Author: Malavika Subramanyan

Mani Bhaumik, a philanthropic physicist originally from India and now residing in the United States, has graciously donated one million US dollars to honor the often overlooked contributions of Indian scientist J C Bose, who played a key role in the development of wireless telegraphy. This generous donation will fund an esteemed award known as the IEEE Jagadish Chandra Bose Medal in Wireless Communications. The purpose of this award is to recognize and commend promising young scientists, with the inaugural awards ceremony scheduled to commence in 2025. J C Bose, a scientist and inventor, notably invented the detector for wireless…

On January 4, the U.S. Mission in India, in collaboration with the University of Mysore, officially revealed U.S.-funded conservation initiatives for the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion Folklore Museum in Karnataka. The project, supported by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), targets the West Wing of the museum and over 6,500 artifacts from Karnataka. The University of Mysore, partnering with the Deccan Heritage Foundation, leads the restoration efforts expected to conclude in 2025. Christopher W. Hodges, U.S. Consul General Chennai, highlighted the AFCP grant’s significance, emphasizing community engagement and expressing America’s friendship and respect for India’s cultural heritage. The Jayalakshmi Vilas…

Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Indian-American president of the Rockefeller Foundation, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Federal Reserve System’s Board of Governors designated Shah as a Class C director, serving a three-year term until December 31, 2026. This role entails representing the public’s interests, according to a statement from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Leading The Rockefeller Foundation since 2017, Shah has been dedicated to advancing global well-being. Before his foundation tenure, he founded and managed Latitude Capital, a private equity firm focused on infrastructure and energy…

Members holding either Indian or non-Indian passports are now permitted to make contributions to the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth website. Social activist Prem Bhandari had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enable the global Indian diaspora to support the Ram Temple’s development. Expressing gratitude to PM Modi, Bhandari emphasized the historic significance of the upcoming Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22. This marks a unique opportunity for Indian devotees worldwide to contribute to the temple’s construction, creating a connection to the monumental event after 550 years. Bhandari lauded the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, attributing the realization…

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, led by Anjon Audhya, are utilizing cutting-edge cell imaging and genome editing technology to investigate the mechanisms employed by a group of proteins in carrying out crucial functions. This breakthrough has the potential to deepen the understanding of various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and those impacting immune function, ultimately contributing to the development of novel treatments. Anjon Audhya, a professor in the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, heads the research team focused on unraveling the functioning of Coat Protein Complex II (COPII). Recently published in Nature Communications, their findings draw parallels between COPII and…

On January 2, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy garnered support from former Iowa legislator Steve King. King, who served on key committees until 2019, enthusiastically endorsed Ramaswamy for President, praising his intelligence and principled stance on the Constitution. Expressing a desire for a strong defender of the constitution, King highlighted Ramaswamy’s commitment to restoring American exceptionalism. In an endorsement video, King urged people to caucus for Ramaswamy on January 15, emphasizing his dedication to the people’s rights and commitment to building a border wall. In response, Ramaswamy characterized King’s endorsement as coming from a true patriot rather than a politician. Defending…

After the Ayodhya temple trust finalized the idol of Lord Ram Lalla for consecration, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that Karnataka’s renowned sculptor, Arun Yogiraj, will craft the idol for the grand Ram temple. Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa expressed joy, praising the sculptor and expressing pride in the idol’s selection. Arun Yogiraj, inspired by his father and grandfather, embarked on his sculpting journey. Despite a brief corporate stint, his passion for sculpture led him back in 2008. Known for iconic sculptures like a 30-ft Subhash Chandra Bose statue, a 12-ft Adi Shankaracharya statue, and others,…

On January 1, the Town of Brighton welcomed its inaugural Indian-American criminal judge, Vikram Vilkhu, who assumed the role as a Justice in the Brighton Town Court. Born to Indian immigrants in the U.S., Vilkhu, a Democrat, also made history as the first Sikh to be elected in New York State. Indian American Senator Jeremy Cooney applauded Vilkhu’s candidacy in December 2023, emphasizing the importance of expanding representation for the rapidly growing Asian American minority in New York. Cooney highlighted the significance of cultural diversity in elected officials, especially for the younger generation to witness faces that resonate with their…

On the inaugural day of 2024, India celebrated the successful launch of its X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) in a momentous event at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C58 carried XPoSat and 10 experimental payloads, marking ISRO’s first space mission on January 1. The XPoSat, designed for polarisation measurements of X-ray emissions, achieved an excellent orbit at an altitude of 650 km. Post XPoSat deployment, the rocket’s fourth stage will serve as an orbital platform for experiments, emphasizing sustainability by avoiding additional space debris. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath highlighted the mission’s success, emphasizing the precise orbit accomplishment…

Rujul Gandhi, a scholar of Indian origin associated with the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, is actively involved in pioneering investigations that explore the intersection of computer science and linguistics. During her undergraduate years at MIT, Gandhi initiated the exploration of this interdisciplinary fusion and has since become a crucial figure in projects poised to transform communication between humans and artificial intelligence, as reported by MIT. Her primary focus lies in developing a parser designed to translate natural language instructions into machine-compatible formats. When dealing with robots or interactive AI systems tasked with understanding and executing commands, the challenge is to…