Author: Deepika chandrasekar

Baiju Bhatt, the Indian American Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Robinhood Markets, is leaving his executive position at the investment platform after more than a decade in leadership, expressing his desire to explore other entrepreneurial ventures. Despite this transition, Bhatt will continue to serve as a member of Robinhood’s Board of Directors, as announced by the Menlo Park, California based company on March 21. Reflecting on his tenure, Bhatt expressed profound dedication to Robinhood’s mission of democratizing the financial services industry, emphasizing that the company has been his life since its founding in 2013. He acknowledged the collective efforts…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored India’s steadfast commitment to democracy, stating that the nation not only meets the aspirations of its 1.4 billion citizens but also offers hope to the world by demonstrating that democracy empowers and delivers. Addressing the Summit for Democracy via video conferencing, Modi hailed the event as a pivotal platform for democracies worldwide to exchange insights and learn from each other’s experiences. Hosted by South Korea, the summit aims to foster inclusive societies and youth empowerment. Highlighting India’s rich tradition of democracy, Modi emphasized its integral role in Indian civilization, referring to consensus-building, open dialogue, and…

Nithya Raman, an Indian American urban planner, secured re-election to her Los Angeles City Council seat, surpassing 50% in the Mar 5 election and avoiding a November runoff, as per the latest vote count. She made history in Nov 2020 as the first challenger to unseat a council incumbent in 17 years. Challenged by two opponents questioning her capacity to address homelessness and crime, Raman faced a tough race, noted by local KABC. Ethan Weaver, her leading opponent, conceded on Mar 14, recognizing Raman’s victory. Despite strong support from LAPD union and real estate groups, Weaver fell short with more…

Annie Besant, born Annie Wood in London to a family of Irish descent, faced financial struggles after her father’s death when she was five. Despite this, her mother’s friend ensured she received an education. Raised with a strong sense of societal responsibility, Besant demonstrated independence from a young age. At 20, she married Frank Besant, a vicar, with whom she had two children before their eventual legal separation due to political disparities. Throughout her life, Besant championed causes such as Irish self-governance and questioned established religious norms, including criticism of the Church of England. Her activism, which encompassed feminism, secularism,…

The US Senate has officially confirmed Sunil Harjani, an Indian American federal Magistrate Judge from Joliet and a graduate of Northwestern University, as a federal district court judge for the Northern District of Illinois based in Chicago. Sunil Harjani’s confirmation, with a 53-46 Senate vote, marks a historic moment as he becomes the first South Asian American to hold the position of a US district judge in the Northern District of Illinois. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois expressed satisfaction with his confirmation, highlighting his impeccable qualifications and extensive courtroom experience, notably serving as a Magistrate Judge since…

Jhaanvi Ganesh, a Rutgers University student, highlighted the marginalization faced by Hindu students in academic environments during a Congressional briefing on Hinduphobia arranged by HinduACTion. Studying public health, Ganesh serves as the Northeast Regional Coordinator of Hindu Yuva, a prominent student organization present in over 75 universities nationwide. She raised concerns regarding Hindu phobia or anti-Hindu sentiments, often overlooked on college campuses. Ganesh elaborated on how these sentiments encompass a spectrum of attitudes and actions, from subtle biases to overt discrimination targeting individuals identifying as Hindu or practicing Hinduism. Sharing personal encounters, Ganesh expressed feeling misunderstood, marginalized, and vilified based…

Each year, on the eve of the budget presentation, the central government typically releases an Economic Survey. However, due to the impending elections, the traditional economic survey was deferred from its usual date of January 31. Instead, the government issued a comprehensive report titled ‘Indian Economy–A Review,’ outlining India’s progress over the past decade. Prepared by the office of the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran, this report also offers insights into the economic outlook for the forthcoming years. In this summary, we highlight the key insights from the report. Overview of the Indian Economy (1950-2014) Initially, from 1950…

Congressman Ro Khanna, a prominent figure in the Indian-American community, emphasized the robust nature of the bilateral ties between India and the United States, attributing significant strides to the Biden administration’s efforts. In an interview with PTI, Khanna underscored the multifaceted strength of the relationship, particularly highlighting areas such as defense, economics, cooperation in AI, and alternative energy. Khanna acknowledged India’s substantial progress over the past decade, citing its remarkable economic development and ambitious endeavors. Despite acknowledging challenges such as income inequality and the imperative of maintaining a vibrant, pluralistic society, Khanna expressed admiration for India’s aspirational drive. Regarding the…

Binaifer Nowrojee, a human rights attorney, has been appointed as the president of the Open Society Foundations, a philanthropic organization endowed by billionaire George Soros. Nowrojee, born in Kenya, currently serves as the foundation’s vice president of programs and will assume her new role in June, succeeding the current president, Mark Malloch-Brown. Soros expressed his vision for a truly global Open Society Foundations, emphasizing the significance of Nowrojee’s appointment in realizing this aspiration. Nowrojee herself acknowledged the immense responsibility of leading the world’s largest funder of human rights during a challenging time for justice and compassion globally. Alex Soros, chairman…

RadiantGraph, a San Francisco-based healthcare platform, has named Dr. Geeta Nayyar as its inaugural chief medical officer. Previously, Nayyar held similar positions at Salesforce and AT&T, alongside other executive roles. She currently sits on the board of the American Telemedicine Association and advises the American Medical Association. Nayyar is known for advocating a human-centered approach to innovation, particularly in leveraging advancements in artificial intelligence for improved health and business outcomes. She is also a noted public speaker and author of the bestselling book, ‘Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare’s Misinformation Illness.’ In her statement regarding the new appointment, Nayyar emphasized…