Author: Staff Reporter
In the heart of Bali’s Lotudunduh rice fields, a farmer dressed in traditional baju adat (ceremonial attire) performs a sacred ritual in a small open-air stone temple. He offers brightly coloured flowers in a woven palm platter, sprinkled with holy water, to one of the tall carved shrines. This practice is part of the ancient, ritualistic rice farming system known as subak, which integrates spiritual and practical aspects of agriculture. I Made Chakra Widia, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Pengosekan near Ubud, praises the wisdom of early Balinese farmers. They had a profound understanding of the land’s interaction with soil,…
On Monday, Richard Verma, a senior US diplomat, strongly criticised recent racist attacks targeting Indian Americans, particularly in connection with derogatory comments about Vice President Kamala Harris. In his address at the Hudson Institute, Verma condemned the “vile and racist attacks” that have emerged on social media and television, emphasising that such sentiments are damaging to US-India relations and have no place in American society. Though he did not name the specific incidents, Verma’s remarks clearly alluded to the recent controversy involving far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. Loomer, who has been associated with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, made offensive…
According to a senior Biden administration official, the relationship between the US and India has entered a new era of alignment with solid foundations and a promising future. Richard Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, highlighted that the two countries have achieved a significant convergence in their collaborative efforts and in their assessments of global threats and opportunities. In his remarks at the Hudson Institute’s event, ‘The United States and India: Milestones Reached and the Pathway Ahead,’ Verma emphasised that the past three and a half years have marked a period of notable alignment in US-India relations.…
In a significant diplomatic move, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish presented his credentials to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, assuring him of India’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing the United Nations. Taking over as India’s Permanent Representative to the global body, Harish emphasized the need for reform and revitalization within the organization, signaling India’s active engagement with key issues. Shortly after the credential ceremony on Monday, Ambassador Harish wasted no time and made a strong case before the Security Council. He advocated for major troop-contributing countries to be involved in peacekeeping operations’ decision-making processes. This push highlights India’s stance on bringing active participants to the…
By Raj Shah Photo: X.com The Indian-American community, a rapidly growing and increasingly influential demographic in the United States, has long been characterized by its strong commitment to education, family values, entrepreneurship, and economic success. These are principles that, in many ways, align closely with the core ideology of the Republican Party. However, despite this apparent ideological alignment, a substantial majority of Indian-Americans continue to support the Democratic Party. This paradox raises a key question: Why do so many Indian-Americans, who seem to embody many conservative values, vote predominantly Democratic? To understand this phenomenon, we must first look into the…
India has made significant progress in green energy and remains committed to collaborating with the global community for a sustainable future, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. PM Modi emphasized India’s “clearer approach” and the “remarkable growth of solar energy” during his virtual address to the inaugural International Solar Festival in the national capital as key factors in the country becoming the first “G20 Nation to meet the Paris commitments in renewable energy.” “Our solar energy capacity has increased 32-fold in the last 10 years. This remarkable speed and scale will also support our goal of achieving 500 gigawatts…
Christian missionaries had converted around 120 individuals from 67 families in Barka Khurd Panchayat, Ichak block, Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand, to Christianity a few months earlier. Sanatan Samaj organized a religious conversion event at the Shiv temple in Barka Khurd, where they ceremoniously welcomed back into Hinduism through a traditional foot-washing ceremony amid the chanting of “Om.” The majority of those returning to Hinduism were from Dalit communities, and a significant number of them were women. The event included religious rituals conducted by Acharya Pushpa Shastri from Arsh Kanya Gurukul, who, along with 20 girls, oversaw the rites. These rituals included…
tartup India Scheme. Credit: startupindia.gov.in In 2024, the Indian startup ecosystem experienced a significant increase in large funding rounds, particularly those exceeding $100 million, as startups shifted their focus toward profitability along with growth. So far in 2024, there have been 13 funding rounds valued at over $100 million. Notable startups such as Zepto, Rapido, Lenskart, Flipkart, Meesho, and PharmEasy have all participated in these large funding rounds. Quick e-commerce company Zepto, for example, has raised two major rounds of funding in 2024, amounting to a total of $1 billion ($340 million + $665 million). The company’s most recent funding…
