Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Congressman Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia has initiated a formal inquiry into the recent mass termination of predominantly Indian American employees at Fannie Mae. In a letter addressed to Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte and Fannie Mae CEO Priscilla Almodovar, the Congressman demanded detailed explanations and supporting evidence behind the decision to dismiss hundreds of employees without what many allege was a fair process. According to Subramanyam’s office, the layoffs affected nearly 700 staff members, many of them Telugu-speaking Indian Americans residing in Northern Virginia. These employees were reportedly fired over accusations of unethical behaviour and misuse of Fannie…

India and Russia have unveiled six new collaborative ventures to boost bilateral investments, following high-level discussions during the 8th Session of the India-Russia Working Group on Priority Investment Projects (IRWG-PIP). The session took place in New Delhi under the broader India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission, which focuses on trade, scientific, technological, cultural, and economic cooperation. Chaired by India’s Amardeep Singh Bhatia and Russia’s Vladimir Ilichev, the gathering resulted in the signing of an official protocol outlining the newly agreed initiatives. It also served as a platform to evaluate progress since the last session, aiming to scale joint efforts across sectors of shared…

At just 14, Siddarth Nandyala is turning heads in the tech and medical world with his AI-powered health app that can detect heart disease in seconds. The Indian-American teen, who founded Circadian AI, was recently applauded by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for his innovative contributions. Originally from Hyderabad and now living in the U.S., Siddarth said his love for tech began at age seven with his first STEM kit. “It sparked a curiosity in me that’s never gone away,” he shared in an interview with indianexpress.com. With values shaped by Indian discipline…

Indian American Gautam Bhatia has been elected as an at-large trustee on the Naperville Township board in DuPage County, Illinois. In addition to his personal victory, Bhatia celebrated a broader Democratic success across the cities of Aurora and Naperville. He highlighted the election of Ashfaq Syed, who became the first Indian American city council member in the area. Bhatia has served with the Naperville Township Democrats since 2018, beginning as a precinct committee member before stepping into the role of chair. The township’s board consists of four trustees and one supervisor vote. Trustees are responsible for key decisions like approving…

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has officially signed the House of Worship bill (HB 2594) into law, a bipartisan initiative introduced by Delegate JJ Singh to enhance safety measures at religious institutions. The legislation, which takes effect July 1, outlines proactive practices for preventing and responding to hate crimes directed at places of worship, aiming to create secure, welcoming environments for people of all faiths. Delegate Singh, the first turbaned Sikh elected to a U.S. state legislature, emphasized the bill’s importance in safeguarding the right to worship freely and without fear. “This is a critical step toward protecting our communities and…

Dr. Nandita Shah, a physician and the founder of SHARAN India (Sanctuary for Health and Reconnection to Animals and Nature), recently conducted a day-long seminar highlighting how whole food plant-based (WFPB) nutrition can help prevent and even reverse chronic illnesses. The event drew a large, engaged audience eager to learn how dietary choices can impact conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity. The seminar opened with a live green smoothie demonstration, offering participants a practical, dairy-free, and nutrient-dense breakfast alternative. Dr. Shah underscored the nutritional superiority of whole, unprocessed foods over heavily processed products that are stripped of…

In the 2025 consolidated local elections in Naperville, Illinois, three Indian Americans emerged as projected winners, securing key roles in local governance. Supna Jain, an incumbent and experienced educator, won re-election to the Indian Prairie School District 204 Board, securing 20% of the votes. With a background in academia, she is committed to enhancing education and has played a vital role in addressing remote learning challenges, strategic planning, and facility assessments during her tenure. Ashfaq Syed made history by becoming the first Indian American elected to the Naperville City Council. A finance and banking professional, Syed has a strong record…

The highly anticipated trailer for “Kesari Chapter 2” has finally been released, featuring Akshay Kumar in a commanding role as Sir C. Sankaran Nair. The film, set against the tragic backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, delves into Nair’s relentless fight for justice against the British Empire, promising an intense, historically significant, and emotionally charged narrative. The makers unveiled the gripping trailer on social media, captioning it, “This is a wound. This is a roar. This… is #KesariChapter2! Trailer out now. Link in bio. In cinemas 18th April, worldwide.” The trailer begins with a powerful courtroom exchange, where Akshay Kumar’s…

Indian American scientist Dipanjan Pan, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, has received a $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a synthetic blood substitute that mimics the functions of human red blood cells. A press release from Penn State on March 31, 2025, highlighted that blood loss remains the leading cause of death among trauma patients aged 1 to 46. Limited access to safe blood supplies often results in preventable fatalities, prompting Pan and his research team to explore a breakthrough solution—freeze-dried synthetic blood. Holding the Dorothy Foehr Huck & J. Lloyd Chair in…

Indian-origin astrophysicist Anirudh Karambelkar has been awarded the prestigious Hubble Fellowship, a highly competitive program designed to support outstanding early-career researchers in astrophysics. The fellowship, which had over 650 applicants this year, provides up to three years of research funding at a US institution and aims to nurture future leaders in the field. The NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) is divided into three categories based on key cosmic questions: Einstein Fellows focus on fundamental physics, Hubble Fellows explore cosmic origins, and Sagan Fellows investigate the potential for extraterrestrial life. Karambelkar was selected as a Hubble Fellow for his work on…