Author: Malavika Subramanyan

The Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) recently opened its doors in Orlando, Florida, driven by the vision of Indian American co-founders Dr. Kiran Patel and Dr. Pallavi Patel. Their aim is to address the shortage of physicians and residency programs in Central Florida. OCOM’s curriculum entails two years of on-campus didactic training, followed by two years of clinical rotations at affiliated hospital systems across Florida. The college has forged partnerships with over 26 hospitals and healthcare systems, including the Kiran Patel Institute for Graduate Medical Education, facilitating residency positions statewide. The inaugural class of 97 students is set to…

India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) recently conducted a milestone flight test of the Agni-5 missile, signifying a significant advancement in the country’s nuclear defense capabilities. The test, known as Mission Divyastra, occurred at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Analysts had been anticipating the test of India’s next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) armed with multiple warheads since the Agni-5’s initial full-range test in April 2012. The recent Agni-5 iteration features multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology, enabling it to deploy four to six warheads, each capable of striking separate targets hundreds of kilometers apart. While the…

Two Indian American women have been recognized on the 2024 Women’s Leadership Diversity IMPACT 50 List by Career Mastered Magazine. This distinction will be celebrated during the Career Mastered National Women’s History Leadership Summit’s 10th Anniversary event in May, held in Detroit. Dr. Malvika Iyer and Priya Kumar are the sole Indian American representatives on the list, curated by the magazine’s advisory board, editors, and partners across the nation. Each honoree was chosen based on their significant contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion throughout 2023. The overarching theme for this year’s list is ‘I AM RESILIENT.’ Dr. Malvika Iyer, an…

The inauguration of the first Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its inaugural Maha Shivratri festival nearly a month later. As worshippers across the country flocked to Shiva temples to honor the deity, the Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, managed by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), attracted devotees from various regions of the Gulf nation. The temple’s opening ceremony on February 14th, attended by thousands including Hindu saints, Mahant Swami ji Maharaj, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, set the stage for Friday’s vibrant celebration of Shivratri. Adorned with colorful…

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…