Author: Bhakti Narayanan

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…

Despite facing challenges in finalizing a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) ahead of President Trump’s April 2 deadline for reciprocal tariffs, the US administration remains optimistic about a “golden age” in US-India relations. This optimism is conveyed through statements from high-ranking officials, including US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who reached out to India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to discuss trade and other issues. Although the negotiations between the two countries, led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, showed progress over several days of intense talks, they were unable to reach a final agreement. Trump, who previously criticized India’s…

Umesh Mishra, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), has been awarded the 2025 Central Coast Innovation Award. The honor, presented at the annual Pacific Coast Business Times event at the Santa Barbara Hilton, recognizes his groundbreaking contributions to semiconductor technology and power electronics. The Central Coast Innovation Awards celebrate emerging technology and entrepreneurship in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Hosted in collaboration with UCSB’s California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), the event highlights the region’s role as a hub for innovation. Mishra, a leading expert in gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors, has…