Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Acclaimed Indian author Kiran Desai has made a triumphant return to the literary world after nearly two decades with her new novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, which has been shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. Desai, who won the 2006 Man Booker Prize for The Inheritance of Loss, re-emerges with a deeply layered love story exploring identity, belonging, and the Indian diaspora’s emotional complexities. Her latest novel follows Sonia and Sunny, two Indian-Americans navigating love, alienation, and heritage across continents. The story unfolds through complex relationships, generational legacies, and themes of displacement and self-discovery. Desai’s debut novel, The…

When Money Singh, an Indian American entrepreneur, moved from Punjab to San Francisco at 19, he faced isolation and uncertainty. Far from home, he battled depression and financial hardship, unaware that his determination would later turn him into a self-made millionaire in the United States. Singh’s first few years were challenging — he dropped out of college after discovering his credits from India wouldn’t transfer and took up small jobs to survive. Eventually, he joined his uncle’s cab business, starting out as a dispatcher earning $6 per hour. Over the next 12 years, he built his own five-car taxi fleet,…

In an unexpected move, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a series of fee reductions for the EB-5 investor visa program, marking one of the few instances where immigration-related costs are being lowered instead of raised. The EB-5 program offers foreign investors a path to U.S. permanent residency by investing in American job-creating enterprises. If the new rule is finalized, the primary EB-5 petition fee (Form I-526/I-526E) would decrease from $11,160 to $9,625 — a 14% reduction. Similarly, the fee for removing conditions on permanent residency (Form I-829) would fall from $9,525 to $7,860, a 17% cut. Even…

Indian High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh K. Patnaik attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Ottawa, reaffirming the shared cultural and spiritual connections between India and Canada. In his address, Patnaik said the upcoming temple would serve as a symbol of peace, service, and unity, reflecting the inclusive values that bind both nations. He was joined by his wife at the event, which brought together members of the Indo-Canadian community, BAPS volunteers, and local dignitaries. The envoy praised the BAPS organisation and its volunteers for their dedication to humanitarian and community initiatives that…

During his visit to Seychelles, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan emphasized India’s strong commitment to deepening its historic partnership with the island nation. In a meeting with Seychelles’ newly elected President, Patrick Herminie, at the State House in Victoria, Radhakrishnan reiterated India’s readiness to collaborate closely in areas crucial to Seychelles’ development—including healthcare, education, renewable energy, transportation, and maritime security. The Vice President extended warm greetings from the Government and people of India to President Herminie and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation for him to visit India at a mutually convenient time. This meeting marked a significant moment in…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur on Monday for a high-level discussion centered on strengthening India-US bilateral relations, addressing regional developments, and exploring global challenges. Taking to X, Jaishankar expressed satisfaction with the meeting, stating that he appreciated the meaningful conversation on enhancing ties and tackling global concerns. The dialogue came at a crucial juncture, as both nations continued discussions over a potential Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), signaling progress in one of the most significant economic dialogues between New Delhi and Washington. The talks followed a recent statement from India’s Commerce…

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) continues to dominate India’s digital payments landscape, contributing 85% of total payment volumes in the first half of calendar year 2025 (H1 CY25), according to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest Payment System Report. Despite this high volume, UPI’s share in total transaction value is only 9%, highlighting its predominant use for small-ticket retail payments. UPI has firmly established itself as the leading retail fast payment system (FPS) in India due to its round-the-clock availability, user-friendly interface, and instant settlement features. The number of UPI transactions has seen exponential growth, rising from 10.79 billion…

India is rapidly solidifying its role in the global aerospace supply chain, as major international manufacturers increasingly source aircraft components from the country. According to industry reports, domestic aerospace firms are scaling operations, moving up the value chain, and preparing to raise significant capital through initial public offerings (IPOs), with plans totaling roughly US$ 649 million (Rs. 5,700 crore). Favourable trade policies have supported this growth, with aerospace components attracting a 25% US import duty, considerably lower than the 50% levied on textiles and automotive parts. This tariff advantage has made India an increasingly attractive sourcing hub for global OEMs.…

 Walter Russell Mead, a distinguished authority on American foreign policy and Fellow at the Hudson Institute, has highlighted the strategic importance of deepening India-US relations. In a Wall Street Journal article titled ‘India still wants to work with Trump,’ Mead argued that closer ties with India provide a short-term solution to counter China and help establish a robust defensive coalition for the future. Despite recent tensions, he believes the Trump administration is well-positioned to elevate bilateral relations to a new level. Mead emphasized that cooperation in technology between the US, India, and allied nations such as Israel and Japan offers…

US President Donald Trump marked Diwali celebrations at the White House on Tuesday, extending warm greetings to the people of India and the Indian-American community. During the event, he lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him both a “great person” and a “great friend,” while emphasizing the strong ties between India and the United States in trade and regional security. Trump recounted his recent conversation with PM Modi, noting that their discussion touched on trade and maintaining peace in South Asia. “I just spoke to your Prime Minister today. Had a great conversation. We talked about trade… and although we…