Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Four companies founded by Indian Americans have been featured on CNBC’s 12th annual Disruptor 50 list, showcasing the significant impact of artificial intelligence in various sectors. The companies—Zum, Tala, AlphaSense, and Glean—highlight the diverse areas of innovation led by Indian American entrepreneurs, from cybersecurity to agriculture. According to CNBC, AI is a dominant theme on the Disruptor 50 list, with around two-thirds of the companies emphasizing AI as crucial to their operations. For the first time, a company, OpenAI, has retained the top position on the list. Zum, ranked 31st, is transforming the $50 billion student transportation industry to be…

Voters in 49 constituencies across 6 states and 2 Union Territories are casting their ballots, determining the political futures of numerous prominent leaders, including Union Ministers and party heads such as Smriti Irani, Rahul Gandhi, Chirag Paswan, and Omar Abdullah. Here are the highlights of the Lok Sabha Election Phase 5 Voting: – Voting took place in various seats across Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. – This phase marks the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra and Ladakh, with an average turnout of 56.7% recorded by 5 pm. – Simultaneously,…

Now streaming on Netflix, “Heeramandi” has received widespread acclaim and generated a substantial audience reaction. Celebrated director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has fulfilled his longstanding dream with the release of “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,” marking his first venture into the OTT realm. Reflecting on his journey, Bhansali recounted a childhood visit to a film studio that sparked his passion for storytelling. Bhansali shared his thoughts on the long journey to creating “Heeramandi,” revealing that he had wanted to make it 18 years ago. However, other projects kept taking precedence. He explained that after each film, he would reconsider “Heeramandi” but often…

Governor Walz has chosen Veena Iyer, who serves as the executive director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), to be one of the two new judges for the Second Judicial District covering Ramsey County. She will remain at ILCM for a few weeks to ensure a smooth transition before assuming her judicial duties. Iyer conveyed a blend of emotions, acknowledging the bittersweet nature of her transition. While she expressed fondness for the unique community at ILCM, highlighting its resilience, creativity, empathy, and compassion, she also expressed gratitude for the opportunity presented by Governor Walz. As the child of…

Kartik Aaryan has unveiled the poster for his upcoming film “Chandu Champion.” It showcases Kartik in a powerful, gritty pose, depicting his impressive physical transformation for the role. The movie draws inspiration from the life of Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist. In a playful incident on Tuesday, Kartik’s pet Katori inadvertently delayed the poster reveal, leading to a humorous Instagram video. Despite the mishap, Kartik shared his excitement for the film, labeling it as the most challenging project of his career. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan, “Chandu Champion” is eagerly anticipated, promising an enthralling narrative on…

India has advised the US against adopting a narrow perspective on its recent port agreement with Iran, a plea made in response to US warnings regarding dealings with Tehran. The agreement, inked on Monday, entails a decade-long collaboration between India and Iran to enhance the strategically vital Chabahar port. While the US cautioned nations about the risks associated with business ventures involving Iran, India has endorsed the pact, emphasizing its potential regional benefits. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar addressed concerns about Washington’s stance, stressing the importance of broadening perspectives to recognize the mutual advantages of the agreement. He highlighted past acknowledgments…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) agenda should they secure victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Modi emphasized that the BJP manifesto, called the ‘Sankalp Patra,’ extends beyond the next five years. It is designed to lay the foundation for transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. Seeking a historic third term, Modi told the publication, “The last 10 years have only been a trailer. There is a lot that I want to do.” He explained that the first term addressed the gaps left by six…

Tiara Thankam Abraham, an 18-year-old musical prodigy of Indian American descent, has etched her name in history as the youngest student ever to earn a master’s degree across all seven campuses of Indiana University. Her groundbreaking accomplishment, achieved on May 3, preceded even the attainment of her driver’s license, underscoring her extraordinary talent and dedication to her craft. Expressing her elation and gratitude, Tiara reflected on the arduous yet fulfilling journey that led to her Master of Music degree. Having graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of California, Davis, at the age…

If religion vanished tonight, it would reappear at dawn, as the sun has inspired worship for centuries across civilizations. The Rig Veda, Sumerians, Egyptians, and later monotheisms all revered the sun in various forms. Sun worship has persisted globally due to its physiological and psychological impacts, from setting circadian rhythms to boosting mood. In Hinduism, grand temples like Konark’s Sun Temple and Kashmir’s Martand Temple exemplify reverence for the sun. Despite its ruinous state, Martand remains a potent symbol. The debate over its restoration intersects history, theology, and politics, reflecting India’s diverse religious landscape. Restoring ancient temples raises complex questions.…

The Hindu American Foundation captivated a packed audience at its 14th Annual Houston Fundraising Gala on Saturday, April 13th. Sundar Iyer shared his harrowing experience of false accusations of caste-based discrimination by government agencies, sparking conversation with HAF’s Executive Director Suhag Shukla. The event, held at the GSH Event Center, shed light on the infamous Cisco caste discrimination case, where exculpatory evidence was suppressed by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). This prompted HAF to file a federal lawsuit against California. Local philanthropist Ramesh Bhutada pledged $1 million over four years to HAF during the gala. The evening commenced with…