Ten eminent Indian Americans, including renowned authors Amitav Ghosh and Jhumpa Lahiri, have been elected to the esteemed American Academy of Arts & Sciences, established in 1780 to assist a fledgling nation in confronting its challenges.
The 250 individuals selected in 2024 are being honored for their outstanding contributions and are tasked with upholding the Academy’s mandate of fostering collaboration across various fields, as per an official statement.
David Oxtoby, President of the Academy, lauded these individuals from diverse backgrounds, acknowledging their achievements and the determination, creativity, and bravery required to excel. He invited them to join the Academy in addressing significant issues and promoting the common good.
Among the ten Indian American members elected in 2024, representing 31 expertise areas, are notable figures such as Sourav Chatterjee and Akshay Venkatesh in Mathematics, Geeta J. Narlikar in Biochemistry, Vivek Malhotra in Cellular and Developmental Biology, and Uma Ramakrishnan in Evolution and Ecology. Literary talents Amitav Ghosh and Jhumpa Lahiri were also elected, alongside educational leader Satish K. Tripathi and cultural advocate Vijay Gupta.
Goodwin Liu, Chair of the Board and Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court, emphasized the organization’s commitment to excellence and diverse expertise, building upon the foundation laid by its founders.
The newly elected members are called upon to reaffirm their dedication to the greater good by advancing the Academy’s nonpartisan, interdisciplinary efforts in arts, democracy, education, global affairs, and science.
Induction ceremonies for the new members are scheduled to take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in September 2024.
