Earlier this month, Congressman Pete Sessions and Representative Elise Stefanik jointly announced the establishment of the Congressional Hindu Caucus in the 118th Congress. This caucus, chaired by the two representatives, is dedicated to representing the values significant to the Hindu-American community, encompassing individuals from diverse countries such as India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the United Kingdom,Bhutan, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Since its inception during the 115th Congress, the caucus has played a crucial role in fostering connections between the Hindu-American community and lawmakers in Washington, D.C. The Congressional Hindu Caucus advocates for principles including free enterprise, fiscal discipline,…
Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee
Salina Shah
Ashwin Ramaswami, an Indian American software engineer with experience in election security and technology law and policy research, is running for the Georgia State Senate to represent District 48. If successful, he would be the first Indian American and Gen Z member in the Georgia State Senate, holding degrees in computer science and law. Ramaswami, a Democrat, announced his candidacy after the indictment of the Republican incumbent, Senator Shawn Still, for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. Advocating for lower costs, increased economic opportunities, expanded healthcare access, and the defense of democratic institutions, Ramaswami emphasized his commitment to the…
The University of Illinois Springfield has appointed Priyanka Deo Jain as the new assistant director of media strategy within the Department of Media Strategy. Jain, previously associated with The Times of India Group in New Delhi, India, served a significant role in the chief operating officer’s office and hosted her own digital show. With experience at Associated Broadcasting as an anchor and deputy editor in English, Jain is a national political commentator in India and was part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s communications team during the 2019 Lok Sabha national elections. Having gained recognition globally for her impactful work,…
New York is poised to host a high-stakes clash between cricket rivals India and Pakistan in the first group stage of the T20 World Cup next year, targeting cricket enthusiasts in the South Asian community in America. The USA, co-hosting with the West Indies, will see India, Pakistan, and eight other nations play their opening group-stage games. The anticipated India-Pakistan face-off is expected to unfold in a new 34,000-seat modular stadium in Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, New York, a strategic move given the substantial Indian and Pakistani population in the region. With just three venues confirmed, including Central Broward Park…
Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including an Indian American, have created a robotic replica of the heart’s right ventricle, emulating the beating and blood-pumping action of live hearts. Combining real heart tissue with synthetic, balloon-like artificial muscles, the robo-ventricle allows scientists to control contractions and observe natural valves. Tunable to mimic healthy and diseased states, it was manipulated to simulate conditions like right ventricular dysfunction. The team tested cardiac devices, implanting a mechanical valve to observe pumping changes. The robotic ventricle serves as a realistic platform for studying disorders and testing therapies. The MIT engineers, led by…
Avaya CEO Alan Masarek highlighted India’s pivotal role as a growth engine for the global customer experience solutions leader. The company is experiencing increased demand in India, especially from enterprises seeking to integrate artificial intelligence into customer experiences. Major Indian clients include Airtel, State Bank of India, and the Government. Avaya’s contact center solutions are utilized in critical services like the National Emergency Response Services and Aadhaar. Masarek emphasized the impact of Avaya’s AI-focused innovations developed by R&D teams in Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Gurugram, where a third of the company’s engineers are based. Avaya sees Indian enterprises viewing their…
Smital Dhake, an Indian-origin data scientist, recently earned the title of ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at the Railstaff Awards in Birmingham, an event that acknowledges contributions to the UK railways. Hailing from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, Dhake pursued secondary education in England at Watford Grammar School and later returned to India to complete a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Poona University in 2019. After obtaining an MSc in Robotics from King’s College London and gaining experience with Qualcomm’s Embedded Systems group, Dhake joined Alstom, a global transportation specialist, at their Hatfield, Hertfordshire base in the UK. Working on…
Bristow Group, a global leader in vertical flight solutions, has appointed Shefali Shah to its board of directors. Currently holding the positions of Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and General Counsel at Avaya Holdings Corp, Shah is responsible for overseeing strategic initiatives. Shah’s previous experience includes a role at Era Group (now Bristow Group Inc.), where she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. Notably, she played a key role in Era’s transition to an independent public company, managing legal, human resources, and corporate communications functions. Commenting on Shah’s appointment, Chris Bradshaw, the director, president, and…
Conservatives have selected Vinay Raniga, a British-Indian doctor renowned for his nonprofit work in dental education, as their nominee for the Oxford representative in the upcoming 2024 UK general election. The 30-year-old dental surgeon, based in Oxford West and Abingdon, shared his candidacy on social media, emphasizing his dedication to improving the National Health Service (NHS). Raniga launched his campaign with a focus on “dignity and accountability of public service,” expressing gratitude to the community for entrusting him with their support. In a recent post, he outlined his commitment to better leadership, service, and governance for Oxford West & Abingdon.…
Among the distinguished recipients of the 2024 Marshall Scholarship, which facilitates American scholars in pursuing graduate education in the UK, is Hari Choudhari—an Indian-origin student. Currently enrolled in International Politics with minors in History and German at Georgetown University, Hari will embark on his graduate studies in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University Belfast. Subsequently, he will pursue an MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College London. The program received 1006 applications from across the US this year, with Hari selected from this competitive pool. Hari has distinguished himself through a series of internships, including roles…
