Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, a pivotal figure in India’s independence struggle, was born on October 24, 1914. Notably, she served in the Indian National Army (INA) during World War II and held the rank of Captain, playing a significant role in the country’s freedom movement. Besides, she served as the Minister of Women’s Affairs in the Azad Hind government. Lakshmi Sahgal, born in Chennai, hailed from a family with a legal background. Her father, S. Swaminathan, was a renowned lawyer in the Madras High Court, while her mother, Ammu Swaminathan, was a social activist. She pursued her education at Queen Mary’s…

Indian American candidates experienced a mix of victories and defeats during the recent Super Tuesday primaries. Veteran Congressman Ami Bera and Ro Khanna successfully defended their positions, securing their seventh and fifth terms, respectively. Bera advanced to the general election in California’s 6th Congressional District, while Khanna decisively won in the 17th Congressional District against Republican Anita Chen. However, Indian-American engineer Rishi Kumar, a Democrat, failed in his bid for Congress, securing only 6.3% of the vote. Meanwhile, Indian-American Republican Vin Kruttiventi advanced to the general election in California’s 14th Congressional District, securing second place. He invested $500,000 of his…

Anandi Gopal Joshi’s remarkable journey began with a tragic event at the tender age of 14 when she experienced the loss of her first child due to a lack of medical care. This heartbreaking event deeply affected her and ignited a passionate desire within her to pursue medicine. Born into a family of landlords, she was married off to Gopalrao Joshi at the age of nine, a progressive man who believed in the importance of women’s education. Despite the prevailing norms of the time, Gopalrao Joshi went against the grain and supported his wife’s educational aspirations. Recognizing her potential and…

Pollster Mark Penn suggested in a recent interview that former President Trump may need to consider his main GOP rival, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, as his vice president, a notion Trump has thus far dismissed. Penn, publisher of the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll, highlighted Trump’s challenge with Haley’s voter base, many of whom are disenchanted by the former president, posing a potential obstacle in the general election against President Biden. Penn outlined two potential solutions to this dilemma: Trump could select either Haley or Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who recently endorsed him and has been actively supporting him on…

Heather Boushey, the chief economist for the Invest in America Cabinet at the White House, praised Zum, a company founded by Indian immigrant Ritu Narayan, for its efforts in modernizing student transportation and promoting sustainability. During her visit to Zum’s San Francisco bus yard on March 4, Boushey toured the company’s advanced facilities, experienced a ride on one of its electric buses, and engaged with the leadership team, including founder and CEO Narayan. Zum utilizes technology, particularly AI, to efficiently manage private school bus fleets, offering school districts a sustainable and cost-effective solution for their transportation needs. Currently, Zum serves…

A recent report by the US-based think tank Brookings, authored by Surjit Bhalla and Karan Bhasin, marks a significant milestone for India: the official elimination of ‘extreme poverty.’ This achievement is attributed to the strong policy emphasis on redistribution by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The report highlights key findings, including a notable decline in the headcount poverty ratio and a substantial increase in household consumption, indicating robust inclusive growth fueled by government policies. According to the report, official consumption expenditure data for 2022-23 reveals a consistent real per capita consumption growth of 2.9% annually since 2011-12. Rural areas have…

In recent years, India’s digital landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with government services increasingly integrated into digital platforms for efficient grassroots delivery. This push towards digitalization has been accompanied by a surge in digital payment transactions, reflecting the government’s commitment to digitizing the economy and promoting financial inclusion. The JAN Trinity – Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile – has played a pivotal role in this transformation, facilitating universal banking services, biometric authentication, and mobile connectivity. The concept of Digital India aims to achieve a presence-less, paperless, and cashless environment, promoting digital payments as a cornerstone of economic progress. These…

The deity Shrikrushna reportedly appeared in a dream to Vinod Singh’s 13-year-old daughter, Pooja, in Safaura village, revealing that a statue of the deity was buried near a nearby Muslim shrine. Initially dismissed, Pooja’s insistence, accompanied by a 10-day hunger strike, led her family to take her seriously. With her father’s support, they, along with other villagers, located the spot marked by Pooja, about 100 feet from the shrine, where they unearthed an ancient copper statue of Shrikrushna, approximately one foot tall. Vinod Singh placed the statue on his farm, 1.55 miles away, where it became a focal point for…

David Isom, US Navy Fleet Master Chief, emphasized India’s crucial position in worldwide alliances, especially in protecting global waterways. On February 23, he underscored India’s significance in protecting the free and open Indo-Pacific, ensuring freedom of commerce and access to sea lanes for all nations. Isom emphasized the growing relationship between India and the US, stressing India’s crucial contribution alongside other partners and allies. He expressed optimism about deepening partnerships with countries like Australia, the UK, Canada, and France, emphasizing the importance of these alliances for the future. Air Marshal Robert Chipman, Chief of the Air Force, Australia, echoed Isom’s…

Indian American Impact, an organization dedicated to supporting South Asian American candidates and mobilizing South Asian voters in the United States, has commended the introduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the Senate. Expressing gratitude to Senators Durbin, Warnock, Schumer, and others for reintroducing the act, Indian American Impact posted on X, highlighting the significance of the legislation in enabling historically marginalized communities to participate more fully in the democratic process. The bill, reintroduced by Senators Booker, Warnock, Schumer, Blumenthal, Butler, and Durbin, aims to update and restore critical protections outlined in the original Voting Rights…