Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

In an event held at his residence in the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed greetings to the global community and the Christian community on Christmas. Emphasizing the inclusive values advocated by Jesus Christ, Modi highlighted the importance of compassion, service, and justice for all in Christ’s teachings. He referred to these values as a ‘guiding light’ in the development journey of his government. During the event, PM Modi acknowledged Christmas as a day celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, underscoring the significance of Christ’s ideals of kindness and service. Modi noted that Christ worked towards establishing an inclusive…

Ayodhya’s railway station is undergoing a comprehensive transformation, featuring refurbished platforms, new signboards, escalators, lifts, and murals depicting Lord Ram on its walls. The revitalization, designed to emulate the aesthetics of a temple, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As tourists flock to the temple town ahead of the Ram Temple consecration on January 22, they marvel at the ongoing work that seamlessly blends modern amenities with elements of Hindu mythology. Scheduled for completion in two phases, the initial phase nears its conclusion and focuses on enhancing the platform areas. The subsequent phase will witness the…

Karthik Rao, an experienced Indian American business executive, has assumed the position of CEO at Nielsen, a global leader in TV audience measurement and analytics. With an extensive 23-year career at Nielsen, Rao takes over from David Kenny, who served as CEO since 2018 and will transition to the role of Executive Chairman. Rao, who has been the CEO of Nielsen’s Audience Measurement business since early 2023, focuses on driving and evolving audience measurement amid industry disruption. His primary goal is to establish a universal currency for media distribution and consumption models globally. Expressing enthusiasm for the new role, Rao…

Suhas Subramanyam, an Indian American technocrat, remains steadfast in defending reproductive rights despite the Loudoun County Republican party’s efforts to ban him from houses of worship in Northern Virginia due to his pro-choice stance. Subramanyam, running for the US Congress in Virginia’s 10th District, expressed pride in championing reproductive rights and called the suggestion of banning pro-choice Virginians from practicing their faith “outrageous.” Responding to the Loudoun Republican party committee’s call to deny him access to houses of worship, Subramanyam affirmed his commitment to practicing his faith and celebrating religious diversity in Virginia’s 10th District. He vowed not to back…

In New Hampshire, Indian American presidential candidate Nikki Haley has shown a notable surge, doubling her support to 30% since September, challenging the consistent lead held by former President Donald Trump at 44%, according to a recent Saint Anselm College Survey Center poll. This data indicates a significant shift, with Haley gaining momentum while her closest competitor, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, drops from 11% to 5%. Former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie experienced a slight increase in support, reaching 12%. The Saint Anselm College survey, conducted between Dec 18-19, encompassed 1711 likely voters in New Hampshire, presenting a margin of…

The announcement of the third annual Samvid Scholars list, which was revealed on December 18, featured Avi Gupta, a student of Indian origin currently enrolled in the class of 2026 at Yale Law School. Among a pool of over 1,000 applicants nationwide, Gupta was one of the 20 students selected for the prestigious scholarship. Expressing his gratitude on LinkedIn, Gupta remarked, “I’m honored and excited to have been selected as a 2023 Samvid Scholar. I feel truly fortunate to have the chance to learn from such an inspiring group of young leaders from across the country.” Established in 2021 by…

The recent visit of Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir to the United States involved significant meetings with high-ranking officials such as US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The discussions during these meetings encompassed topics like India’s Supreme Court verdict on the amendment of Article 370 and the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. General Munir’s visit came shortly after a devastating attack by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on a security forces checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the tragic loss of 23 Pakistani soldiers. Notably, Secretary Blinken condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Pakistan…

Abhijit Banerjee, an Indian American economist, has been granted the Tagore Prize for Social Achievement 2023 during the sixth Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize ceremony at the India International Centre in New Delhi. This accolade acknowledges his significant contributions to social welfare. In expressing his gratitude, Banerjee emphasized the vital role of addressing societal issues collectively for a better world. Currently serving as the Ford Foundation International professor of economics at MIT and a Nobel laureate since 2019, Banerjee’s work in development economics and the establishment of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) in 2003 underscore his commitment to…

Bianca Jain, a ninth-grade student of Indian origin, secured victory in the Congressional App Challenge within New York’s 17th Congressional District. The Briarcliff High School freshman developed an app aimed at raising awareness about cancer causes, driven by a personal connection to the ailment. Motivated by limited awareness about cancer despite its status as a leading cause of death, Jain set out to dispel the notion that genetics play a predominant role. Her app includes a questionnaire allowing users to assess their risk based on lifestyle and background. Jain’s research and app earned her recognition in the Congressional App Challenge,…

Champat Rai, the general secretary of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, revealed the trust’s action plan for the Ram Temple consecration ceremony on January 22 in Ayodhya. Rai, also the International Vice President of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), stated that the guest list, including individuals from various fields, has been finalized, and invitations have been dispatched. The invitees encompass artists, poets, industrialists, doctors, scientists, and families of kar sevaks who sacrificed during the Ram Mandir struggle. Three idols are being crafted from stones sourced from Karnataka and Rajasthan. The best idol will be selected in early January for the consecration…