Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Bechan Baba, a 72-year-old Hindu caretaker, has devoted his life to tending to the Anarwali mosque in Varanasi, a city steeped in spirituality where the Ganges flows serenely alongside. For over four decades, he has been a steadfast presence at the entrance of this ancient mosque, which holds significance as a symbol of unity in a city grappling with historical disputes. In the heart of Varanasi, Bechan sits amidst the incense-infused air, reflecting on his 45 years of service to the mosque. Following in his father’s footsteps, he took on the responsibility from a young age, embracing it as his…

Amitabh Misra, an IIT Kanpur graduate, is appointed as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Sprinklr, a global enterprise software company headquartered in New York. Effective April 1, Misra will oversee all research and development (R&D) teams worldwide, encompassing product and engineering. With over 25 years of experience, Misra brings a wealth of expertise, having previously served as Vice President of Engineering at Adobe, where he led a global R&D organization for Adobe’s Experience Cloud Platform. Prior to that, he founded GOFro.com and held leadership positions at Snapdeal.com. Misra holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BTech…

The 2024 GOPIO convention, themed ‘Opportunities for Diaspora Indians in India’s Big Manifest Future,’ is scheduled for April 26-28 at the Royal Albert Palace in New Jersey. The event aims to explore India’s current and future prospects and the potential contributions of diaspora Indians in shaping this vision. Organized by the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), the convention was launched with a planning meeting on Jan 28 at the Royal Albert Palace in New Jersey, attended by GOPIO officials and representatives from various community and professional organizations. Prakash Shah, a businessman from New Jersey, has been designated…

Georgia’s legislative body has issued two resolutions, with one originating from the Senate designating October 2024 as Hindu Heritage Month and the other from the House acknowledging November 1, 2024, as Diwali Day. These proclamations were unveiled at an event titled “Building Bridges and Connecting Communities” hosted for the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), signifying a significant milestone for Georgia’s Indian community. In the preceding year, Governor Brian P. Kemp of Georgia had formally recognized Hinduism as the third largest religion worldwide, with nearly four million Hindu followers residing in the United States alone. Expanding on this acknowledgment,…

Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, and Diljit Dosanjh are set to headline the sequel to the comedy hit No Entry, confirmed producer Boney Kapoor. Anees Bazmee, director of the original 2005 film, returns for the sequel, although the original cast, including Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, and Fardeen Khan, will not feature in this installment. The producer expressed confidence in the new cast, citing Varun and Arjun’s friendship and Diljit’s comedic prowess as a promising combination. While the male leads and director are finalized, casting for the ten female leads is ongoing. No Entry’s storyline revolves around two married men embroiled in…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s significant strides in renewable energy, particularly solar, wind energy, and green hydrogen, to foster a ‘Green GDP’ crucial for global climate action. Modi advocated for integrating Green GDP into economic assessments worldwide, suggesting a shift in terminology to reflect environmental impacts accurately. During a discussion with Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates, Modi stressed the importance of reevaluating economic development metrics to incorporate the environmental footprint. As India targets a $5 trillion economy, the concept of Green GDP gains prominence by factoring in environmental costs associated with production. Modi highlighted India’s focus on nature-friendly innovation, citing…

The worldwide vegetable seeds market, valued at about USD 8 billion in 2022, is expanding due to rising global demand for diverse vegetable types. India is a prominent player in this sector, alongside China, Japan, and the United States, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights (GCI). The vegetable seeds market is highly fragmented, presenting both opportunities and challenges for industry stakeholders. It offers niches for companies to establish strong positions with over 40 different vegetable crops. However, this diversity poses challenges in organizing and supplying complex product ranges. Despite this, competition remains intense, with 12 companies having annual sales exceeding…

Aruna Miller, the Indian American Lt. Governor of Maryland, has been honored as the first woman of color and immigrant elected to statewide office in the state, being inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame alongside four others. Miller, along with distinguished figures such as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, Secretary of State Susan Lee, and Comptroller Brooke Lierman, was recognized at a ceremony held at Government House on March 21, according to a press release. Expressing gratitude, Miller stated, “I am grateful to stand among the remarkable women whose legacies inspire us…

Aruna Asaf Ali, celebrated as one of India’s foremost female freedom fighters, gained prominence during the Quit India Movement in 1942, earning her the title of the “Grand Old Lady of Indian Independence.” Her unwavering commitment to the liberation cause led to her being honored with the Padma Vibhushan in 1992 and the Bharat Ratna in 1997, posthumously. Born on July 16, 1909, in Kalka, British India, Aruna Asaf Ali hailed from a Bengali Brahmin family. Educated in Lahore, she later became the first mayor of Delhi after India gained independence. Her involvement in various facets of the independence movement,…

Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s innovative Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for its significant impact on various fronts including production, exports, and employment opportunities. Chandrasekhar highlighted the remarkable progress made under the PLI scheme, particularly citing Apple’s achievement of surpassing $14 billion in iPhone production within just 11 months of FY24. He emphasized the substantial employment opportunities generated, particularly in iPhone manufacturing facilities operated by major companies like Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron, indicating a promising outlook for youth employment. Additionally, Chandrasekhar underscored the scheme’s focus on enhancing exports, revealing that…