Author: Akancha Mishra

The Tri-State Annual Gala hosted by the non-profit Akshaya Patra on October 12, 2024, at the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott raised an impressive $3 million to support its mission of eradicating classroom hunger. The event, attended by 500 guests, featured high-profile speakers and performers, with proceeds boosted by a silent auction. Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, head of Akshaya Patra’s tri-state chapter, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support. The evening highlighted Akshaya Patra’s impact, especially after the organization was recognized by the United Nations in April 2024 for its work in eradicating hunger and expanding quality education. The gala, themed “A…

The Indo-American Association (IAA), a Houston-based cultural institution, is excited to introduce its Artist Development Program, starting on October 22, 2024. This four-week initiative is designed to help artists of color, including those from Indian, Pakistani, Black, Indigenous, and other backgrounds, strengthen their skills and establish stable careers in the arts. The program aims to benefit artists at all stages, whether emerging, mid-career, or established, by providing them with a comprehensive curriculum focused on industry knowledge and career sustainability. Participants will gain valuable insights into the arts industry, practical tools for enhancing their artistic practices, and strategies to succeed in…

As of September 2024, the mutual fund industry’s assets under management (AUM) reached an impressive $798.25 billion, marking a 0.58% increase from August and a remarkable 25.64% jump since March 2024, according to a report from Axis Mutual Fund. The industry has maintained strong growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.19% since March 2021. Equity funds led the charge in September with a 3.37% growth, while hybrid funds followed with a 1.64% rise. In contrast, debt funds experienced a 1.33% drop, and cash assets saw a sharp 14.87% decline, indicating a change in liquidity preferences. Equity AUM…

World Bank President Ajay Banga lauded India’s growth rate as one of the most impressive in the global economy, attributing much of this progress to the strength of its domestic market. Speaking to reporters ahead of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting, Banga remarked, “Achieving growth rates of six to seven percent in the current global environment reflects the successful measures India has implemented.” He pointed out that a significant portion of this growth is fueled by domestic demand, which is a positive indicator. However, he also highlighted the need for India to focus on improving quality…

Anirban Kundu, a former executive at Uber, has been appointed as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Instacart, the online grocery delivery service, the company announced on October 16 through a blog post. Kundu, an Indian American, will officially join Instacart later this month, following his recent position as Vice President and Head of Engineering for Uber Delivery. In his new role, Kundu will be tasked with leading Instacart’s technical team as the company continues to grow its influence in the grocery industry. The blog post praised Kundu’s deep expertise in managing multi-sided marketplaces, calling him the ideal person to…

On Tuesday, India and the United States finalized agreements worth $3.87 billion for the procurement of 31 Predator drones for the three armed services and the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India. The contracts were signed in the presence of senior defence officials. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition of the 31 drones last week. Out of these, 15 will be allocated to the Indian Navy, while the remaining drones will be evenly distributed between the Air Force and the Army. Defence officials confirmed to ANI on Monday that the foreign military…

Dr. Nandika D’Souza has been appointed as associate dean of strategic initiatives at The University of Texas at Dallas in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. While engineering was an unconventional field for girls during her youth, her mother encouraged her to pursue it as a path to financial stability after the death of her father. D’Souza’s passion for engineering was sparked during her studies, especially in a statics class where the design of structures captured her imagination. In her new role at UT Dallas, Dr. D’Souza aims to dismantle barriers and create opportunities for students from…

Dr. Sampat Shivangi, an Indian American physician and community leader, attended the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July as an elected delegate, where former President Donald Trump was nominated as the Republican candidate for president. He believes that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her Indian heritage, does not connect with Indian Americans as a viable presidential candidate. This perception stems from a belief that she is not particularly friendly towards the community. Shivangi noted that many in the Indian American community, including professionals and small business owners, find it challenging to embrace Harris due to her perceived weak…

India has expressed deep concern regarding the theft of a religious article from the Jeshoreshwari Temple in Bangladesh and has urged local law enforcement to thoroughly investigate the incident and hold the responsible parties accountable. The High Commission in Dhaka is actively engaged with Bangladeshi authorities concerning this matter. The stolen crown belonged to the Goddess Kali and was presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the temple in March 2021. The theft allegedly took place on Thursday between 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM, shortly after Temple Priest Dilip Mukherjee finished the day’s worship. The crown was…

In Washington, renowned music composer AR Rahman is set to perform at a live concert celebrating Kamala Harris’ groundbreaking candidacy for U.S. President, as announced by an Indian-American fundraising group. The Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Victory Fund, which has endorsed Vice President Harris for the upcoming election, shared this exciting news on Thursday evening. The AAPI Victory Fund described the event as “A very special evening with A R Rahman,” inviting fans to join in celebrating Harris’s historic campaign through a world-class concert streamed directly to their homes. Although no specific date has been disclosed for the concert, and…