Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at the birth anniversary celebrations of Jain mystic Shrimad Rajchandraji. Referring to Modi as a ‘yugpurush’ (man of the generation), Dhankhar drew parallels between Mahatma Gandhi and Modi, noting that both leaders have reflected on the teachings of Shrimad Rajchandraji. Highlighting Gandhi’s role in securing India’s freedom through truth and non-violence, Dhankhar acknowledged Modi’s contribution in steering India towards long-cherished development goals. However, he expressed concern about forces opposing the nation’s growth and urged against hindering positive developments. During the event, Vice President Dhankhar received the Janakalyan Hitaishi…

In the 1960s, “Flower power,” a term symbolizing peace within the hippie culture, took on a new, literal meaning in the farms of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India. Led by Dr. Deepa Senapathi from the University of Reading, a team collaborated with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation to enhance crop yield and quality by strategically planting marigold, sunflower, sesame, cowpea, red gram, or black gram alongside crops like mango and moringa. The initiative aimed to attract a greater variety of bees and insects to these companion crops, subsequently improving pollination for main crops. Notably, the introduction of marigold amidst moringa…

In south-east England, a 13-year-old Yoga prodigy of Indian origin achieved Gold at the European Yoga Sports Championship in Sweden, adding to his impressive list of awards. Ishwar Sharma from Sevenoaks, Kent, began practicing Yoga at three, inspired by his father. Recently, he secured the Europe Cup 2023 in the Boys 12-14 category at the International Yoga Sports Federation event in Malmo. Passionate about advocating Yoga, especially for special needs children, Ishwar, diagnosed with autism and ADHD, actively engaged in teaching daily Yoga classes to 40 children across 14 countries during the lockdown. Recognized for his efforts, he received the…

In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of prioritizing products made in India while shopping for weddings. With the wedding season estimated at a substantial $59.99 million business, PM Modi encouraged citizens to support locally-made goods. He expressed concern about the growing trend of families conducting weddings abroad and questioned the necessity of such practices, advocating for celebrations on Indian soil. PM Modi highlighted the economic benefits, emphasizing that organizing weddings in India keeps the country’s money within its borders. Aligned with the ‘vocal for local’ initiative, he suggested that supporting local systems…

In a recent poll, Donald Trump maintains his lead for the 2024 Republican nomination, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 28%. Indian American candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley follow with 18% and 16% respectively. The survey, conducted by the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard and Harris Poll/HarrisX, covered public opinion on topics including a 6-week abortion ban and Biden’s policy on the Israel-Hamas situation. Regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, Biden’s policy garnered support, leading to a 45% approval rating. 80% of voters sided with Israel, and 58% approved of Biden’s approach. On the 6-week abortion ban, 41% of…

Dr. Mihir Meghani, a prominent Indian-American physician, emphasizes that Hinduism is not just a religion but a way of life. He has committed $4 million to support Hindu advocacy and awareness causes in the U.S. As the founder of the Hindu America Foundation (HAF) two decades ago, Dr. Meghani pledged an additional $1.5 million at the Silicon Valley gala, making his total contributions $4 million over 20 years. In an interview, Dr. Meghani clarified that his donations come from a sense of duty, as he and his wife are not high earners. The commitment to pro-India and Hindu organizations is…

On November 21, Speaker Robert Rivas appointed Ash Kalra, California’s Indian American Assemblymember, as the chair of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary. This committee oversees family law, product and tort liability, Civil Code, and Evidence Code, excluding criminal procedure. Expressing gratitude for the appointment, Kalra emphasized the critical role of the Judiciary Committee in safeguarding civil rights and ensuring a just legal system. With seven years of prior experience on the committee, he acknowledged the leadership of past chairs Stone and Maienschein. Speaker Rivas welcomed Kalra’s appointment, highlighting the fundamental role of the justice system in ensuring public safety and…

Purdue University students recently engaged in the Moonshot Pitch Challenge, a platform for ideation where they delivered concise two-minute pitches proposing solutions to intricate issues both in space and on Earth. Notably, two students of Indian descent, Suryansh Panwar and Ayush Karkare, secured first place in their respective categories, earning $1,500 each in cash prizes. Suryansh Panwar, an applied statistics student in the College of Science, clinched the top spot in the Moonshot category and Best Pitch. His project, Empyrean Energy, focuses on utilizing solar power from space to generate continuous, zero-emission energy on Earth. The innovative approach not only…

A new accelerator program, the Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE), has been launched by AIM, NITI Aayog, focusing on enhancing collaboration between Indian and Australian startups and small to mid-sized companies (SMEs) in the circular economy sector. Developed in partnership with the Australian national science agency, CSIRO, and India’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the RISE Accelerator aims to assist circular economy entrepreneurs from both nations. Tamara Ogilvie, Director of CSIRO, highlighted the program’s emphasis on startups and SMEs with established technologies seeking expansion across Australia and India. The RISE Accelerator aims to facilitate early steps in new regions, expedite…

Ranbir Kapoor discusses his role in “Animal,” emphasizing its uniqueness despite sharing traits with Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s past protagonists. Scheduled for release on December 1, the film features Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Bobby Deol. When questioned about accepting the role and if he watched Vanga’s previous films criticized for misogyny, Kapoor expressed being drawn to the script’s intensity and uniqueness. Although he acknowledges watching “Arjun Reddy” and “Kabir Singh,” his decision to take on “Animal” was based on the script, character, and the opportunity to collaborate with Vanga. Kapoor anticipates “Animal” offering a distinct experience and admits to portraying…