Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) is gearing up for an expansive Ram Mandir Rath Yatra, slated to commence on March 25th. Embarking from Chicago on the auspicious occasion of ‘Holi’, the yatra is slated to traverse 851 temples across 48 states in the United States, covering a staggering distance of over 8,000 miles (12,800 km) within the span of 60 days. The journey symbolizes the culmination of fervent devotion for millions of Ram devotees, marking a significant milestone with the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Balak Ram on January 22nd. The celebration of this event reverberated worldwide, with elaborate…

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed hope that India would participate in a peace summit organized by Switzerland this summer and contribute to engaging Russia in negotiations. Kuleba, currently visiting New Delhi at the invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, proposed that India could potentially be the first non-Western nation to endorse Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace proposal aimed at resolving the conflict stemming from Russia’s invasion in February 2022. During discussions with Hindustan Times, Kuleba emphasized India’s potential to lead by openly supporting Zelenskyy’s peace formula, highlighting India’s influence, especially in the Global South, and its…

During the US-India Forum on Decarbonising Pathways, Mr. Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, commended India for its significant role in adopting renewable energy. He emphasized the importance of increased cooperation between New Delhi and Washington to combat climate change effectively. Mr. Garcetti stressed the urgent need to implement clean energy solutions to support sustainable economic development and safeguard vulnerable communities. Speaking about the strong partnership between the United States and India, Mr. Garcetti expressed confidence in India’s progress in renewable energy. He emphasized that both developed and developing nations share a collective responsibility in addressing climate change. Drawing…

India has transferred an additional US$ 60 million (INR/Nu 5 billion) to Bhutan for infrastructure development under the GyalSung Project, further solidifying their collaborative efforts. Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela presented the funds to Bhutan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mr. Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel. This follows the initial disbursement of US$ 60 million (INR/Nu 5 billion) on January 28, 2024, making it a total of US$ 120 million (INR/Nu 10 billion) provided by India as per the Memorandum of Understanding on concessional financing for the GyalSung Infrastructure Project. Signed in January 2024, the Memorandum of Understanding delineates the disbursement framework…

The latest Brand Finance Insurance 100 2024 report has acknowledged the exceptional performance of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), recognizing it as the foremost insurance brand. LIC maintains a steady brand value of US$ 9.8 billion, coupled with an impressive brand strength index score of 88.3 and an esteemed AAA brand strength rating. Following LIC, Cathay Life Insurance emerges as the second strongest brand, witnessing a 9% growth in brand value to US$ 4.9 billion, while NRMA Insurance experienced an impressive 82% surge in brand value to US$ 1.3 billion. In the fiscal year 2023, LIC achieved remarkable success…

Actress Kangana Ranaut is poised to enter the political arena by contesting the Lok Sabha election from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. The BJP recently unveiled its fifth list of candidates, selecting Kangana, a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to run from her hometown. Born in Bhambla near Manali, situated in Mandi district, Kangana expressed her gratitude and excitement at officially joining the party. Taking to the microblogging site X, Kangana conveyed her feelings of honor and elation, declaring her unwavering support for the BJP and its national leadership’s decision to nominate her…

Avani Chaturvedi, an esteemed officer and fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), achieved a historic milestone as the first Indian woman to solo fly a fighter aircraft. Born on October 27, 1993, in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Avani hails from an academically inclined family background. She pursued her Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Computer Science from Banasthali University in Rajasthan. In June 2016, Avani joined the Indian Air Force as a flying officer, marking her entry into the fighter stream alongside the inaugural batch of female pilots. Her groundbreaking achievement occurred on February 19, 2018, when she piloted a…

Ohio’s Indian American Republican State Senator Niraj Antani faced defeat in his bid for the US House of Representatives from the second Congressional District during the party primary. He was among 11 candidates vying to succeed retiring Rep. Brad Wenstrup. Antani secured 1,497 votes, placing him 10th with 1.8% of the total votes, according to The New York Times. Despite the setback, Antani plans to fulfill his Senate term until December 21. Expressing gratitude to his supporters, Antani conceded the race to David Taylor and extended his well wishes to him. Born and raised in Miami Township, Antani made history…

Preity Upala’s journey encompasses diverse roles, transitioning from an investment banker in Australia to a Hollywood and Bollywood actor, and now a film producer and podcast host in Los Angeles. Beyond her cinematic pursuits, she is recognized as a global strategist, sought after by international news organizations for her insights into diplomacy and foreign policy. Upala, a devout Hindu, perceives her varied endeavors as harmonious, drawing inspiration from the multifaceted aspects of the divine feminine within her cultural tradition. In Hindu theology, the goddesses symbolize different manifestations of Shakti, the primordial cosmic energy representing the divine feminine, complementing the masculine…

India’s recent economic performance showcases its resilience and dynamism, with a remarkable 8.4% GDP growth in the October-December quarter of 2023-24, the highest in six quarters. This positions India as the fastest-growing major economy globally, surpassing economic giants like China, the US, and the UK. The upward revision of the GDP growth estimate for the full fiscal year to 7.6% from 7.3% underscores a robust recovery from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This achievement rebuffs pessimistic forecasts of India’s economic downfall following the pandemic, demonetisation, and GST implementation. Contrary to predictions of stagnation or regression, empirical data affirms…