Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

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…

In 2011, Arunima Sinha, a national-level volleyball player, faced a harrowing ordeal when she was pushed from a moving train by assailants demanding her gold chain. This resulted in the loss of her left leg, which had to be amputated below the knee. Despite this traumatic incident, Sinha persevered and eventually made history by becoming the first female amputee to conquer Mount Everest, earning her the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2015. Sinha recounts the horrific experience of being attacked on the train, where she fought off multiple assailants despite receiving no help from fellow passengers. Left injured and abandoned…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the transformative potential of the semiconductor industry for India’s youth during the ‘India’s Techade: Chips for Viksit Bharat’ program. He highlighted the significance of the semiconductor initiative in providing opportunities for capable youth. According to him, India’s talent pool in chip design and manufacturing contributes to completing the nation’s talent ecosystem in the semiconductor sector. PM Modi underscored the awareness among today’s youth about the emerging opportunities in sectors like space and mapping, which are being opened up for them. He attributed India’s rise as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally to unprecedented incentives and support,…

Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-born American astronaut, tragically met her demise aboard the Columbia space shuttle during an accident on February 1, 2003. Among those lost in the calamity were Rick Husband, David M. Brown, William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, Ilan Ramon, and Laurel Clark. Hailing from Karnal, Haryana, Chawla developed a fascination for aircraft and flight from an early age. Accompanying her father to local flying clubs, she nurtured her passion for aviation. She attended Tagore Baal Niketan Senior Secondary School in Karnal before obtaining a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College. In pursuit of…

In his address at the Chennai Literature Festival, Kerala Governor Dr. Arif Mohammed Khan highlighted the unique aspects of Bharatiya civilization, emphasizing its inclusivity and the transcendent nature of its values, which go beyond distinctions of race, language, or faith. He particularly emphasized the concept of ‘Divinised Humanity’ and ‘Humanised Divinity’ embodied in Avatars. The festival, now in its fourth edition, featured renowned personalities from various fields across India, with a focus on the cultural renaissance symbolized by the construction of the Ram Mandir. Held at Hotel Savera in Mylapore, Tamil Nadu, the event included book launches, discussions, and presentations…

The Breakfast Revolution, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, and Share Our Strength, that work towards driving positive change in the child nutrition sector, announced the results of a survey conducted to gain insights into community perceptions about child nutrition in India and the extent of community awareness and engagement in addressing issues on child nourishment. As per the survey, a majority – 76% are aware of government schemes providing free meals to children in schools and more than half the respondents (57%) find the school feeding programs effective in addressing children’s nutritional needs. It is indeed heartening to find that 60% of the…

In 1966, India made history by electing its first female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. However, three years earlier, in 1963, the country witnessed another significant milestone with Sucheta Kripalani assuming office as the first female chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. On her 119th birthday, on June 25, 2017, it’s worth exploring her life and legacy, shedding light on her pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle and her subsequent political career post-independence. Born in 1908 in present-day Haryana’s Ambala, Sucheta Kripalani received her education at Delhi’s Indraprastha College and later became a professor of Constitutional History at Banaras Hindu University. Her…