Author: Deepika chandrasekar

Indian American candidates achieved notable successes in the Nov. 7 local and state elections, highlighting the community’s growing political impact despite representing just over one percent of the U.S. population. Suhas Subramanyam, re-elected to the Virginia State Senate, previously served two terms in the House of Delegates. A former White House technology policy advisor, he made history as the first Hindu elected to the Virginia House. Business leader Kannan Srinivasan, an Indian immigrant, won a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, emphasizing values like inclusivity, women’s rights, gun safety, healthcare, and education. In Pennsylvania, Democrat Neil Makhija secured a…

Boomitra, a global soil carbon marketplace founded by an Indian American, secured one of the five Earthshot Prizes in Singapore. Recognized in the ‘Fix Our Climate’ category, Boomitra, meaning “friend of the earth” in Sanskrit, excelled in emissions reduction and boosting farmers’ profits. The platform advocates soil restoration and regenerative agricultural practices through a verified carbon-credit marketplace, collaborating with over 150,000 farmers across economically disadvantaged regions in Africa, South America, and Asia. The company enables businesses and governments to offset emissions by acquiring certified carbon credits from Boomitra’s marketplace. A significant portion of the proceeds goes directly to the farmers.…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the inclusion of Kozhikode as a ‘City of Literature’ and Gwalior as a ‘City of Music’ in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, praising the remarkable achievements of the people in both cities. Mr. Modi highlighted that Kozhikode’s rich literary tradition and Gwalior’s dedication to preserving and strengthening its musical heritage have significantly enhanced India’s cultural vibrancy on the global stage. The Prime Minister shared his thoughts in response to Union Minister of Culture G Kishan Reddy’s posts on the matter. He commended the people of Kozhikode and Gwalior for this outstanding accomplishment and emphasized the importance…

In pursuit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to transform India into a digital nation and equip rural youth for employment opportunities, a series of initiatives are being implemented. One noteworthy endeavor, known as “Skills on Wheels,” is geared towards providing essential digital skills to youngsters in remote areas, with a special focus on empowering women. This initiative aims to not only prepare them for the future but also enhance their employability by imparting specific vocational skills. The innovative “Skills on Wheels” program was conceptualized by Lend A Hand India, a non-governmental organization based in Pune. Its official launch ceremony…

Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna is in the early stages of planning a Congressional delegation visit to China, following a similarly successful trip to India that took place just a month ago. This upcoming delegation is intended to be a bipartisan effort, reflecting Khanna’s commitment to addressing economic imbalances and trade issues. In an interview with Fox News, Khanna acknowledged his criticism of the trade deficit and his call for rebalancing the economic relationship between the United States and China. Khanna’s recent bipartisan visit to India was well-received, and as a representative of Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives,…

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is currently enjoying the success of his action-packed thriller film, “Jawan,” which hit theaters on September 7, 2023, and has been receiving widespread acclaim. The film’s triumph called for a grand celebration, leading the makers to organize a post-release event in Mumbai on September 15. The event witnessed the presence of the film’s stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Vijay Sethupathi, Sunil Grover, Atlee, Sanya Malhotra, and others. Amid the festivities of the “Jawan” event, Shah Rukh Khan took the opportunity to make an exciting revelation about his next project. He officially announced that…

Two individuals of Indian descent, Madhav Datt and Raghav Srinivasan, have been chosen as recipients of the prestigious Horace W. Goldsmith fellowships at Harvard Business School (HBS). Madhav Datt, a student pursuing a joint degree at HBS and SEAS, has a remarkable track record in social entrepreneurship. At the young age of eight, he initiated Green the Gene in 2004, which grew into one of the world’s largest youth-led environmental nonprofit organizations, operating in 62 countries with the support of over 7,000 volunteers. In 2021, Madhav co-founded Nostos Homes, an endeavor dedicated to constructing innovative homes for forcibly displaced individuals.…

Mr. Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary of the Department of Commerce within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, had the honor of representing India at the 20th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ meeting on August 21, 2023. The meeting took place in Semarang, Indonesia, and was co-chaired by Mr. Agrawal and Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, the Minister of Trade from Indonesia. Participants included Economic Ministers and their delegates from all ten ASEAN nations—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste attended as an observer. During the event, the ministers engaged in a comprehensive review of…

On August 12, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the adverse effects of corruption are most deeply felt by the underprivileged and marginalized sections of society. He underscored that corruption disrupts the fair distribution of resources and market opportunities, ultimately eroding the overall quality of life for citizens. Speaking virtually at the G-20 anti-corruption Ministerial meeting held in Kolkata, the Prime Minister asserted India’s unwavering commitment to a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption. He drew attention to the wisdom of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who warned against the destructive nature of greed, which obstructs the path to discovering…

Pankaj Tripathi has expressed his dissatisfaction with the A certificate granted to his upcoming film OMG 2. During a promotional event for the movie, he stated that the intended audience for the film falls within the age group of 12 to 17 years. Directed by Amit Rai and featuring Yami Gautam and Akshay Kumar, OMG 2 is scheduled for a theatrical release on August 11. Pankaj, quoted in a DNA report, mentioned his surprise and disappointment at the A certification that the film received. Pankaj conveyed his sentiments, saying, “When we received an A certificate, it caught us by surprise.…