Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

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…

The University of SiliconAndhra, a groundbreaking institution in the United States led by Indian Americans, is set for expansion with a new campus. Known for offering courses in Indian dances, languages, and cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, it aims to integrate a medical college and an international-standard cricket stadium into its facilities. Currently holding accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission, a recognized US Department of Education accrediting agency, the university has its main campus in Milpitas, California. President Anand Kuchibhotla highlighted the institution’s evolution, initially attracting students solely from the United States but now boasting a diverse…

The vibrant beats of ‘Garba’ echoed through Times Square as the Indian-American community celebrated its inclusion in UNESCO’s cultural heritage list. Braving near-freezing temperatures, diaspora members from the New York tri-state area gathered to perform the traditional dance. UNESCO’s recent recognition during its 18th session in Botswana marked ‘Garba of Gujarat’ as India’s 15th inscription on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Dressed in traditional attire, participants danced amidst Times Square’s iconic billboards, drawing attention from locals and tourists. Acting Consul General of India in New York, Dr Varun Jeph, emphasized the significance of celebrating Garba at this global crossroads, highlighting…