwani receives Huskers Luminary Award STAFF REPORTER Ritu Jadwani an Indian-origin doctoral student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln was honored with the Huskers Luminary Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership and commitment to improving the campus and community. The Gujarat native, having graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in India, is the founder of Namaste NYC in Gujarat. The clothing brand, that creates hand-crafted Indian products for a global audience, supports women who are physically disabled, victims of domestic violence and abuse to become independent. Speaking of Jadwani’s credentials, her nominator, Maria De Guzman said, “She has demonstrated academic excellence not in the classroom by maintaining her GPA, but also outside to create a friendly positive community locally and globally.” The textile expert currently serves a representative of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design on the University’s Graduate Student Assembly. According to her bio, she also assists immigrants and refugee women entrepreneurs through the Echo Collective. Ritu Jadwani speaking at the award ceremony at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Image - Twitter/ Sherri Jones

New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 5 “I look forward to learning how my passion and experiences can be of service to the University of Utah,” Chopra said of her new role. (L-R) Dr Roopa Biswas, Dr Manisha Kumari and Dr Hari Easwaran. Stem Cell Research Awards Researchers will work on innovative medical research that will strengthen and advance stem cell treatments and technologies in the state. VIKAL SAMDARIYA Three Indian-origin medical scientists have been selected along with other scientists for Maryland Stem Cell Research (MSCRF)Commission grant awards that aim to promote innovative research that will strengthen and advance stem cell treatments and technologies in Maryland. Dr Roopa Biswas of The Geneva Foundation, and Dr Manisha Kumari and Dr Hari Easwaran of Johns Hopkins University were named as recipients for the 2023 award. An expert in lung diseases, Biswas received the award to carry out innovative research and technology in the regenerative medicine field under the Launch category. West Bengal-born and University of Calcutta alumnus, Biswas is an associate professor at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences(USUHS). Postdoctoral research associate, Kumari was awarded in the PostDoctoral Fellowship category as an exceptional fellow, conducting research in Maryland. Maharshi Dayanand University alumnus, Kumari carries expertise in the design, chemical synthesis and characterization of various drugloaded nanoparticles. Associate Professor, Easwaran was awarded under the Discovery category to develop novel human stem cell-based technologies and cures. He earned a doctoral degree from Humboldt University, Germany and is working on molecular mechanisms involved in the early steps during tumour initiation in his lab. MSCRC awarded grants to medical researchers under Launch, Discovery and Post-Doctoral Fellowship categories and the newly introduced Commercialization category to boost cell therapy manufacturing capabilities in the State. Two Indian-origin business leaders elected to ESD Governing Council STAFF REPORTER I ndian-origin CEOs Anirudh Devgan and Prakash Narain have been elected to the Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance Governing Council for the 2023-2025 termon May 8, 2023. As new members, Devgan and Narain will represent the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) technology community to address technical, marketing, economic and legislative issues affecting the entire industry. The president and CEO of California-based Cadence Design Systems, Devgan served as a president,executive vice president and general manager of Cadence before being appointed to the CEO post in 2021. The IIT Delhi and Carnegie Mellon University alumnus, has received several awards, including the prestigious Phil Kaufman Award for his extensive contributions to EDA as well as the IBM Corporate Award and IEEE McCalla Award. Dr Narain is the president and CEO of Real Intent. He has handson experience in all aspects of IC design and CAD tool design and methodology from his work at AMD, IBM and Sun. An IIT Kanpur alumnus, Narain has architected and developed CAD tools for test and verification for IBM EDA. He earned a doctoral degreefrom the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where his thesis focus was on algorithms for high-level testing and verification, his profile stated. ESD Alliance represents the electronic system and semiconductor design ecosystem and acts as the central voice to communicate and promote the value of the semiconductor design ecosystem as a vital component of the global electronics industry. Devgan and Narain will work to address SEMI technology community ‘s diverse issues to straighten the sector. CEO of Cadence Design Systems Anirudh Devgan and CEO of Real Intent Prakash Narain Ruma Chopra is dean at Utah University BHAVANA P The University of Utah announced the appointment of Indian-origin Ruma Chopra as the dean of the School for Cultural and Social Transformation. Chopra will commence her new role on July 1, 2023, the University said in a statement. Currently a history professor at San Jose State University, Chopra is also the co-founder and director of the university-wide honors program and a Fellow of the American Council on Education for 2021 and 2022. According to the statement, she was selected after an extensive national search, which was chaired by Marla DeJong, dean of the College of Nursing, and Edmond Fong, chair of Ethnic Studies. Before a career in education, Chopra worked for seven years in high-tech, holding consulting and managerial positions at Intel, Cisco, Bell Labs and Google. She is a scholar of the American Revolution and American slavery and has authored three books on the subjects of the American Revolution and American slavery and has authored three books on the subjects. “I am excited to join Transform. A school that incorporates interdisciplinary and intersectional learning as its foundation is remarkable, and I look forward to learning how my passion and experiences can be of service to the University of Utah,” Chopra said. In her new role, Chopra will be in charge of Transform, the School for Cultural and Social Transformation, which aims to investigate how bias, bigotry, inclusion, and equity are centered Ruma Chopra and considered. Image - Utah University

6 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 The six students from India experienced life outside their community and country, while building their leadership skills, due to Shah’s efforts The eight-year-old informed Sunak of his ambitious goal to represent the UK in the upcoming COP28 hosted in Dubai. British youngster meets Sunak, Jill Biden at Coronation lunch MEHAK LUTHRA Aneeshwar Kunchala, an eight-year-old British boy, well known for being a zealous climate change activist was one of the select few who received an invitation to the “Coronation Big Lunch.” At the event, Kunchala informed UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that he hopes to represent the country in Dubai for the Conference of Parties (COP28) in 2023. He tweeted, “I met UK Prime Minister @RishiSunak at @10DowningStreet - Coronation Big Lunch. It was a pleasure to meet him, his family and others. I have requested if I can represent the UK at @COP28_UAE to save and protect wildlife.” According to a media report, Kunchala also met King Charles III at the Coronation Big Lunch and the American President’s wife, Jill Biden, to whom he conveyed his wish to visit the White House and discuss ecological and wildlife protection. The 8-year-old, who has roots in Andhra Pradesh, has made significant achievements in the area of environmental conservation since he was 4 years old. He has urged world leaders to educate children about environmental challenges and the importance of protecting the environment and has even addressed senators on Capitol Hill on the issue. Kunchala cycled 4,300 km at the age of five, raising over US$ 4,500 for India’s COVID relief fund. He also participated in the popular show, Britain’s Got Talent at the age of 7 and was awarded the nickname ‘Little David Attenborough’ of the show. Image - Twitter @Aneeshwar_K NJ girl enables life-changing experience for Mumbai youth SUPRIYA SINGH S ix students from the slums of Mumbai boarded a plane for the first time to New Jersey to play soccer and fundraise for their college education thanks to the efforts of a 17-year-old Indian-origin student Aanya Shah. A New Jersey native and student of the Pingry school, Shah is a youth leader of the OSCAR Foundation which is a global nonprofit organization that enables underprivileged girls and boys living in the slums in India to become role models within their communities. She also serves as the founder and executive director of the International Young Leaders Council, which is dedicated to raising funds and visibility for a variety of global issues by connecting with other organizations abroad. Speaking of her experience, Shah said, “I take my role in global leadership seriously. I was very happy to develop this program for underprivileged children in India, who are talented soccer players, to visit the United States, board at my school and play other school soccer teams in the region as a fundraiser for their college educations.” During their time in New Jersey, the six students from India experienced life outside their community and country, while building their leadership skills. According to a report published by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), the students stayed at the Pottersville campus of the Pingry school, visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, toured the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and played soccer with local teams amongst many other inspiring experiences. Image- New Jersey business and industry association Slums to Sydney YASMIN TINWALA S umit Dhawan was living in the slums of New Delhi India until 2022 when his life took a turn and he ended up in the continent of Australia. Having won the 2022 Sydney Scholars India Equity Scholarship worth up to $60000, Dhawan is currently a student at the University of Sydney where he pursues his Masters in Public Policy. Speaking of his struggles in an interview with the University press, the 21-year-old said he earned his present life by fighting through immense hardship that is a part and parcel of everyday life in a slum, where he was not privileged enough to concentrate solely on his studies. Growing up, Dhawan was responsible for ensuring his house, which did not have a tap with running water, had enough supply for the day. Standing in the serpentine queue to fill water from the community tap was an everyday task that he battled while growing up in an environment that was a breeding ground for petty crime, violence, and alcoholism. Despite the odds, Dhawan managed to score an impressive 95 per cent mark in his senior secondary school exams. His merit earned attracted the attention of the charity organization Asha Community Health and Development Society (Asha), which funded his undergraduate education. Dhawan completed his Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Political Science) from the University of Delhi. According to Dhawan, his father, a tailor by profession, was the biggest support during this journey. However, after his passing Dhawan was bogged down by financial woes, he revealed in the interview. Following his studies, Dhawan hopes that his learnings and skills could help improve the situation back home. “My goal is to return to India and ‘pay it forward’ by contributing to the development and improvement of my community. Image- University of Sydney

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8 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 Image- Monika Dhingra The WA Senate resolution recognizes the contributions of Sikh Americans to the culture and history of Washington state and the United States. WA Senate honors Sikh Americans Governor of Washington State, Jay Inslee with the Sikh Community and Senator Monika Dhingra. VIKAL SAMDARIYA The Washington State Senate recently passed a resolution honoring the contributions of Sikh Americans to the culture and history of the State and the United States.The legislation was sponsored by Democratic SenatorSharon Shewmake. On passage of the resolution, Shewmake said, “The Sikh community has been an incredibly open and hospitable community where I live in Whatcom County.”Speaking on the significance of the resolution she added,“It’s all about equality, it’s about making sure that we’re recognizing the humanitarian work of the Sikh community, but also the humanity in all of us. And I’m so thankful that this community has been in America, in the world, but also in my home town. And I’m so glad to honor them today.” The first Indian-American Sikh Senator Monika Dhingra also told the Senate how Sikh values have inspired her and many others toward public service. “This is a religion that was talking about equality among humans back in the fifteenth century. The religion based on the fact that we all are born out of the same light,” she shared. The resolution applauded the Sikh American community’s diverse contributions in the development of the State and country. It reads “Sikh families in the United States pursue diverse professions and walks of life, making rich contributions to the economic vibrancy of the United States.” The resolution added that Washington State takes pride in being a place where all faiths and cultures are welcomed, respected, and celebrated; and acknowledged Vaisakhi, also known as Khalsa Day, which marks the beginning of the harvest season and the Sikh New Year and wished a very joyous Vaisakhi celebration. The Senate also recognized members of the Sikh community in attendance, including Whatcom County Executive Satpal Singh Sidhu and Kent City Councilmember Satwinder Kaur, according to a release.The session opened with a prayer by Jasneet Kaur, outreach coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Gurdwara Council, the release added. The Washington State Senate session to honor Sikh Americans. Image - Monika Dhingra NY Charity donates US$25,000 to young women in Tamil Nadu YASMIN TINWALA New York-based charity, the Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF), recently granted a sum of US $25,000 to a women and children empowerment organization in Massachusetts. The Desai Foundation received the grant which will be utilised to fund the entrepreneurship programming and technical education training to be provided to women and young girls in Tamil Nadu. According to an official statement, a total of 400 women and girls aged 18 and above will benefit from the donation which will provide the necessary vocational training. Some of the programs planned include sewing and design, beautician training, candle and earthen lamp making, and computer training among others. A portion of the funds will be used to distribute female hygiene products, as well as to provide access to advanced entrepreneurship courses that will cover topics ranging from finance, and management, to sales and marketing. Apart from skill training, the program that aims to help participants become financially independent, will also teach basic banking, investing, and financial management principles. The GKF is a private foundation that provides funding to several charitable causes. It also supports causes related to the acquisition of materialistic and nonmaterialistic knowledge, as well as the preservation of heritage and knowledge that has already been acquired. The GKF also provided funding toward various social welfare causes in the U.S. These include the Brooklyn Book Bodega, in NYC. Funds were granted to drive 10 book camps and community events to distribute books to children and educators. Approximately 5,000 books were distributed collectively. The Desai Foundation was founded in 1997 by a couple to serve communities that had served them. It supports organizations focused on health, education, and Indian culture. Since its inception, the foundation has reached over 6 million individuals with 30 programs focused on health and hygiene, vocational training, science and entrepreneurship. Image-Desai Foundation The money will go toward a program designed to make 400 women and children financially independent.

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10 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 DHEC director Dr Edward Simmer said that Patel is a highly respected board member and is an outstanding leader who has great business acumen. Seema Shrivastava Patel is SC DHEC chairwoman MADHU BALAJI The Senate of the state of South Carolina confirmed the appointment of Seema Shrivastava Patel, as the chairwoman of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), an official statement noted. She is the first person of colour to assume office as the chairperson of the board. Nominated by Governor Henry McMaster, Patel has served the DHEC board since 2018. Reacting to her appointment, she said, “This honour to serve as chairwoman would not be possible without the support of my family, and the confidence placed in me by Governor McMaster and the South Carolina Senate to lead the board. I am proud to continue to serve alongside our state’s leading subject matter experts as we work together to provide a healthier future for every South Carolinian.” DHEC director Dr Edward Simmer said that Patel is a highly respected board member and is an outstanding leader who has great business acumen. “This, along with her 20-year career in the convenience and food service industry, make her a perfect choice to propel the agency forward. I look forward to our continued work together to advance DHEC’s mission to improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians,” he added. Since 2017, Patel served as president of Carolina Convenience Corporation (CCC). She has been the president of the South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores and a board member of the South Carolina Petroleum Marketer Association, Columbia Museum of Art, and the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion Foundation. A native of Columbia, Patel completed her bachelor’s degree in marketing and human resources from the University of South Carolina, specializing in international business. Sharing the priorities in her new role, Patel added, “In my new role as chairwoman, I am committed to leading by the strong example they have laid as I work with members of the agency’s board, staff and leaders across the state to ensure access to quality health and environmental services.” Seema Shrivastava Patel Image: Twitter/@scdhec Geeta Rao Gupta is Ambassador for Global Women’s issues VIKAL SAMDARIYA The United States Senate has confirmed Indian American Geeta Rao Gupta’s appointment as the Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues in the State Department with a majority vote of 51 to 47 on May 10, 2023. She was nominated to the post by President Joe Biden in 2021. In the new role, Gupta will lead the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) with a mandate to promote the rights and empowerment of women and girls through U.S. foreign policy. Confirming the appointment the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues said, “Dr Geeta Rao Gupta was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Ambassadorat-Large for the Office of Global Women’s Issues. The State Department looks forward to her efforts to promote women and girls’ rights through U.S. foreign policy.” Senior Fellow at the United Nations Foundation and former president of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), Dr Gupta founded and served as executive director of the 3D Program for Girls and Women at the UN Foundation. Previously, she was a visiting scholar at Stanford University and also served at World Bank, UNICEF, the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and several boards, including the Global Partnership for Education, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; and the MAC AIDS Fund. Geeta Rao Gupta. Twitter/the US State Department

New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 11 Participants of the survey included both Democrat and Republican-leaning Americans, 75 per cent of them collectively agreed that attacks on Asian Americans was a “very serious” problem in the country. 1 in 2 Asian Americans feel unsafe in US YASMIN TINWALA The third annual Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the US conducted by the Asian American Foundation (TAAF) released at the beginning of May, revealed that one in two Asian Americans felt unsafe in the U.S. The respondents included 5,235 U.S-based individuals aged 16 and over, across racial groups from around the country, surveyed virtually between February 9 to March 13 this year. The survey found that nearly 80 percent of Asian Americans do not completely feel they belong and are accepted. Around 58 percent felt discriminated due to their race while 43 percent felt a lack of belonging due to lack of representation. The findings also revealed that Asian American women were the hardest hit with and least likely to feel acceptance or experience a feeling of belonging. The U.S. observes the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month observed annually in the month of May since 1990, however, respondents felt that the recognition hasn’t much helped to change the plight of Asian Americans. For background, data from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism published in 2022, anti-Asian crimes saw a spike of 343 percent from 2020 in New York, and a 567 percent increase in San Francisco, while Los Angeles saw a hike of 173 percent. TAAF’s survey reveals Asian Americans were targeted the most because of COVID-19 blame, and the perception of them being spies for the Chinese government. 57 percent of participants also believe that the relationships between different racial groups in the country had worsened in the past five years. Other findings from the survey revealed that 51 percent of respondents felt White Americans were the most advantaged racial group in the country, meaning they experienced the least amount of discrimination. Only 8 per cent believed Asian Americans were more advantaged, and 47 percent believed they were discriminated against. According to a TAAF release, the participants included both Democratic and Republican-leaning individuals, and 75 percent of them collectively believed that racist attacks against Asian Americans are a “very serious” problem the country is battling. Photo by Jason Leung / Unsplash Young engineer killed in Texas mall shooting MADHU BALAJI I ndian-origin engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda was one among the victims in a shooting at an Allen Premium Outlet mall, Texas, on Saturday, May 6, 2023. The Allen Police Department in a statement said, “Seven individuals, including the suspect, were deceased at the scene. Nine were transported to regional hospitals where two later succumbed to their injuries. As of Saturday evening, three victims were in critical condition and four were stable.” The 33-year-old gunman, who was fatally shot by the police, was identified as Mauricio Garcia. According to local media reports, Thatikonda was shopping with a friend when the incident took place. Her friend was also injured in the shooting and is currently stable in the hospital. A family representative revealed that the family plans to bring Thatikonda’s body back to India. The 26-year-old lived and worked in McKinney, Texas, while her family resided in India. A resident of Saroornagar, Hyderabad, she reportedly moved to the US to serve as a project manager in a private company in Dallas. The Texas Department of Public Safety revealed it is engaged in a joint investigation along with the Allen Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. “The public’s safety and a thorough investigation are paramount to all agencies involved. The agencies are working to provide citizens that have personal belongings and vehicles in the outlet mall area a safe and expeditious plan to retrieve their property,” it added. The White House in a statement said that there have been some 200 mass shootings already this year. “More than 14,000 of our fellow citizens have lost their lives, credible estimates show. The leading cause of death for American kids is gun violence,” it added. “Once again I ask Congress to send me a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks. Requiring safe storage. Ending immunity for gun manufacturers. I will sign it immediately,” President Joe Biden said in his statement. Thatikonda passed away just days short of her 27th birthday Aishwarya Thatikonda Indo-Canadian shot outside residence in targeted attack STAFF REPORTER I ndian-origin Kamaljit Singh Kang alias Neetu Kang, a renowned Kabaddi promoter and the president of the North India Circle Style Kabaddi Association, in Canada was shot and killed by assailants outside his home in Surrey on May 5. After an initial investigation of the tragic incident that unfolded in the Bear Creek neighbourhood, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Surrey, said this was a targeted attack. According to the RCMP office, officials responded to the report of a shooting on a residential driveway. Upon arrival, authorities found Kang with several gunshot wounds on his body. Officials administered medical assistance till Emergency Health Services made it to the scene after which he was shifted to the hospital with serious injuries. Surrey RCMP later received information about a vehicle that was set ablaze approximately 11 km from the Bear Creek neighbourhood. Police said the vehicle that was found burnt matched the description of the vehicle that was spotted fleeing from the area of Kang’s shooting. Further investigation was initiated to link the two incidents. Surrey RCMP has yet to establish a motive for the shooting, and the organization’s General Investigation Unit is currently gathering evidence about both the vehicle and Kang’s death. Photo by David von Diemar / Unsplash

Entrepreneur Bipul Sinha “I knew that to succeed as an entrepreneur, I needed to think differently. I needed to think that anything was possible. To be an entrepreneur, you have to be an incessant optimist, living in a constant state of will.” Diaspora Talks Writer Sahaj Kaur Kholi “Happy Mother’s Day to the immigrant moms who left their own homes before they even knew themselves and moved across the world w/ partners they may not have known very well only to birth life in a new country and plant roots in an unknown land.” EDITORIAL The Biden administration and the Ministry of External Affairs have finally made it official in what was talked about for sometime—that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to the United States culminating in a White House banquet on June 22. It is the Prime Minister’s sixth visit to the United States but the second only “state visit” of an Indian leader after a gap of 14 years and Washington will not be the only city on the agenda; Modi will be at New York and address a large Indian American community gathering at Chicago. The Indian Prime Minister’s diplomatic schedule is pretty hectic to the say the least with the months of May and June seeing Modi taking the bilateral and multilateral agendas to the Asia Pacific and North America. In May itself the Prime Minister has two major visits, first to Hiroshima, Japan for the Summit of the Group of 7 to which he has been invited; and then on to Australia for the third only in-person summit of the Leaders of the Quad. In both these visits Modi will be keen on expanding India’s relations with two crucial countries in the Indo Pacific besides firming up a multilateral partnership that is only too keen to ensure the rules of the game are followed and not just pertaining to maritime issues. In a strategic sense the Indo Pacific is seeing some tense moments with the People’s Republic of China seemingly in an aggressive overdrive not just in the South China Seas but generally wanting to have its ways in other areas as well. And added to this is the constant nuclear blackmail of North Korea that has complicated the environment in East Asia to include South Korea. It is even more critical for major actors in the Indo Pacific like India, Japan, Australia and the United States to fine tune policies and strategies over and beyond a military containment of Beijing. There is always something fascinating when it comes to India and the United States, especially when leaders of the two countries come calling. But they also are aware that the strength of the relationship goes beyond atmospherics and into the nitty gritty of what makes the bonds stronger and more stable irrespective of the governments in the two capitals. Both President Joseph Biden and Prime Minister Modi know that working together for a stronger Indo Pacific is in the best interests of both United States and India; hence the two countries should not be distracted in encouraging or taking pot shots on issues that are either peripheral or little relevance to the larger bilateral framework. A PACKED DIPLOMATIC AGENDA FOR PRIME MINISTER 12 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 The Indian Prime Minister’s diplomatic schedule is pretty hectic to the say the least with the months of May and June Image - Twitter/@narendramodi White House to host PM Modi in June Image - Twitter/@POTUS MEHAK LUTHRA Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the US on an official state visit for the first time since he took office in 2014. The PM will be hosted by President Joe Biden at the White House from June 21 to 24, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced. Modi’s earlier trips to the US, when he met the then-Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama at the White House were not regarded as official state visits. In November 2009, Manmohan Singh, the thenPrime Minister of India, was the last Indian official to make a state visit to the US. According to media reports, Modi will begin his trip in New York, where he will preside over the celebrations of International Yoga Day on June 21 with the UN building serving as the backdrop. He will next travel to Washington, DC, for the state visit. He will also address the Indian diaspora in Chicago. An official announcement regarding the visit was also released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States of America, which will include a state dinner on June 22, 2023, following an invitation from President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden,” the MEA said. Commenting of the significance of the visit Jean-Pierre added, “The upcoming visit will affirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of family and friendship that link Americans and Indians together.” State visits, which typically begin with formal public ceremonies, are regarded as the highest expression of friendly bilateral relations. The ceremonies taking place in the US involve flag street lining, a 21- gun salute White House arrival ceremony, a White House dinner, the exchanging of diplomatic gifts, and an invitation to stay at the Blair House. Biden and Modi at the G20 summit in Indonesia. The Prime Minister will reportedly preside over International Yoga Day celebrations in New York before his visit to the White House

New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 13 Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some gumption and broader vision. Indian community media faces challenges and opportunities PARVEEN CHOPRA Founder, ALotusInTheMud.com Founding Editor, The South Asian Times I n 2020, India Abroad, known as the gold standard in ethnic newspapers in America, closed operations after 50 years in circulation. In 2022 New India Abroad was started by a different team. That tells you the story of Indian media in America. Down and up. Resilience and renewal. Learning and adapting. The downturn for all journalism - not just Indian ethnic media – has been caused by the ever-growing digital revolution. The 2008 economic meltdown was bad for the media too. Covid years were worse. Now, social media is the new villain in the journalism story. Many storied newspapers in the US have closed or curtailed operations. Indian ethnic media has been more vulnerable because of a lack of promoters with deep pockets for sustaining operations and a dearth of committed journalists doing quality work to keep readers engaged. Surprisingly, the big media houses from India have not ventured here. The need for quality journalism to serve the Indian community is greater than ever. For one, the community is growing – their numbers increased from about 3 million in 2010 to more than 4.5 million as per the 2020 census. Indian Americans make headlines as achievers in the US media and are referred to as a model minority. But being new immigrants, the community cannot let its guard down. Knowledge is power. It is the job of community media to bring to the notice of their readers issues that need collective action. And, becoming their voice, take their issues to officials and lawmakers concerned. For example, they need to keep hammering the US Congress to resolve the monstrous green card backlog for Indians. A new, combustible case is Washington state passing a law (now under consideration in California) banning discrimination based on caste, a practice allegedly extended here from India. Some Hindu groups condemned the move as anti-Indian. The community papers should be explaining the implications of the bill and build a consensus - for or against. Surely, all regions of the US with large Indian populations have community newspapers. But most of them have mainly ended up as aggregators compiling news and features available freely. In contrast, New York-based India Abroad once spawned editions in other diaspora countries and a news agency. India Abroad, under publisher Gopal Raju, even made press freedom history. They published a story linking megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s brother, Ajitabh Bachchan, to kickbacks in a defense deal. Ajitabh sued in London and won 40,000-pound damages in 1990. Raju fought the enforcement at home. US legacy media including The New York Times filed briefs in Raju’s support. Raju won. Unfortunately, declining ad revenue while honor-bound to keep printing copies to serve its 20,000+ paid subscribers made the paper a hot potato eventually. One contemporary of India Abroad was India West, a paper with big circulation on the West Coast. Its aging owners, Bina and Ramesh Murarka, shut it down when Covid struck. Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some gumption and broader vision. Indian Americans are well-educated and high earners. Rightly leveraged, this market can support a vibrant media. So, what is blocking that from happening, and what is the way forward? Publishers and editors responded to reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted. Business models in the mix Multiple mediums Sunil Hali, an engineer by profession, entered the media industry in 2000. “It was the year of the Y2K scare, and Indian techies earned a good reputation in the USA. Feeling the story of a developing India was left untold by India Abroad, I started the North American edition of The Indian Express, a trusted name with high integrity,” he recalls. To compete with India Abroad, Hali distributed his paper free at temples, gurdwaras, and retail stores, setting a trend. In what he calls a “multiplier effect”, he is now aiming to reach the community through different mediums: The Indian Eye print paper and TV, Divya Bhaskar in Gujarati, and Radio Zindagi. Coping with falling ad revenue The sharp decline in ad revenue coupled with a rise in paper and printing costs has made the survival of print publications perilous. Founded in 2008, The South Asian Times continues to print besides mailing an electronic replica (e-paper) to a large list. Under Publisher and Chairman Kamlesh Mehta, its policy to present clean content is a factor in holding a committed class of readers and advertisers to keep it in business. The Asian Era is a sister publication founded by Ginsmon Zacharia. Mehta’s was the only Indian paper that did not suspend publication even during the pandemic. “We weathered the Covid-19 storm by tightening our belt and thanks to cooperation from our loyal team,” he says. “We served the community further by establishing a helpline to respond to the urgent needs of people.” As The South Asian Times editor until last year, I expanded its editorial mix to offer a little more than other papers. To news from India and community affairs, I added a couple of pages on US affairs. I also aimed at neutrality, even as other papers tend to tilt right in Indian affairs and left in US affairs. During Covid, federal, state, and NYC ads came as a godsend for papers on their radar. Now, some publishers grumble that Mayor Eric Adams has not delivered on his promised support to ethnic media. Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, Editor-Publisher of The Indian Panorama, blames it on a lack of vision by the bureaucracy. He praises, however, CUNY’s Center for Community Media (CCM) for their sustained push for government support for ethnic media. (Disclosure: This article was written under a fellowship from CCM) When asked, José Bayona, Executive Director of NYC Mayor’s Office of Ethnic & Community Media, stated: “The South Asian community is the second largest community represented in the Citywide Marketing Directory. Many South Asian publications continue to receive advertisements from the City.” He explained the decreasing ad support to the end of pandemic federal funds flowing to the City and contingencies like the migrant crisis. Should the Indian government support the community media here as it used to once release Air India and tourism ads? Prof Saluja says yes, but “I would prefer to do without it, so as to not be beholden to anybody.” Sunil Hali wants Indian businesses and organizations in the US to support quality media through advertising which will help them in turn. That support is coming only in a trickle. Big organizations like AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), and GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) send out a steady stream of press releases but balk when asked for paid ads. The e-paper way Printing alone can rack up as much as half the cost of a small operation. Sharanjit Singh Thind was the first to make the shift to an e-paper of his South Asian Insider over a decade ago. He believes investigative stories can break new ground today. Thind also foresaw video becoming the medium of the future. So, he started Josh India Web TV. With YouTube around, who needs a TV channel? Prof Saluja too saw the light and turned his paper digital in 2018. His single survival strategy: “To stay focused on the local community and generate revenue from community businesses and organizations.” Website only Asif Ismail had the foresight to start The American Bazaar 11 years ago as a news portal from Washington DC, with business as a special focus. He claims in 2016-17 they were netting a million page views a month. Yet, the ad revenue has not grown commensurately with it to pay for the news staff including an editor. To raise additional funds, they have been doing events. Publishers and editors reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted Sunil Hali, Promoter of Radio Zindagi, Publisher, The Indian Eye Kamlesh Mehta is Publisher of The South Asian Times and The Asian Era Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, editor-publisher of The Indian Panorama 14 May 13-19, 2023 TheSouthAsianTimes.info tion founded by Ginsmon Zacharia. Mehta’s was the only Indian paper that did not suspend publication even during the pandemic. “We weathered the Covid-19 storm by tightening our belt and thanks to cooperation from our loyal team,” he says. “We served the community further by establishing a helpline to respond to the urgent needs of people.” As The South Asian Times editor until last year, I expanded its editorial mix to offer a little more than other papers. To news from India and community affairs, I added a couple of pages on US affairs. I also aimed at neutrality, even as other papers tend to tilt right in Indian affairs and left in US affairs. During Covid, federal, state, and NYC ads came as a godsend for papers on their radar. Now, some publishers grumble that Mayor Eric Adams has not delivered on his promised support to ethnic media. Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, Editor-Publisher of The Indian Panorama, blames it on a lack of vision by the bureaucracy. He praises, however, CUNY’s Center for Community Media (CCM) for their sustained push for government support for ethnic media. (Disclosure: This article was written under a fellowship from CCM) When asked, José Bayona, Executive Director of NYC Mayor’s Office of Ethnic & Community Media, stated: “The South Asian community is the second largest community represented in the Citywide Marketing Directory. Many South Asian publications continue to receive advertisements from the City.” He explained the decreasing ad support to the end of pandemic federal funds flowing to the City and contingencies like the migrant crisis. Should the Indian government support the community media here as it used to once release Air India and tourism ads? Prof Saluja says yes, but “I would prefer to do without it, so as to not be beholden to anybody.” Sunil Hali wants Indian businesses and organizations in the US to support quality media through advertising which will help them in turn. That support is coming only in a trickle. Big organizations like AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), and GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) send out a steady stream of press releases but balk when asked for paid ads. The e-paper way Printing alone can rack up as much as half the cost of a small operation. Sharanjit Singh Thind was the first to make the shift to an e-paper of his South Asian Insider over a decade ago. He believes investigative stories can break new ground today. Thind also foresaw video becoming the medium of the future. So, he started Josh India Web TV. With YouTube around, who needs a TV channel? Sunil Hali, an engineer by profession, entered the media industry in 2000. “It was the year of the Y2K scare, and Indian techies earned a good reputation in the USA. Feeling the story of a developing India was left untold by India Abroad, I started the North American edition of The Indian Express, a trusted name with high integrity,” he recalls. To compete with India Abroad, Hali distributed his paper free at temples, gurdwaras, and retail stores, setting a trend. In what he calls a “multiplier effect”, he is now aiming to reach the community through different mediums: The Indian Eye print paper and TV, Divya Bhaskar in Gujarati, and Radio Zindagi. Coping with falling ad revenue The sharp decline in ad revenue coupled with a rise in paper and printing costs has made the survival of print publications perilous. Founded in 2008, The South Asian Times continues to print besides mailing an electronic replica (e-paper) to a large list. Under Publisher and Chairman Kamlesh Mehta, its policy to present clean content is a factor in holding a committed class of readers and advertisers to keep it in business. The Asian Era is a sister publicaI n 2020, India Abroad, known as the gold standard in ethnic newspapers in America, closed operations after 50 years in circulation. In 2022 New India Abroad was started by a different team. That tells you the story of Indian media in America. Down and up. Resilience and renewal. Learning and adapting. The downturn for all journalism - not just Indian ethnic media – has been caused by the ever-growing digital revolution. The 2008 economic meltdown was bad for the media too. Covid years were worse. Now, social media is the new villain in the journalism story. Many storied newspapers in the US have closed or curtailed operations. Indian ethnic media has been more vulnerable because of a lack of promoters with deep pockets for sustaining operations and a dearth of committed journalists doing quality work to keep readers engaged. Surprisingly, the big media houses from India have not ventured here. The need for quality journalism to serve the Indian community is greater than ever. For one, the community is growing – their numbers increased from about 3 million in 2010 to more than 4.5 million as per the 2020 census. Indian Americans make headlines as achievers in the US media and are referred to as a model minority. But being new immigrants, the community cannot let its guard down. Knowledge is power. It is the job of community media to bring to the notice of their readers issues that need collective action. And, becoming their voice, take their issues to officials and lawmakers concerned. For example, they need to keep hammering the US Congress to resolve the green card backlog issue for Indians. A new, combustible case is Washington state passing a law (now under consideration in California) banning discrimination based on caste, a practice allegedly extended here from India. Some Hindu groups condemned the move as anti-Indian. The community papers should be explaining the implications of the bill and build a consensus - for or against the bill. Surely, all regions of the US with large Indian populations have community newspapers. But most of them have ended up as aggregators compiling news and features available freely. In contrast, New York-based India Abroad once spawned editions in other diaspora countries and a news agency. India Abroad, under publisher Gopal Raju, even made press freedom history. They published a story linking megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s brother, Ajitabh Bachchan, to kickbacks in a defense deal. Ajitabh sued in London and won 40,000-pound damages in 1990. Raju fought the enforcement at home. US legacy media including The New York Times filed briefs in Raju’s support. Raju won. Unfortunately, declining ad revenue while honor-bound to keep printing copies to serve its 20,000+ paid subscribers made the paper a hot potato eventually. One contemporary of India Abroad was India West, a paper with big circulation on the West Coast. Its aging owners, Bina Publishers and editors reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted Special RepoRt Indian community media faces challenges and opportunities By Parveen Chopra Founder, ALotusInThe Mud.com Founding Editor, The South Asian Times Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, editor-publisher of The Indian Panorama Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some chutzpah and broader vision Sunil Hali, Promoter of Radio Zindagi, Publisher, The Indian Eye Kamlesh Mehta is Publisher of The South Asian Times and The Asian Era and Ramesh Murarka, shut it down when Covid struck. Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some chutzpah and broader vision. Indian Americans are well-educated and high earners. Rightly leveraged, this market can support a vibrant media. So, what is blocking that from happening, and what is the way forward? Publishers and editors responded to reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted. Business models in the mix Multiple mediums Prof Saluja too saw the light and turned his paper digital in 2018. His single survival strategy: “To stay focused on the local community and generate revenue from community businesses and organizations.” Website only Asif Ismail had the foresight to start The American Bazaar 11 years ago as a news portal from Washington DC, with business as a special focus. He claims in 2016-17 they were 14 May 13-19, 2023 TheSouthAsianTimes.info tion founded by Ginsmon Zacharia. Mehta’s was the only Indian paper that did not suspend publication even during the pandemic. “We weathered the Covid-19 storm by tightening our belt and thanks to cooperation from our loyal team,” he says. “We served the community further by establishing a helpline to respond to the urgent needs of people.” As The South Asian Times editor until last year, I expanded its editorial mix to offer a little more than other papers. To news from India and community affairs, I added a couple of pages on US affairs. I also aimed at neutrality, even as other papers tend to tilt right in Indian affairs and left in US affairs. During Covid, federal, state, and NYC ads came as a godsend for papers on their radar. Now, some publishers grumble that Mayor Eric Adams has not delivered on his promised support to ethnic media. Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, Editor-Publisher of The Indian Panorama, blames it on a lack of vision by the bureaucracy. He praises, however, CUNY’s Center for Community Media (CCM) for their sustained push for government support for ethnic media. (Disclosure: This article was written under a fellowship from CCM) When asked, José Bayona, Executive Director of NYC Mayor’s Office of Ethnic & Community Media, stated: “The South Asian community is the second largest community represented in the Citywide Marketing Directory. Many South Asian publications continue to receive advertisements from the City.” He explained the decreasing ad support to the end of pandemic federal funds flowing to the City and contingencies like the migrant crisis. Should the Indian government support the community media here as it used to once release Air India and tourism ads? Prof Saluja says yes, but “I would prefer to do without it, so as to not be beholden to anybody.” Sunil Hali wants Indian businesses and organizations in the US to support quality media through advertising which will help them in turn. That support is coming only in a trickle. Big organizations like AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), and GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) send out a steady stream of press releases but balk when asked for paid ads. The e-paper way Printing alone can rack up as much as half the cost of a small operation. Sharanjit Singh Thind was the first to make the shift to an e-paper of his South Asian Insider over a decade ago. He believes investigative stories can break new ground today. Thind also foresaw video becoming the medium of the future. So, he started Josh India Web TV. With YouTube around, who needs a TV channel? Sunil Hali, an engineer by profession, entered the media industry in 2000. “It was the year of the Y2K scare, and Indian techies earned a good reputation in the USA. Feeling the story of a developing India was left untold by India Abroad, I started the North American edition of The Indian Express, a trusted name with high integrity,” he recalls. To compete with India Abroad, Hali distributed his paper free at temples, gurdwaras, and retail stores, setting a trend. In what he calls a “multiplier effect”, he is now aiming to reach the community through different mediums: The Indian Eye print paper and TV, Divya Bhaskar in Gujarati, and Radio Zindagi. Coping with falling ad revenue The sharp decline in ad revenue coupled with a rise in paper and printing costs has made the survival of print publications perilous. Founded in 2008, The South Asian Times continues to print besides mailing an electronic replica (e-paper) to a large list. Under Publisher and Chairman Kamlesh Mehta, its policy to present clean content is a factor in holding a committed class of readers and advertisers to keep it in business. The Asian Era is a sister publicaI n 2020, India Abroad, known as the gold standard in ethnic newspapers in America, closed operations after 50 years in circulation. In 2022 New India Abroad was started by a different team. That tells you the story of Indian media in America. Down and up. Resilience and renewal. Learning and adapting. The downturn for all journalism - not just Indian ethnic media – has been caused by the ever-growing digital revolution. The 2008 economic meltdown was bad for the media too. Covid years were worse. Now, social media is the new villain in the journalism story. Many storied newspapers in the US have closed or curtailed operations. Indian ethnic media has been more vulnerable because of a lack of promoters with deep pockets for sustaining operations and a dearth of committed journalists doing quality work to keep readers engaged. Surprisingly, the big media houses from India have not ventured here. The need for quality journalism to serve the Indian community is greater than ever. For one, the community is growing – their numbers increased from about 3 million in 2010 to more than 4.5 million as per the 2020 census. Indian Americans make headlines as achievers in the US media and are referred to as a model minority. But being new immigrants, the community cannot let its guard down. Knowledge is power. It is the job of community media to bring to the notice of their readers issues that need collective action. And, becoming their voice, take their issues to officials and lawmakers concerned. For example, they need to keep hammering the US Congress to resolve the green card backlog issue for Indians. A new, combustible case is Washington state passing a law (now under consideration in California) banning discrimination based on caste, a practice allegedly extended here from India. Some Hindu groups condemned the move as anti-Indian. The community papers should be explaining the implications of the bill and build a consensus - for or against the bill. Surely, all regions of the US with large Indian populations have community newspapers. But most of them have ended up as aggregators compiling news and features available freely. In contrast, New York-based India Abroad once spawned editions in other diaspora countries and a news agency. India Abroad, under publisher Gopal Raju, even made press freedom history. They published a story linking megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s brother, Ajitabh Bachchan, to kickbacks in a defense deal. Ajitabh sued in London and won 40,000-pound damages in 1990. Raju fought the enforcement at home. US legacy media including The New York Times filed briefs in Raju’s support. Raju won. Unfortunately, declining ad revenue while honor-bound to keep printing copies to serve its 20,000+ paid subscribers made the paper a hot potato eventually. One contemporary of India Abroad was India West, a paper with big circulation on the West Coast. Its aging owners, Bina Publishers and editors reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted Special RepoRt Indian community media faces challenges and opportunities By Parveen Chopra Founder, ALotusInThe Mud.com Founding Editor, The South Asian Times Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, editor-publisher of The Indian Panorama Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some chutzpah and broader vision Sunil Hali, Promoter of Radio Zindagi, Publisher, The Indian Eye Kamlesh Mehta is Publisher of The South Asian Times and The Asian Era and Ramesh Murarka, shut it down when Covid struck. Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some chutzpah and broader vision. Indian Americans are well-educated and high earners. Rightly leveraged, this market can support a vibrant media. So, what is blocking that from happening, and what is the way forward? Publishers and editors responded to reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted. Business models in the mix Multiple mediums Prof Saluja too saw the light and turned his paper digital in 2018. His single survival strategy: “To stay focused on the local community and generate revenue from community businesses and organizations.” Website only Asif Ismail had the foresight to start The American Bazaar 11 years ago as a news portal from Washington DC, with business as a special focus. He claims in 2016-17 they were

14 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 Asif points out that most Indians here are comfortable with English and are net-savvy to get their daily dose of news from a paper back home such as The Times of India, which gets more traffic from the US compared to all the Indian sites combined here. In contrast, he says, communities such as the Chinese and Koreans patronize papers in their own language. Immediacy with newsletters All Indian papers have been weekly tabloids. But today if you cannot tell the news to your readers quickly enough, they will go elsewhere. Bringing people to your website, however, takes some doing. A cost-effective alternative is to send news to their inboxes. New India Abroad does that by mailing out a daily newsletter to a list of thousands. They may change their name to India Abroad but will find it hard to live up to the legacy of their namesake. Rajeev Bhambri, long-time operations head of India Abroad now in CEO role at the new venture, and Sridhar Krishnaswami, a veteran journalist as editor-in-chief, have a strategy to suit the times: “We want to work in the language and medium our readers want.” By medium they mean e-paper, website, as well as print and podcast. Also, posting e-paper on WhatsApp and Facebook community groups, which are sometimes thousands strong. They also have a Hindi edition of New India Abroad. Hindi is India’s national language, but somehow Hindi papers don’t do well here. Hum Hindustani, started by Jasbir Jay Singh about a decade ago, is now digital only. Universal News Network (TheUNN.com) was started by the journalist Ajay Ghosh with a business partner. Now they send out a weekly newsletter to a large list. Yet, ads are very few and fresh funding alone can keep the lights on. Paywall, anyone? Turning publisher, Sunil Adam, former editor of India Abroad, aimed his website American Kahani at GenX and millennials. He has not introduced a paywall because you need to have “enough resources to create content that people will think it is worthy of paying for,” he was quoted as saying in the Atlantabased Khabar magazine. Asif Ismail argues that “people will shell out money only for Netflix or Amazon Prime.” The Juggernaut wants to prove both wrong. Started in 2018 by Snigdha Sur, a Harvard Business School graduate, it has raised $2.2 million as reported by Crunchbase. The subscription is $9.99 monthly and $72 annually. Their USP is in-depth South Asian stories with wider appeal by featuring people and themes familiar to the mainstream such as the latest on actress Priyanka Chopra and the rise and fall of the Hot Yoga guru, Bikram Chaudhury. Not-for-profit model Watching the media landscape change, publisher Vandana Kumar transitioned India Currents in 2019 from a 32-year-old monthly magazine to a fully digital, nonprofit entity. Their mission is to tell critical and investigative stories for and about the diaspora in Silicon Valley. The success of nonprofit journalism, Vandana argues, is measured by the impact you create with your stories in the community, not by the number of stories you post. India Currents saw growth in 2022. It received a $100,000 grant from the State of California. They also scored with NewsMatch - a program by the Institute of Nonprofit News, which matches up to $20,000 in your own fundraising campaign in a year. When I started ALotusInTheMud.com earlier this year as a wellness and spirituality web magazine, I also took the not-for-profit route. Aimed at all communities, not just Indian, the Lotus site is run by American Center for Wellness & Spirituality, a 501-c-3 corporation registered in New York. Going social If you can’t beat them, join them. Pritpal Kaur is a next-gen media entrepreneur. She pushes Preetnama, a newspaper in Punjabi and English, and does video interviews and talk shows – all on social media. “People access everything on their smartphones. Who has the time to sit in front of the ‘dabba’ (TV box)!” she smirks. In the final analysis Running a media company requires commitment. “Promoters should take it seriously and not as a social calling card,” comments Sunil Hali. As for ad revenue, not all is lost. Neeta Bhasin, President of ASB Communications, says she tells her clients that print may not be effective anymore, but advertise with the papers nonetheless to reach thousands of their database consolidated from digital presence and social media. She cites a survey conducted by the Asian American Advertising Federation in 2016 which found that a large majority of Asian Americans, Indian Americans in particular, are heavy Facebook and YouTube users. Lalit K. Jha, Chief US Correspondent of PTI (Press Trust of India) news agency, sums up the current scenario, “The Indian media in the US is passing through an evolutionary phase. It has challenges, but that comes with opportunities as well.” (All Images: Provided) TheSouthAsianTimes.info May 13-19, 2023 15 you create with your stories in the community, not by the number of stories you post. India Currents saw growth in 2022. It received a $100,000 grant from the State of California. They also scored with NewsMatch - a program by the Institute of Nonprofit News, which matches up to $20,000 in your own fundraising campaign in a year. Going social If you can’t beat them, join them. Pritpal Kaur is a next-gen media entrepreneur. She pushThey are ready to change their name to India Abroad but will find it hard to live up to the legacy of their namesake. Rajeev Bhambri, long-time operations head of India Abroad now in CEO role at the new venture, and Sridhar Krishnaswami, a veteran journalist as editor-in-chief, have a strategy to suit the times: “We want to work in the language and medium our readers want.” By medium they mean e-paper, website, as well as print and podcast. Also, posting e-paper on WhatsApp and Facebook community groups, which are sometimes thousands strong. They also have a Hindi edition of New India Abroad. Hindi is India’s national language, but somehow Hindi papers don’t do well here. Hum Hindustani, started by Jasbir Jay Singh about a decade ago, is now digital only. Universal News Network (TheUNN.com) was started by the journalist Ajay Ghosh with a business partner. Now they send out a weekly newsletter to a large list. Yet, ads are very few and fresh funding alone can keep the lights on. Paywall, anyone? Turning publisher, Sunil Adam, former editor of India Abroad, aimed his website American Kahani at GenX and millennials. He has not introduced a paywall because you need to have “enough resources to create content that people will think it is worthy of paying for,” he was quoted as saying in the Atlanta-based Khabar magazine. Asif Ismail argues that “people will shell out money only for Netflix or Amazon Prime.” The Juggernaut wants to prove both wrong. Started in 2018 by Snigdha Sur, a Harvard Business School graduate, it has raised $2.2 million as reported by Crunchbase. The subscription is $9.99 monthly and $72 annually. Their USP is in-depth South Asian stories with wider appeal by featuring people and themes familiar to the mainstream such as the latest on actress Priyanka Chopra and the rise and fall of the Hot Yoga guru, Bikram Chaudhury. Not-for-profit model Watching the media landscape change, publisher Vandana Kumar transitioned India Currents in 2019 from a 32-year-old monthly magazine to a fully digital, nonprofit entity. Their mission is to tell critical and investigative stories for and about the diaspora in Silicon Valley. The success of non-profit journalism, Vandana argues, is measured by the impact getting a million page views a month. Yet, the ad revenue has not grown commensurately with it to pay for the news staff including an editor. To raise additional funds, they have been doing events. Asif points out that most Indians here are comfortable with English and are net-savvy to get their daily dose of news from a paper back home such as The Times of India, which gets more traffic from the US compared to all the Indian sites combined here. In contrast, he says, communities such as the Chinese and Koreans patronize papers in their own language. Immediacy with newsletters All Indian papers have been weekly tabloids. But today if you cannot tell the news to your readers quick enough, they will go elsewhere. Bringing people to your website, however, takes some doing. A cost-effective alternative is to send news to their inboxes. New India Abroad does that by mailing out a daily newsletter to a list of thousands. Special RepoRt This story was produced as part of the Small Business Reporting Fellowship, organized by the Center for Community Media and funded by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. (All Images: Provided) Dr Parikh says he is always willing to put in his own money and has recently built a $1 million TV studio in Edison, NJ. ITV Gold now shows programming from Doordarshan, the public broadcast network under the Indian government. They are also available on Sling. “Media for me is philanthropy, not business,” Dr Parikh, a Padma Shri awardee, asserts. “It has to be supported so our children and grandchildren continue to have a bonding with Mother India.” He contends that media, particularly ethnic media, is not an easy business to be in unless you have deep pockets. Another channel to make a mark is Jus Punjabi, started by Penny Sandhu in 2007. It is on several cable TV platforms and DTH (direct-to-home) as part of the South Asian package. For Indian TV channels, a major source of revenue has been satellite platforms, which charge subscribers a fee. But for some years now, cable has been hemorrhaging customers. And when did you last see somebody get a DISH installed on their rooftop? Sling, from DISH, is online. The TV Scene Steadily losing viewers and ad revenue, South Asian TV channels are also struggling. TV Asia was the first channel for the Indian community available coast to coast in America in 1993. Under businessman H.R. Shah since 1997, the information and entertainment network headquartered in Edison, NJ, offers programming in Hindi, English, and Gujarati. Their website claims they reach half a million households each month across North America. They won’t admit it, but business is suffering. Shah, honored with a Padma Shri by the Indian government, has embarked on a more ambitious project - World on App. They plan to package several Indian channels in various languages offering news, movies, sports, and religious content, as well as VOD (video on demand) of events. The premium package currently available in North America includes TV Asia and costs $3.50 a month. ITV Gold claims to be the first 24x7 Indian cable TV channel in the US. It was started from New York in 1985 by Dr. Banad N. Viswanath, a cardiologist. Dr Sudhir Parikh, who has a network of asthma and allergy clinics in New Jersey and New York, acquired ITV Gold in 2018. His Parikh Worldwide Media also owns DesiTalk, News India Times, and Gujarat Times. H.R. Shah, Chairman of TV Asia, has founded World On App Dr Sudhir Parikh owns a TV channel and 3 newspapers Rajeev Bhambri, CEO of New India Abroad When Parveen Chopra started ALotusInTheMud.com earlier this year as a wellness+spirituality web magazine, he took the not-for-profit route. It is aimed at all communities not just Indians and is published by American Center for Wellness & Spirituality Inc from New York. es Preetnama, a newspaper in Punjabi and English, and does video interviews and talk shows – all on social media. “People access everything on their smartphones. Who has the time to sit in front of the ‘dabba’ (TV box)!” she smirks. In the final analysis Running a media company requires commitment. “Promoters should take it seriously and not as a social calling card,” comments Sunil Hali. As for ad revenue, not all is lost. Neeta Bhasin, President of ASB Communications, says she tells her clients that print may not be effective anymore, but advertise with the papers nonetheless to reach thousands of their database consolidated from digital presence and social media. She cites a survey conducted by the Asian American Advertising Federation in 2016 which found that a large majority of Asian Americans, Indian Americans in particular, are heavy Facebook and YouTube users. Lalit K. Jha, Chief US Correspondent of PTI (Press Trust of India) news agency, sums up the current scenario, “The Indian media in the US is passing through an evolutionary phase. It has challenges, but that comes with opportunities as well.” Vandana Kumar, Founder of India Currents magazine “Media for me is philanthropy, not business,” Dr Sudhir Parikh, a Padma Shri awardee, asserts. “It has to be supported so our children and grandchildren continue to have a bonding with Mother India.” He contends that media, particularly ethnic media, is not an easy business to be in unless you have deep pockets Shomik Chaudhury, an old hand in ad sales, faults community channels for lacking in the finesse of entertainment channels from India, whose viewership is many times more. Channels like Zee and Sony present glitzy family dramas and reality TV shows created in India and are choc-a-block with ad spots. The TV Scene Steadily losing viewers and ad revenue, South Asian TV channels are also struggling. TV Asia was the first channel for the Indian community available coast to coast in America in 1993. Under businessman H.R. Shah since 1997, the information and entertainment network headquartered in Edison, NJ, offers programming in Hindi, English, and Gujarati. Their website claims they reach half a million households each month across North America. They won’t admit it, but business is suffering. Shah, honored with a Padma Shri by the Indian government, has embarked on a more ambitious project - World on App. They plan to package several Indian channels in various languages offering news, movies, sports, and religious content, as well as VOD (video on demand) of events. The premium package currently available in North America includes TV Asia and costs $3.50 a month. ITV Gold claims to be the first 24x7 Indian cable TV channel in the US. It was started from New York in 1985 by Dr. Banad N. Viswanath, a cardiologist. Dr Sudhir Parikh, who has a network of asthma and allergy clinics in New Jersey and New York, acquired ITV Gold in 2018. His Parikh Worldwide Media also owns DesiTalk, News India Times, and Gujarat Times. Dr Parikh says he is always willing to put in his own money and has recently built a $1 million TV studio in Edison, NJ. ITV Gold now shows programming from Doordarshan, the public broadcast network under the Indian government. They are also available on Sling. “Media for me is philanthropy, not business,” Dr Parikh, a Padma Shri awardee, asserts. “It has to be supported so our children and grandchildren continue to have a bonding with Mother India.” He contends that media, particularly ethnic media, is not an easy business to be in unless you have deep pockets. Another channel to make a mark is Jus Punjabi, started by Penny Sandhu in 2007. It is on several cable TV platforms and DTH (directto-home) as part of the South Asian package. For Indian TV channels, a major source of revenue has been satellite platforms, which charge subscribers a fee. But for some years now, cable has been hemorrhaging customers. And when did you last see somebody get a DISH installed on their rooftop? Sling, from DISH, is online. Shomik Chaudhury, an old hand in ad sales, faults community channels for lacking in the finesse of entertainment channels from India, whose viewership is many times more. Channels like Zee and Sony present glitzy family dramas and reality TV shows created in India and are choc-a-block with commercials. Rajeev Bhambri, CEO ofNew India Abroad H.R. Shah, Chairman of TV Asia, has founded World On App Dr Sudhir Parikh owns a TV channel and 3 newspapers Vandana Kumar, Founder of India Currents magazine This story was produced as part of the Small Business Reporting Fellowship, organized by the Center for Community Media and funded by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “Media for me is philanthropy, not business,” Dr Sudhir Parikh, a Padma Shri awardee, asserts. “It has to be supported so our childrenand grandchildren continue to have a bonding with Mother India.” He contends that media, particularly ethnic media, is not an easy business to be in unless you have deep pockets

New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 15 Air India launches nonstop flight between New Delhi and Amsterdam VIKAL SAMDARIYA Air India has announced that it will be launching non-stop flights between Delhi and Amsterdam, starting June 11, 2023. In a statement, Air India said that Amsterdam will be the eighth continental European city served by the airline and the fourth European destination that the airline has connected from Delhi in the last four months. As per the released schedule, the new service between the two capital cities will operate with a two-class Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner four times a week - on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The Boeing 787- 8 Dreamliner accommodates 256 passengers across Business Class and Economy Class. Commenting on the launch of the new passenger service, CEO and MD of Air India Campbell Wilson said, “With the launch of this new non-stop flight to Amsterdam, Air India adds further breadth to our long-haul network and more options for our customers. Together with the three other European routes started in recent months, and others to come, it supports our objective of establishing Delhi as a significant international hub.” Under the airline’s effort to boost connectivity and bolster global expansion, a new flight service increases Air India’s frequency of non-stop flights between India and Europe to 77 per week. Image- Twitter/Air India Hyderabad airport is world’s most punctual airport SUPRIYA SINGH Aviation analytical firm, Cirium in a report has stated that the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) is the only airport to achieve 90.43 percent on-timeperformance (OTP) in March this year, making it the world’s most punctual airport. Cirium said it reviewed more than 5 million flights globally during March, and the Hyderabad airport came on top both in the ‘Global Airports’ and ‘Large Airports’ categories being the only airport to cross the 90 percent mark. The Hyderabad airport served 29 airlines and 77 routes and had 14,658 scheduled single-segment flights in March. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International airport came second at 86.14 percent OTP followed by Bogota’s El Dorado International airport in Colombia. Over the years, GHIAL has brought in several first-of-itskind technological innovations for the airport sector in the country, including the firstever integrated and centralized Airport Operations Control Center (AOCC) and modern passenger information systems and technological initiatives. In the medium and small airports category no Indian airports made it to the top 20. The country is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, with passenger traffic reaching an all time high in 2022. Additionally, India has constructed more airports in the last decade than most of the countries globally, including both domestic and international facilities. Image- Airports Council International The data was collected after reviewing more than 5 million flights globally during March

16 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 Manka Dhingra announces bid for WA Attorney General Dhingra was the first Sikh to be elected to the state legislature Popularly known for her role in Tamil films, Sundar currently serves as a member of the National Commission for Women of India NY Assemblywoman honors Khushbu Sundar STAFF REPORTER Popular Indian actress, social activist, and politician, Khushbu Sundar was honored by New York State Assemblywoman Michaëlle Solages in an event organised by Shri Navagraha Devasthanam of North America and India2047 NYC Investors Forum on May 7, 2023. A women and child rights activist, Sundar was recognised for her philanthropy and efforts to support vulnerable children and women not only in India but around the world. Presenting her with a plaque, Assemblywoman Solages praised Sundar’s dedication and leadership. “Her tireless work and advocacy for women and children have been truly inspiring,” Solages said highlighting Sundar’s contributions to make education accessible for girls in India. Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Sundar stated that she will continue to work towards a brighter future for children and women everywhere. In her speech she also emphasized on the role of women in politics and spoke about furthering the US-India relationship. The event featured a cultural program comprising of speeches, performances, and presentations. Eminent personalities such as Sridhar S and Roopa S, founders and board members, Shri Navagraha Devasthanam of North America, Ravi Karkara, cofounder India2047 NYC Investors Forum, Consul General of India, Deputy Counsel General, Bob Lancia, Former candidate for Congress in Rhode Island, Vibhuti Jha, Jaipur Dialogues, North America, and Mehul Seth, founder at Mr. Paanwala & Paan Casa graced the event. Currently a member of the Bharatiya Janta Party, the actorturned-politician serves as a member of the National Commission for Women. She is popularly known for her roles in Tamil cinemas and has acted in over 100 Tamil films. Most recently she was seen in the Rajinikanth-starrer Annaatthe. Khushbu Sundar (third from left) honored at the event. Image- Sarvamangala Shri Saneeswara Temple NY VIKAL SAMDARIYA I ndian-American Washington (WA) State Senator Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) announced her candidature for State Attorney General post on May 8, 2023. The first Sikh state legislator, Dhingra was elected to the senate in 2017 for a six year term. As a state senator, she serves as Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate, chair of the Law & Justice committee, and a member of the Behavioral Health subcommittee and Ways & Means committee. Announcing her candidacy for the post, she said “Challenging injustices and keeping our families and communities safe has always been my north star, and with your support I’ll continue this work as our next Attorney General.” Dhingra has been a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in King County since January 2000, and is the former chair of the Therapeutic Alternative Unit. In her professional capacity, attorney Dhingra has also served as a member of Shoreline Police Department’s Advisory Group for Response Awareness De-escalation and Referral (RADAR) and participated in the Seattle Police Department’s Muslim, Sikh, and Arab Advisory Council. Recipient of numerous awards, Dhingra founded API Chaya, a South Asian voluntary organization that helps survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking. The Richmond, WA resident holds a JD from the University of Washington School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. Senator Manka Dhingra. Image - Manka Dhingra Indian American women entrepreneurs host networking event IAWEA has grown from 10 to 265 members in just four years despite the COVID-19 pandemic STAFF REPORTER I n an effort promote women entrepreneurship in the community, the Indian American Women Entrepreneurs Association (IAWEA) hosted their annual “Spring Swing” networking event on May 3, 2023, in Edison, NJ. Over 200 people, including the First Lady of New Jersey, Tammy Snyder Murphy, attended the event, a news release noted. In her speech, the First Lady spoke about the importance of women’s entrepreneurship and ensured assistance to women-led businesses through the state’s economic development authority. Quoting recent studies, Murphy also mentioned that women-owned businesses in the IT sector had 30 percent more profit than menowned businesses. The first lady was greeted by Dr. Nimisha Shukla, president and founder of IAWEA, during the event. Addressing the gathering, Shukla informed that IAWEA had grown from 10 to 265 members in just four years despite the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasized on the organization’s goal of providing resources and networking opportunities to women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. Stressing on the need for women business owners to develop their skills in the digital space, Shukla mentioned that IAWEA has provided free training to its members in Excel and Quickbooks training for Entrepreneurs. The event also featured an informative panel discussion on Entrepreneurship and Real Estate with panelists such as Kumar Trivedi, C.P.A., and Shankar Thayver from Thayver Group. Charan Bajwa, ReMax Broker, hosted the discussion. “IAWEA’s “Spring Swing” was a huge success, and the organization is looking forward to hosting more events to support women’s entrepreneurship in the Indian American community,” the release stated. NJ First Lady, Tammy Snyder Murphy addressing the gathering. Images-IAWEA/Prashant Desai

New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 17

18 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 Mehra is volunteering with Liberal Party from last 30 years and served on party’s key posts. Image - Bradley Stoke Journal The daughter of a former mayor Aleena Aditya creates history by defeating two former mayors in the recent election Kerala native elected UK’s youngest councillor RISHIKA BHARDWAJ A teenager with roots in Kerala, created history in the recently concluded borough elections in the United Kingdom. 18-year-old Aleena Aditya was elected as the youngest-ever councillor in the borough of Bradley Stoke in South Gloucestershire, on May 4, 2023. Running for the Conservatives from the Primrose Bridge ward, Aleena defeated two former mayors from the panel of contestants, becoming the only Conservative to win from the ward. Her father, Tom Aditya, a former Mayor of Bradley Stoke, also won the elections, becoming the only saviour for the party from the Willowbrook Ward. Aleena’s parents, Tom Aditya and Lini, originally hail from Ranni in Kerala. The teenager has four siblings, Abishek, Albert, Adona, and Alphons. She attended St Bede’s Catholic College in Bristol and hopes to enrol in a course in architecture at Cardiff University. In addition to Aleena’s win, Sojan Joseph and Bibin Baby, also Malayalis representing the Labour Party, won from Ashford Borough and Norfolk County Councils, respectively. According to media reports, out of thirty candidates from the Keralite community who contested the council elections, only two others emerged victorious. Aleena Tom Aditya, 18 year old councillor elect. Sachit Mehra elected Liberal Party president VIKAL SAMDARIYA I ndian-origin seasoned Canadian politician and businessman Sachit Mehra has been elected to lead Canada’s ruling party in a recently concluded party election. His presidency was announced on May 6, 2023, by the party at the National Liberal Convention 2023 in Ottawa, Canada. In the party’s election, he defeated Mira Ahmad, a former president of the Liberal Party and replaced Suzanne Cowan to lead the party. In his victory statement he said “I am honoured to serve as your President. Thank you, all. Now, let’s get to work.” As a president, Mehra has a challenging responsibility to lead the party to repeat the party’s term in power in the upcoming election in 2025. The 46- year-old Mehra, a resident of Winnipeg, declared his intention to run for the party’s top post last year in October. The young politician carries experience in serving as the party’s Monitba unit president and the president of Young Liberals of Canada, according to his bio. In his vision statement to compete for the party’s top post, he said,“ I want to deliver on a vision built on community, values, and inclusion. As Liberals, we embrace and champion equity, diversity and a belief in the goodness of one another.” Mehra runs a food business and his parents shifted to Canada from Delhi over six decades ago and started a restaurant in Winnipeg. The eldest son of his family, Mehra has been a part of the family-owned food venture East India Company since 1994. Newly elected President of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party Sachit Mehra. Image - Twitter/Sachit Mehra Sikh Canadian appointed CEO of Council for Arts MADHU BALAJI Minister of C a n a d i a n Heritage Pablo R o d r i g u e z announced on May 8, 2023, the appointment of Sikh Canadian, Michelle Chawla, as the director and chief executive officer of the Canada Council for Arts. Chawla will replace Simon Brault and will hold office for a five-year term effective from June 26, 2023. “In her role as the Council’s Director General of Strategy, Public Affairs and Arts Engagement, she is responsible for the executive leadership and direction of a wide range of functions including communications, strategic planning, international coordination and cultural diplomacy,” the press statement said. Chawla joined the Canada Council in 1995 and has served for three long decades, during which she has held several senior positions at the council, including corporate secretary and director of Strategic Initiatives, secretarygeneral for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and head of Arts Services. She has gained experience in arts and culture policy, program development, equity, corporate governance, government and stakeholder relations, transformation initiatives, international engagement and cultural relations. “Michelle Chawla’s impressive leadership and extensive experience in various senior roles at the Canada Council for the Arts makes her uniquely qualified for this position. I am delighted that she will take on the role of Director and CEO to lead the Canada Council as it continues to support the Canadian arts sector and cultural experiences from coast to coast,” the Minister of Canadian Heritage said. The news release added that Chawla, a Punjabi, is passionate about working in an environment where all voices are heard and respected through arts and culture. She has a degree in communications from Carleton University. The Canada Council for the Arts, governed by an 11-member board, is a public art funder that provides grants and services to Canadian artists and art organizations. Michelle Chawla Image: Canadian Council

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20 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 This research was supported, in part, by NASA, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the Heising-Simons Foundation. A Star swallowing a planet ! BHAVANA P I ndian origin, Kishalay De, who graduated with a degree in Physics, from the Indian Institute of Science and is currently a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pursuing the NASA Einstein postdoctoral degree, oversaw the investigation into a sharp, brief flash in the sky that he claims can be best explained as a star swallowing a planet. The extinction of the planets, according to a report in the journal “Nature,” appears to have taken place in our galaxy, 12,000 light-years away, close to the eagle-like constellation Aquila. During the process a star had an outburst that increased in brightness by more than 100 times in just 10 days before rapidly dissipating. The burst was followed by a colder, more persistent signal, which astronomers believe could only be the outcome of one occurrence: a star consuming a nearby planet. “We were seeing the end-stage of the swallowing,” said lead author Kishalay De. “We are seeing the future of the Earth. If some other civilization was observing us from 10,000 light-years away while the sun was engulfing the Earth, they would see the sun suddenly brighten as it ejects some material, then form dust around it, before settling back to what it was,” De added. According to an official statement, the outburst was found by the team in May 2020. However, it took the scientists another year to put together a plausible theory as to what the eruption might be. A search of data collected by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), operated at California’s Palomar Observatory by Caltech, revealed the initial signal. A Jupiter-sized planet was likely being pushed into a dying star’s expanding atmosphere during the bright, hot flash that occurred. The star’s outer layers were blasted away as the planet sank into its core and eventually settled out as frigid dust over the course of the following year. “For decades, we’ve been able to see the before and after,” De explained. “Before, when the planets are still orbiting very close to their star, and after, when a planet has already been engulfed, and the star is giant. What we were missing was catching the star in the act, where you have a planet undergoing this fate in real time. That’s what makes this discovery exciting.” Along with coworkers from Caltech, the Harvard and Smithsonian Centres for Astrophysics, among other universities, the study’s authors also include Deepto Chakrabarty, Anna-Christina Eilers, Erin Kara, Robert Simcoe, Richard Teague, and Andrew Vanderburg. Image - Kishalay De/Website Dr. Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General, Issues Call for Action on Public Health Crisis and Outlines Framework for National Strategy to Promote Social Connection. Loneliness is a health hazard STAFF REPORTER The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, issued a warning highlighting the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and social isolation in the country. The report from the U.S. Department of Health and Services cites recent studies demonstrating that, even before the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, over half of American adults reported feeling lonely regularly. It emphasizes that a lack of social connection can pose considerable health hazards, as loneliness can increase the risk of early death by 26% and social isolation by 29%, according to a meta-analysis. The study also found a link between a lack of social connections and a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, and dementia. A systematic review included in the recommendation also revealed that one of the main causes of self-harm was loneliness. “Given the profound consequences of loneliness and isolation, we have an opportunity, an obligation, to make the same investments in addressing social connection that we have made in addressing tobacco use, obesity and the addiction crisis,” Dr Murthy said. The hazards to one’s health that come with loneliness and isolation can be decreased by social interaction. According to one study, those who frequently confide in others have up to 15% lower likelihood of developing depression than those who don’t, especially if they’ve had traumatic or difficult life situations in the past. The advice contains recommendations for people, governments, businesses, health systems, and community organizations that wish to develop social connections and enhance general health. It lays out the foundation for a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection. The United States has never before used this kind of tactic. It also includes training for medical professionals to enable intervention if a patient is in danger of loneliness and its serious negative effects on their health. Additionally, it suggests future research into digital environments, especially how genuine connections could be hampered by online interactions. Finally, the recommendation urges the development of a culture of connection, noting that informal contacts from daily life have a big impact on social connection. U.S Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Image - Twitter @/surgeon_general Indian American doctor first to treat heart failure MADHU BALAJI I ndian American physician Indranill Basu Ray of the Memphis VA Medical Center performed the first CCM (Cardiac Contractility Modulation) Therapy in the Mid-South on a heart failure patient, Lewis McCrainey, along with Dr Afamefuna Onuora and an expert team at the VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN. According to a report by Action News 5, Memphis VA Medical Center is the first hospital in the locality to treat heart failure patients fighting for survival, with 21st-century technology. “The goal is to provide a better quality of life for veterans who suffer from chronic heart failure,” the Center said. Dr Basu Ray, the director of Cardiovascular Research, implanted a device by Impulse Dynamics into the patient, which provided electrical pulses to the heart five times a day, improving the heart’s ability to contract and push oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. The doctor told Action News 5 that the patient could not walk the six feet stretch to the washroom attached to his bedroom. “He couldn’t complete one single sentence, he was so breathless,” the doctor said. Post life-saving surgery, the patient showed signs of recovery immediately. The doctor told the media that he was able to talk in three to four days. The patient was quoted as saying, “It has helped me in terms of breathing in the short term.” He hopes “ that it will improve both breathing and regular activities in the long run. The Action News 5 report noted that the implant is about the size of a key fob. It added that, unlike a pacemaker that mandates battery replacement, the device can be charged via Bluetooth. The FDA-approved treatment costs US$24,000. Dr Basu Ray emphasized that the CCM therapy is “truly lifechanging,” and mentioned that the cost of treatment at their centre is at zero charges. Image- Indranill Basu-Ray website

New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 21 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 the voice of next generation Indian Americans Bringing you the Latest from Indian communities around the world New India Abroad thenewindiaabroad NewIndAbroad New India Abroad Email Info@newindiaabroad.com Website www.NewIndiaAbroad.Com subscribe now

22 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 The PM CARES Fund received $48,89,787 in foreign donations during FY 2021- 22 compared to $6,03,14,895 raised during the FY 2020-21 period. PM CARES receives US $65 mn in foreign donations YASMIN TINWALA Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) which was initiated to fight Covid-19 in India registered a staggering $65,213,664 in foreign donations between 2019-2022. The public charitable trust was set up to provide support and assistance of any kind relating to but not limited to a public health emergency. It received the highest foreign contributions, $6,03,14,895 ($60 mn) during the FY 2020-21 period compared to $48,89,787 ($4 mn) during FY 2021-22. Interest income derived during FY 2021-22 and FY 2020-21 were $17,75,970 and $12,52,287 respectively. According to the latest audited receipt and payment accounts, the domestic voluntary contributions during FY 2021-22 amounted to $23,11,90,827. The donations registered a significant from FY 2020-21 where the fund raised $8,757,44,531. Documents show that money from the fund has been disbursed to buy ventilators in Centre/State/ Union Territories-run hospitals; toward the establishment and operating processes of two 500- bed makeshift COVID hospitals in Muzaffarpur and Patna, and 16 RT-PCR testing labs in 9 states and union territories. These funds have also been used toward the procurement of 6.6 crores of Covid-19 vaccines, as well as funding toward the upgradation of two autonomous laboratories as Central Drug Laboratory (CDL) for the test and release of the vaccine. The full breakup of donations and disbursals is publicly accessible on the PM CARES website. To celebrate the completion of eight years in office Prime Minister Modi released benefits under the PM CARES for Children Scheme in May 2022. Under the scheme, benefits were announced for children who lost both their mother and father during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PM said that funds will be available for those seeking an education loan for professional courses and higher education as well, apart from primary schooling. Additionally, a monthly sum of $48 was announced to be provided to impacted children, through various schemes. A sum of $12,186 on attaining the age of 23 was announced for them, along with health coverage and emotional counselling for psychological and emotional support. The PM CARES Fund has often been criticized by Modi’s detractors including his political rival Rahul Gandhi. In a Facebook post, Gandhi alleged that the money coming into the PM CARES Fund was taken by Modi, and no account of it was given by his government regarding the expenditure. “Neither anyone knows how much misuse has been done, nor has there been any visible positive effect of it,” said an excerpt from the post. Image-Twitter/@NarendraModi

New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 23 With Bayer’s expertise and Superplum’s technology, the partnership aims to improve food security and increase the quality of fruit. Crop protection model to benefit fruit growers MEHAK LUTHRA AMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Bayer, a multinational company with key expertise in the life sciences of agriculture and healthcare, and Superplum, an agri-tech startup to develop a digitized farm-tocustomer traceable supply chain. This partnership’s goal is to create and put in place a sustainable crop protection plan for fruit growers in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, with an intended expansion to other areas. The model seeks to provide defined economic advantages to all stakeholders over three years to benefit 15,000 smallholder farmers in India. Bayer will support domestic and export compliance, the adoption of a production schedule to ensure an improvement in the quality and productivity of the produce, and assistance in achieving incremental growth in the farmer’s revenue as part of the collaboration. Additionally, Bayer will concentrate on creating fruit crop protection packages and educating farmers on how to use them. “Nutritional security along with food security is a critical national and global imperative for the growing population. To this effect, Bayer has launched a global ‘Nutrient Gap Initiative’ that aims to expand access to essential nutrients to 50 million people in underserved communities by 2030. However, we do recognize that to achieve this at scale a collaborative ecosystem is required and to further this critical agenda we are happy to partner with Superplum to create a holistic ecosystem that will help improve fruit growers’ incomes by sustainably enhancing market linkages and ensuring healthy produce for the end consumers,” said D Narain, President, South Asia, and Global Head of Smallholder Farming for Bayer speaking on the partnership. Through a unique multi-faceted strategy, Superplum uses science and technology to extend the shelf life of a variety of fruits. The partnership will focus on working towards superior fruit quality as well as providing advice to partner farmers on accelerating productivity. Image - PR Newswire Sun Pharma recalls 24K drug syringes from US YASMIN TINWALA I ndian company, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, recalled 24,194 syringes of an infertility drug from the U.S. market after a recent report from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) raised a manufacturing issue. According to the California Board of Pharmacy, the syringes didn’t pass the required quality checks of the USFDA, which filed a complaint on observing glass particles in the prefilled syringes of Fyremadel (ganirelix acetate) injection. Upon investigation, the identifiable cause was found to be the malalignment of the syringe in the centring frame before it was filled. The product in question was distributed by New Jersey-based Ferring Pharmaceuticals in the U.S. The company has been in business with India-based Sun Pharma in the past and this isn’t the first recall incident. Seven lots of the Ganirelix Acetate injection were distributed in the country between June 2019 and June 2020 with March 2021 as its expiry date was recalled at the retail level, according to the board of pharmacy notice. Aside from this, Sun Pharma voluntarily recalled 34,000 bottles of Diltiazem Hydrochloride, a generic drug used to treat high blood pressure, from the U.S. market at the beginning of this year. The reason for the recall was failed impurity specification during the stability test at the FDA laboratory. The drug also failed the dissolution test. One of Sun Pharma’s manufacturing facilities has run into trouble for violations by the USFDA in the past. In Dec last, the health regulator issued a warning letter to the company after inspecting its facility in Halol, Gujarat over a period of 13 days. In the letter, the USFDA said that the firm failed to follow appropriate procedures designed to prevent microbiological contamination of drug products to ensure that they were sterile and aseptic. The full report can be accessed here. The U.S. is the largest importer of pharmaceutical products from India. According to the Nov. 2022 report India’s pharma exports to the U.S. during the 2021-22 period were estimated at US$7,101 million. India’s drug and pharmaceutical export during 2021-22 was estimated at $24.62 billion. India is the largest provider of generic medicine the world over, with around 60% contribution to global vaccines. Being the largest supplier of low-cost vaccines around the world, the country is also known as the “Pharmacy of the World.” Photo by Hennie Stander / Unsplash Dev Technology to expand footprint in Virginia VIKAL SAMDARIYA Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin announced that Dev Technology Group, a firm co-founded by IndianAmerican IT entrepreneur Sanjeev Duggal, will invest US$366,000 to expand in Fairfax County. A statement issued by the Governor’s office said that due to a substantial increase in demand for its services, the company is investing in a 10,000 square feet new office space to accommodate additional IT and software personnel. The project will create 90 new jobs. Praising the company for its contribution, Governor Youngkin said, “Dev Technology Group is a Virginia success story that bolsters our booming IT industry while providing critical services for the government and 21stcentury jobs for civilians and veterans. We are proud to see a longstanding corporate partner benefit from the Commonwealth’s diverse, world-class technology talent that catalyzes growth.” Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Caren Merrick, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Jeffrey C. McKay and Senator Janet Howell welcomed the company’s decision to expand its footprint in Fairfax County. Commenting on the Company’s investment, CEO of Dev Technology, Kendall Holbrook said, “As a federal contractor, Dev Technology has selected to continue its growth in Fairfax County due to the proximity of clients and access to highly skilled employees, including veterans.” Duggal co-founded Dev Technology with Susie Sylvester Duggal. He plays an important part in the company’s delivery organization, leading its Biometric Integration team. He is also a subject matter expert in law enforcement IT processes and has been the technical leader on Dev Technology’s most critical projects, according to a release. Duggal’s IT venture has been named a Washington Post Top Workplace for the past nine consecutive years, a Top Workplaces USA recipient for the past two years since the inception of the program, and an AnitaB.org Top Company for Women Technologists in 2021 and 2022, an official release said. A team of Dev Technology Group. Image - Twitter/ Dev Technology Group

24 New India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 Cisco to begin manufacturing in India STAFF REPORTER I n an effort to diversify and strengthen the global supply chain, American multinational technology firm, Cisco, announced that it will begin manufacturing in India, marking a significant development in its expansion plans. The announcement will also aid in advancing India’s goal of becoming a major hub for manufacturing. Following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins, expressed optimism about the potential of the Indian market and announced a combined export and local production goal of over US$ 1 billion. According to an official statement, Cisco will start producing its first goods in India in twelve months, and will gradually introduce a wider range of Made-in-India products in the coming years. “Today, we are announcing strategic investments in Indian manufacturing capabilities as the next step in delivering cutting-edge technologies to our customers in India and across the globe,” said Robbins. “India is of strategic importance for Cisco, and we continue to bet on India. Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone to power the next phase of growth for Cisco. This investment will enable us to bring stateof-the-art technologies to more people and businesses and help accelerate India’s transition into a leading digital economy,” added Daisy Chittilapilly, president, Cisco India & SAARC. Cisco’s second-largest R&D facility outside of the US is in India, a crucial market for the company. Since establishing operations in India in 1995, Cisco has focused on assisting the nation’s rapid and widespread digitization. This includes hastening the transformation of vital industries like transportation and agriculture through programs like the Country Digitization Acceleration and the Cisco Networking Academy. During his India visit, Robbins also held talks with S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics & Technology, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, and K. Rajaraman, Telecom Secretary. Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins met with PM Narendra Modi. Image- Twitter/@ChuckRobbins Walmart to triple export of India-made goods RISHIKA BHARDWAJ Walmart CEO Doug McMillon and Walmart I n t e r n a t i o n a l CEO Judith McKenna visited Bangalore, India on May 11, 2023, to reinforce Walmart’s commitment to building an ecosystem of suppliers and partners in India. The goal is to source US$10 billion worth of India-made goods each year by 2027. The event brought together all of Walmart’s group entities under one roof, including Walmart Sourcing, Walmart Vriddhi, Flipkart and Flipkart Samarth, PhonePe, Walmart Marketplace, Walmart Global Tech in India, and the Walmart Foundation. McMillon expressed excitement in the meeting with the diverse Indian ecosystem of suppliers, small and medium enterprises, merchants, and partners who are innovating and driving growth and opportunities. “We look forward to continuing to work together with our partners to make quality, affordable, sustainable products for our customers and members, help businesses grow, create jobs, strengthen resilient communities, and accelerate India’s progress as a manufacturing destination. This ties into our goal to expand our exports of ‘Made in India’ products from India to US$10 billion each year by 2027”, he said. During the event, McMillon and McKenna toured the stalls of suppliers present across the group, including Bector’s Food Specialty Ltd., Vrinda Khurana of Chandan Textiles, Glide Route Ventures LLP, and The Trident Group. “We are committed to India and are here for the long term. I was excited to meet with the diverse Indian ecosystem of suppliers, small and medium enterprises, merchants and partners who are innovating and driving growth and opportunities,” McMillion added. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and briefed him of the company’s plans . “The visit with Prime Minister reinforces the shared value we bring working alongside India. Together, we’ll continue to support the country’s manufacturing growth and create opportunity,” McMillion said on Twitter after the meeting. Walmart CEO met PM Narendra Modi to inform him of the company’s commitment to source $10 billion worth of India-made goods annually by 2027 Image - Walmart Newsroom The agreement is in conformity with the U.S. and India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (CET) partnership launched by the National Security Advisors of the U.S. and India in January 2023. Purdue to drive India’s semiconductor ecosystem SUPRIYA SINGH Purdue University has entered into an agreement with the Government of India and the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to build on the country’s workforce development, research and development, and industry partnerships in the semiconductor area. The agreement was signed between Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and IT and Purdue President Mung Chiang. T.V. Nagendra Prasad, Consul General of India in San Francisco and Purdue professor and associate head of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of Semiconductor Education for Purdue were present at the signing. Under five-year agreement, Purdue will focus on creating cuttingedge online and hybrid academic programs for specialized training, exploring the creation of dualdegree programs in semiconductors and microelectronics with Indian educational institutions and joint research and development programs aimed at designing, manufacturing and commercializing semiconductor chips. “This collaboration between Purdue and the India Semiconductor Mission will create tremendous synergy and impact. India’s vast talent pool will be able to use Purdue’s deep educational expertise and leading research capabilities in semiconductors. This is a truly a win-win for India and the USA,” Vaishnaw said on the occasion. “This partnership brings together the vast capabilities of Indian scientists and Purdue’s rich scientific legacy and resources to address the 21stcentury challenge of producing both the research and the talent the world needs to continue advancing semiconductor and microelectronic innovation,” remarked Barbara Snyder, president of the Association of American Universities. From left, T.V. Nagendra Prasad, Consul General of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco; Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and IT; Purdue President Mung Chiang; and Vijay Raghunathan, Purdue professor and Associate Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of Semiconductor Education for Purdue. Image- Purdue University

BJANA celebrates Buddha Jayanti in NJ ...Page 2 ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ to tour North America ...Page 8 *India Abroad is a Registered trademark and not affiliated with the newspaper named India Abroad marketed in the US from 1972 to 2021. Indian-American filmmaker’s upcoming film on US Gun Violence ...Page 6 Year 1, Volume 30 Washington DC, Monday 15 May, 2023 Melange AIA celebrates 75 years of India’s Independence in NY STAFF REPORTER To commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence the Association of Indians in America (AIA National) recently hosted its 25th Honor Banquet in Flushing Meadows Park, New York. The sold out event was attended by over 250 prominent members of the organization and the Indian community. US Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, Consul General of India at New York Randhir Jaiswal graced the occasion as chief guest. New York Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar also attended the event. The celebrations began with an invocation followed by both the American and Indian National Anthem. A classical dance performance by Maheshwari Jagabattula on A.R. Rahman’s Vande Mataram song brought in the patriotic fervour among the audience. Schumer in his speech shared details about his recent trip to India and how fascinated he was with the country. He further emphasized the significance of the US-India bilateral relations and said, "Our partnership has a huge potential for growth in the 21st century." Similar thoughts were expressed by Counsul General Jaiswal, who spoke at length of strengthening the relationship between the two nations. Addressing the gathering, AIA National president Gobind Munjal highlighted India’s culture and values and the progress made by Indian Americans. "Indians in America bring distinct vision, values, needs and goals and we and our next generations should fully assimilate and participate in the political system and take active role in shaping the future of this great country," he remarked. Appreciating Indian culture, NYC Mayor said, “I like the Indian culture, tradition, values, the education and close family system and I like you to retain and enrich main stream America. I also want you to fully participate in the political system by getting everybody to register to vote and put forward candidates to have your voice heard.” During the event, two distinguished guests received AIA's “Honor Award” for their outstanding achievements. They included Padma Bhushan Arvind Panagariya, Ph.D. Professor of Economics and Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy in the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University since 2004 and Renu Khator, Ph.D Chancellor and President of the University of Houston, Texas. Banquet committee chair, Dr Buddhadev Manvar and chair Board of Trustees, Dr Samin Sharma also addressed the gathering and applauded the AIA team for organizing the event. US Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer (fourth from right) was Chief guest at the event. Images- AIA AIA president Gobind Munjal addressing the gathering (L)CG Randhir Jaiswal and NYC Mayor Eric Adams (C) also graced the event. AIA Commitee (R) Renu Khator and Arvind Panagariya being felicitated at the event.

2 India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 The kids from the Bihar associations in America performed a dance highlighting the teachings of Buddha during the event 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। BJANA celebrates Buddha Jayanti in NJ STAFF REPORTER The Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA) in association with the Indian consulate in New York, and the east coast chapter of Bihar Foundation, celebrated the birth anniversary of Buddha known as Buddha Jayanti on May 6, 2023, at Buddha Vihar, Princeton, New Jersey. The festivities were attended by Indian Counsul General Randhir Jaiswal and other dignitaries from the consulates of Nepal, Vietnam and Sri Lanka along with members of the Indian Diaspora. The event started with the parikrama of the Lord Buddha statue which was followed by a dance performance by the kids depicting Buddha’s teachings. On the occasion, Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar virtually addressed the gathering. He outlined the value of Buddha’s teachings and ideals, which show the right path for all humans and appreciated the efforts taken by the Bihar organzations in preserving the history, rich cultural heritage, language, and traditions of the region in the States. Indian Consul General, Randhir Jaiswal conveyed his greetings and best wishes to all the Buddhist followers and complimented BJANA and the Bihar Foundation for leading the Indian community along with people from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam in celebrating the event. He underlined that the teachings of Buddha bring happiness and peace in life. Dr Avinash Gupta, executive vice president of Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) and Srujal Parikh, trustee, FIA also appreciated BJANA, the Indian consulate and Bihar Foundation for organizing the Buddha Jayanti at the iconic location of Buddha Vihar. Sanjeev Singh, vice president of BJANA expressed gratitude to the executive team, volunteers and all the members who made the event a grand success. He also thanked Dr S Siddharth, secretary to the CM of Bihar and Kumar Ravi, the Commissioner of Patna for their valuable assistance. Buddha Jayanti celebrations at Buddha Vihar in New Jersey. Images- Avinash Gupta

India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 3 Click here for registration

Madhur Jaffrey on subtleties of South Indian cooking MADHU BALAJI Popular Indian American television personality and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey featured as the guest speaker at Harvard University’s Mittal Institute’s Harish C. Mahindra lecture held on May 3, 2023. The actress turned author, who recently bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award from the James Beard Foundation spoke about the “Subtleties of South Asian Cooking.” During the lecture Jaffrey narrated the story of her upbringing in British India, her career in acting and the journey of becoming an icon of South Asian cooking globally. In conversation with an economics professor Abhijit Banerjee of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Jaffrey was asked what should be the national dish of India, to which she responded, “We are too diverse a nation to have any one dish.” The 89-year-old Padma Bhushan awardee, recalled how she did not know cooking when she moved abroad and often found that Indian recipe books only told “half the story, leaving out key subtleties.” She highlighted that the popularity of her cookbooks could be because her recipes include information on how high the heat should be or whether to stir fast or slow and at what points. Professor Banerjee went on to ask if Jaffrey thinks of her audience when she pens her book, to which Jaffrey replied that her only thought while writing is to finish the book. The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute’s press statement noted Jaffrey is celebrated for having first introduced Indian cuisine to the West, with over 15 cookbooks, including classics such as Madhur Jaffrey’s Ultimate Curry Bible and Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian. The release added that professor Banerjee has authored a food book - Cooking to Save Your Life. Madhur Jaffrey at a lecture Image: The Mittal Institute 4 India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 Speaking at a lecture, Jaffrey recalled that when she first moved out of India she didn’t know how to cook. Image: File photo GOPIO Edison organises Youth Leadership Program Somesh Chablani, the Chair for Youth Leadership, gave valuable inputs and the initiative was well supported by Toastmasters Javeed Ghani, Smita Tokekar and Pallavi Verma. STAFF REPORTER GOPIO Edison and Sayreville Toastmasters Club hosted a youth leadership program to enable young adults under the age of eighteen to develop leadership and public speaking skills and to spread awareness about Toastmasters International. GOPIO Edison Lifetime Founding Member Chitranjan Sahay Belwariar took the initiative to organize the event which was widely publicized. Many parents encouraged their children to join this program as they gained confidence in the public speaking growth of their wards. Youngsters from many cities joined the session. The program was planned for six weekly online Zoom sessions. Somesh Chablani, the Chair for Youth Leadership, gave valuable inputs and the initiative was well supported by Toastmasters Javeed Ghani, Smita Tokekar and Pallavi Verma. The training plan for every week had the roles prepared- speaker, evaluator, timer, listener and Table topic master. The students promptly signed into Zoom at 7 pm and quickly got on to their roles. As Coordinator, Belwariar assumed the Toastmaster of the Day role and explained the format for each day which the students quickly understood and took turns each day for different roles. The Final session concluded on April 27th, 2023 with every student giving positive feedback and one student saying, “I am going to add this to my college application.” Another parent sent a thanks note to the club praising the initiative and requesting more such events. Chablani underlined the importance of the three ‘C’s-communication, collaboration and commitment. GOPIO Edison president Pallavi Verma explained in detail about GOPIO and its activities. On Saturday, April 29th the certificate distribution was organized in hybrid mode at Sayreville Public Library. The library staff, Aziza Haque, Jennifer Larsen and Daniel Vetrano were very appreciative of the club activities. The appreciation certificates were virtually shared over Zoom and given to those who were present and later sent to each deserving student as digital certificates to their emails. Belwariar promised to bring more such events and thanked all who participated and supported Youth Leadership Program. Youth Leadership Program Image: GOPIO

India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 5 HERE'SYOUR CHANCETOBEADJ DIASPORA JOURNO With Indians in all corners of the world, there's never a dull moment! New India Abroad gives you the unique opportunity to capture such moments and be a journalist for your community. All you have to do is: Cover communitynews Sendusyourreport Waitforittobepublished Inform us about diaspora events in your area. You can cover both immediate and future events Send us a report with all the details and other material like images, audio/video clips, and interviews Our team will edit and publish your story in our paper & website with due credit given to you NOW ANYBODY CAN BE A DJ! New India Abroad prides itself in being a platform for the Indian Diaspora - Be it in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East or Africa. Send your stories to Info@newIndiaabroad.com HERE'SYOUR CHANCETOBEADJ DIASPORA JOURNO With Indians in all corners of the world, there's never a dull moment! New India Abroad gives you the unique opportunity to capture such moments and be a journalist for your community. All you have to do is: Cover communitynews Sendusyourreport Waitforittobepublished Inform us about diaspora events in your area. You can cover both immediate and future events Send us a report with all the details and other material like images, audio/video clips, and interviews Our team will edit and publish your story in our paper & website with due credit given to you NOW ANYBODY CAN BE A DJ! New India Abroad prides itself in being a platform for the Indian Diaspora - Be it in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East or Africa. Send your stories to Info@newIndiaabroad.com

6 India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 2023 Ajay Sarpeshkar’s movie Mandala: The UFO Incident will release in select theaters across 16 U.S. cities on May 19. Ajay Sarpeshkar’s sci-fi movie to release in US YASMIN TINWALA I ndian-American director Ajay Sarpeshkar’s debut movie Mandala: The UFO Incident is slated for release in the U.S. on May 19. The movie is a labour of love for the engineering graduate turned filmmaker who actively raised funds for his sci-fi creation, all while single-handedly writing the screenplay, directing, and producing the film. The UFO Incident is the first instalment of the Mandala trilogy. The premise of the two-hour film revolves around the male protagonist named Arjun who is looking for his girlfriend, a rocket scientist. Arjun believes that his girlfriend was kidnapped by a UFO and turns to a retired investigative journalist for help to solve the mystery and find his lover. Sarpeshkar, who shuttles between Houston and Bengaluru, India, aims to highlight the importance of culture and heritage conservation with this movie. “It highlights how our cultural roots and traditions can provide a solid foundation as we venture into the unknown realms of space, providing us with a sense of identity and belonging,” as per his website. Despite Covid-19 being a major hiccup, the director and multiple global teams from Southeast Asia, the U.S., India, and Europe worked together to bring the movie which is replete with visual effects to life. Sarpeshkar was a technical expert for a long time before, during, and after his graduation. While filmmaking was never plan A, the University of Arizona and Bangalore University alum pursued it alongside photography to satisfy his creative side, the culmination of which is the Mandala trilogy. Sarpeshkar’s website says the movie is designed in a way to inspire curious minds towards science and technology, and space exploration, as well as to spark imagination. The movie, deemed fit for audiences of all ages, will release in select theatres across 16 U.S. cities including Dallas, Seattle, Albany, and Tampa. The cast features Prakash Belawadi, last seen in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan. Belawadi is also listed as a writer in the film credits. Actors Anant Nag, Kiran Srinivas, Sharmiela Mandre, and Samyukta Hornad also feature in the cast. Image- Twitter/@MandalaTheFilm SLING TV will offer the new channels in the U.S. through its Hindi Pack ($30/mo.). Times Network launches four news channels in U.S. RISHIKA BHARDWAJ Times Network has partnered with SLING TV, a leading over-thetop (OTT) platform in the US, to launch four news channels in addition to the two already available on the platform. The four new channels, namely ET Now, Mirror Now, Times Now Navbharat, and Times Now World, will provide a wide range of global, national, local, financial, and business news coverage. ET Now will focus on India’s inclusive development, empowering the Indian diaspora in the US to participate in India’s growth story. Mirror Now aims to represent the voice and issues of urban Indians, while Times Now Navbharat will provide holistic coverage of national and political news in Hindi. Times Now World aims to deliver sharp, incisive, credible, and fearless news coverage, similar to the legacy brand Times Now. Jagdish Mulchandani, COO and executive president, of Times Network, said, “I am confident that with our latest offerings, we will continue to build resonance with our global viewers, keeping them informed and entertained.” SLING TV offers the new channels through its Hindi Pack ($30/mo.). Mirror Now and Times Now Navbharat are also available for free on Sling Freestream. DISH subscribers can access the new channels via the Hindi Mega and Hindi Premium packages. Image - Times Now Indian-American filmmaker’s upcoming film on US Gun Violence BHAVANA P I ndian-American Emmy-nominated writer, producer and director, Rohit Karn Batra’s upcoming project has been referred to as “an allegory of the gun crisis in the United States.” As per a report by Variety, the film titled “The Gun on Second Street” will revolve around two close friends and partners in the Pittsburgh Police Department who are called to investigate an unremarkable domestic violence incident on Second Street. The report stated that Poppy Delevingne, an English model turned actress who has been seen in films such as Guy Ritchie’s “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” and Matthew Vaughan’s “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” has been cast for the film. ‘Riviera’ on Sky TV, was the actress’ most recent project. Before that, she appeared in NatGeo’s “Genius: Picasso” alongside Antonio Banderas. According to Variety, the film produced by Guy J. Louthan of Ransom Films, will be shown to buyers this month at the Cannes Film Festival. Batra directed, scripted, and co-produced the 2019 international criminal drama ‘Line of Descent,’ starring Brendan Fraser, Abhay Deol, Neeraj Kabi, Bollywood legend Prem Chopra, and Gopal Datt, which was his debut film. His “Roundabout” previously took home the Jury Prize for Best Short Film at the Palm Beach International Film Festival. Rohit Karn Batra Image - IMDb

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 get upset because you’re struggling to advance professionally, the competition is high, and things seem to be stagnating. However, do not 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 from this environment with whom you have never communicated much, will suddenly ask you to participate in one of his projects in 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 make him 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 issues that relate to 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 needs special attention, pay attention to details. An intense week also awaits you in love. If you’re a Gemini in love and want to solidify your relationship, be careful how you express yourself. Avoid long silences, but don’t spend all day texting either. If your partner isn’t responding to you, don’t get discouraged, respect their freedom and give them all the time they need to make up their minds. It’s 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 scale your work. You’ll find that someone more experienced than you is getting in your way and making sure your qualities aren’t noticed. The only solution is to act intelligently and, above all, with great 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 desire. Psychologically, you are not ready to take such risks. In love, you can experience good times. Your partner is everything, your lover, your friend and your travel companion. Can’t ask for more. You can trust him and you have his full support. Now, for this to be consolidated, you have to take on 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 road 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 pass this difficult course. 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 about work. In matters of the heart, you have a lot of emotional insecurity right now. It may be because your recent relationship with someone was established in an open, noncommittal way. But now you realize that you fell in love and wish you had 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/she is thinking. He/she may also have changed and also be afraid to tell you. These next few days will be important and decisive, as you will realize the true nature of what binds you at this time. Although you first thought of approaching it from in some way, events may have led you to act differently. It wouldn’t be the first time, it’s more common than it seems. And due to the favorable astral conjunction affecting you this week, you are going to gain the upper hand. Libra Now that you have time, Libra, your mind circles around certain situations in your work environment. You have become a bit paranoid. You always need to be in control and when something unexpected happens you panic. You are mistaken, but such mistrust can offend those around you. You need to empathize with your team members, whether they are at the bottom or at the top. Fantasy 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 the social level, even on the phone or your computer screen. You’ll talk to people you can’t even imagine. If you are a lonely hearter, 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, make a schedule so that you can do all the things you never have time for every day. Outside of work, your list might include a little yoga or stretching, natural beauty treatments, reading... Take advantage of tutorials on languages, music, painting, and much more than 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 f ield. A little patience before everything goes back to normal. Capricorn Life is going to surprise you with an unexpected situation these days, Capricorn. Something that you never thought would happen is going to materialize precisely now. On a personal level, it will be a stressful week, not only because you want to go out, to travel, and you won’t be able to do it 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 drifted away from you over the past few days, but he/she hasn’t given you an explanation either. Don’t get upset or angry with him/her. It is possible that this attitude is due to the fact that he/she does not assimilate a certain situation or that he/she has problems in his/her family environment. Don’t worry, it will pass. You have to be patient now and forgive what in other times you would not have done otherwise. Aquarius If you were expecting changes in the work environment, Aquarius, in a few days, maybe a few weeks, there could be some very positive changes. This week, you will receive a call for a future interview that will lift your spirits. Start preparing, be confident, everything will turn out fine and you will get what you want. You may also receive a proposal to participate in a commercial operation. You will do well to think about it before you decide, because it could harm you financially. In love, an excellent sentimental week awaits you. You might be contacted by someone who will dazzle you and it seems that they are also very interested in you. Your doubts stem from the fact that it seems too good to be true, but you must put aside your mistrust. 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 that 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 which 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, 15 May, 2023 7

‘Mughal-e-Azam’ to tour North America YASMIN TINWALA I ndian theatrical Mughale-Azam will be making its American debut. The cast and crew of the musical play will be touring 13 cities in North America in May 2023. An interpretation of K Asif’s hit classic film that was released in 1960, the play is set in the Mughal era when Emperor Akbar was in power. It is centred around the forbidden love story of Akbar’s son Prince Salim and the courtesan Anarkali. Emperor Akbar who disapproves of the relationship is forced to take the difficult choice between responsibility towards his subjects and duty as a father. Produced by Shapoorji Pallonji Group and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, the play will be enacted in both Hindi and Urdu with dance sequences, spectacular lighting, extravagant costumes, and live singing. With 70 people on the cast and 150 crew members working behind the scenes, the musical is one of the most expensive theatre productions to have toured in India. Prominent Indian designer Manish Malhotra has designed over 600 costumes for the play using rich silks, velvets, bandhani, and brocades, and crafted with zardozi embroidery. Its value is worth crores of rupees, making Mughal-e-Azam’s costume design the most expensive in the history of Indian theatre. The play has received critical acclaim and has scooped up several awards in the year following its premiere. Some of the awards to the play’s credit include Best Costume Design, Best Choreography, Best Original Set Design, Best Original Lighting Design, and Best Ensemble Cast. Director Khan was honoured with the award for Best Director at the BroadwayWorld India Awards. It also won the award for Best Play. Bollywood stars Rishi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, filmmaker Karan Johar, and industrialist Mukesh Ambani have praised the play. The North American tour will kick off on May 26 in Atlanta, followed by New York, Baltimore, Lakeland, Chicago, Newark, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and San Jose among others. Tickets are available on Cinema On Stage’s website. Image- Cinema on Stage The musical production will tour 13 cities starting with Atlanta on May 26, 2023 The exhibition was curated with the aim of engaging the Indian diaspora in New Jersey The film was recognised for creating social awareness and highlighting important issues faced by marginalized communities in India. 8 India Abroad Monday, 15 May, 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 NJ exhibition highlights diaspora stories STAFF REPORTER An ongoing exhibition at the Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) in New Jersey aims to engage with the local Indian diaspora community and highlight their stories. Titled Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits, the exhibition is focused on highlighting the importance, and impact of original storytelling derived from personal experiences. Organized in partnership with Madhusmita Bora, a folk artist, teacher, and journalist, the exhibition presents oral histories of 15 individuals with diverse and unique stories. For the exhibition, the storytellers were asked to shed the layers of religion, ability, place of origin, caste, education, and sexual orientation, and share a story that left a lasting impact on their lives. The stories collected over a period of ten months was followed by a photography session, in which the storytellers were asked to dress in an outfit that made them feel celebrated and invincible. The final images selected by the storytellers are also a part of the exhibition display along with hanging banners, and personal objects of meaning. “When people whose stories are not often heard have an opportunity to speak their truth, they are empowered and we are all made the better for it. We hope that through this exhibition our audience will be inspired to connect with their own histories, roots, memories, and share those with others,” Bora said of the exhibition. Local Voices will be on view till January 7, 2024, in Grounds For Sculpture’s Domestic Arts Building. Founded by artist and philanthropist Seward Johnson, GFS opened to the public in 1992. More than 700 artists have shown their work at the venue. Image-Grounds for Sculpture (GFS) ‘Writing With Fire’ wins Peabody Award RISHIKA BHARDWAJ I ndian documentary feature ‘Writing with Fire’ has won the prestigious Peabody Award of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication given to narratives that create social awareness, highlight important issues and promote diversity and inclusion. The film earlier made history by becoming the first Indian documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award in 2022. Writing with Fire has also won accolades at the Belfast Film Festival, BlackStar Film Festival, and Sundance Film Festival, among others. Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, the directors of Writing with Fire, took to social media to share their joy at the film’s win. In a tweet, Thomas expressed her gratitude saying, “A Peabody Award is coming home. Grateful, grateful.” The film portrays a group of Dalit women who run a rural newspaper called Khabar Lahariya. The story follows the women as they navigate limited funding and obstacles to successfully convert the print version of the paper to the digital medium. In the process, the film also highlights the larger issues of patriarchy and gender violence that women have to face. The film has been widely praised for its unique storytelling, and it has brought much-needed attention to the challenges faced by marginalized communities in India. ‘Writing With Fire’, a film by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh. Image - Instagram/@writingwithfire.film