Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

On January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony for the Ayodhya Ram temple. This seven-day consecration event, starting on Tuesday, will culminate in a grand ceremony attended by numerous VVIP guests. The construction of the Ram temple commenced after the Supreme Court resolved the long-standing dispute in November 2019. Thirty-three years ago, Lal Krishna Advani initiated a rath yatra to build the temple, and among those accompanying him was Narendra Modi, now the Prime Minister. Advani expressed in an article his hope that Modi’s consecration of the temple would symbolize unity for…

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has announced its 2023 Class of Fellows, which includes 16 Indian American inventors among the 162 academic inventors selected. Being elected as an Academy Fellow is considered the highest professional distinction exclusively for inventors. The honorees will receive their medals at the NAI 13th Annual Meeting on June 18, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina, where a senior official of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will present the awards. This year’s class emphasizes diversity, with underrepresented inventors making up 33% of the fellows. The list of Indian American inventors in the 2023…

In preparation for the upcoming Ram Temple consecration ceremony, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated ‘Divya Ayodhya,’ a mobile app dedicated to tourism, aimed at enhancing the navigation experience for devotees and tourists exploring Ayodhya. This comprehensive platform caters to diverse needs, including itinerary planning, uncovering hidden gems, and immersing visitors in Ayodhya’s cultural tapestry. Detailed descriptions and timetables accompany information on key landmarks, temples, monasteries, and historical sites. The app simplifies the booking process for e-cars and e-buses, offering real-time route tracking and convenient boarding and deboarding options. Users can also reserve accommodations such as homestays, hotels, or…

The State Science and Technology and Biotechnology department have collaborated with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) to conduct a comprehensive study on factors influencing river migration. This initiative, funded by the department, involves a two-year project in partnership with the Regional Remote Sensing Centre–East. The study gains significance following tragic incidents in October 2022 and 2023, involving flash floods in Jalpaiguri’s Malbazar and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Sikkim’s Chungthang, causing significant loss of lives. Under the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISRO, the project focuses on analyzing rivers in the Alluvial Gangetic Plain, Himalayan foothill…

The Ayodhya administration is undertaking a groundbreaking effort to install the world’s longest solar light line ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony. Initially spanning from Guptar Ghat to Jhunki Ghat, the project is now extending further to Nayaghat, connecting previously segmented ghats seamlessly. In preparation for the Lord Ram Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is set to launch a massive cleanliness campaign in Ayodhya from Makar Sankranti. Following this, a statewide cleanliness campaign will be initiated by the Urban Development and Panchayati Raj Departments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to preside…

India’s ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, is approaching the conclusion of his tenure in Washington DC, with retirement scheduled by the end of January. With a career spanning over 35 years in government, Sandhu assumed the role of ambassador in DC in 2020. Beginning his diplomatic journey in 1988, he served as Third Secretary (political) in the Soviet Union (Russia) and later as Second Secretary of the Indian Mission in the Soviet Union until 1992. Post the Soviet Union’s dissolution, Sandhu played a crucial role in opening a new embassy in Ukraine, serving as head of political…

Nikki Haley, the Republican Presidential candidate, exhibited a strong presence in the Jan. 10 debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, securing the second position in various polls. However, pundits, including her former rival Chris Christie, predict a challenge against former President Donald Trump as the primaries commence. Christie withdrew from the campaign just before the debate, leaving Haley to face Florida Governor Ron DeSantis alone. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, unable to meet the 10 percent threshold in three separate polls, did not participate in the debates. Polling consistently below 7 percent, both Haley and DeSantis are grappling for…

NASA has initiated its first mission of 2024 under the CLPS initiative, sending five payloads to the Moon on Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander. Dr. Sharad Bhaskaran, originally from India and the Mission Director, leads the engineering team at Astrobotic Technology Inc. in Pittsburgh. Following Israel’s 2019 mission, this endeavor achieves major milestones, including the first U.S. lunar landing in over five decades and the inaugural flight of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket. Formerly associated with Lockheed Martin, Bhaskaran brings 25 years of experience to Astrobotic, where he directs the development of a commercial robotic lunar lander for transporting payloads. A mechanical engineering…

During the 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, global business leaders expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India. Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron, acknowledged the PM’s vision for semiconductor manufacturing, with Micron’s facility in Gujarat set to be operational by early 2025, creating numerous jobs. ArcelorMittal Chairman Lakshmi Mittal praised PM Modi’s emphasis on institutionalized frameworks for events like Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki credited PM Modi for supporting manufacturing industries, highlighting India’s status as the 3rd largest automobile market globally. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani lauded PM Modi’s…

Dr. Ajay K. Nangia, an Indian American urologist, has been honored with a presidential citation by the American Urological Association (AUA). This recognition, set to be presented at the annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in May, acknowledges Dr. Nangia’s notable contributions to male reproductive medicine and surgery. Serving as a professor of urology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, he holds a unique position as the sole fellowship-trained male infertility specialist in the metropolitan Kansas City area, boasting a decade of expertise. Dr. Nangia’s involvement extends to various prestigious organizations, including the American Urological Association, Society of Male…