Category: NRI News
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Haley hails vote to remove slavery era flag
South Carolina’s Indian American Governor Nikki Haley hailed the state Senate’s vote to remove the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds three weeks after a white man shot dead nine African-Americans in a historic black church, writes Arun Kumar for Asian Lite, Britain’s leading Asian newspaper. Haley, a Republican, who took the lead in…
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NRI physicians launch research foundation
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The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic association of medical professionals in the US, has launched a Scientific, Academic Research Foundation (SARF) for supporting key academic research initiatives. The pioneering initiative was launched during a solemn ceremony, attended by physicians, community leaders and international media personnel at the Indian Consulate…
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NRI’s honoured as “The Pride of America”
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By Arun Kumar Four Indian-Americans are among 38 individuals being honoured for having “helped advance and enlighten our society, culture, and economy” as “Great Immigrants: The Pride of America” by Carnegie Corporation of New York. As a July 4th American independence day “Salute to Great Immigrants Who Help Make America Strong” and their accomplishments, the…
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NRI named World Agriculture Prize laureate
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By Arun Kumar R. Paul Singh, a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of California, Davis, has been named as the 2015 Global Confederation for Higher Education Associations for Agriculture and Life Sciences World Agriculture Prize laureate. Singh, an agricultural engineering graduate from India’s Punjab Agricultural University, has been recognized for a body of research…
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Rights group sue Jindal
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A gay rights advocacy group and the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana are suing Louisiana’s Indian-American governor Bobby Jindal for issuing an executive order aimed at protecting opponents of same-sex marriage….reports Asian Lite News. Jindal signed the religious freedom executive order in May hours after the Louisiana Legislature refused to pass a bill that…
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Obama praises Nikki Haley
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By Arun Kumar President Barack Obama praised South Carolina’s Indian-American governor Nikki Haley for calling for the removal of slavery era Confederate flag from the State Capitol grounds 150 years after the end of the US Civil War. “For too long, we were blind to the pain that the Confederate flag stirred in too many…
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Bobby Jindal goes bonkers after Supreme Court rulings
By Arun Kumar Finding himself at odds with the US Supreme Court over its two landmark judgements upholding healthcare law and same-sex marriage, Louisiana’s Indian-American governor Bobby Jindal wants to get rid of the court. “Thursday, the Supreme Court had its say on Obamacare; soon, the American people will have theirs,” wrote the newly minted…
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‘We are Americans’: Jindal
By Arun Kumar Louisiana’s Indian-American governor Piyush “Bobby”Jindal launched a historic bid for the US presidency recalling his parents’ journey to the land of “real opportunities” yet seeking to distance himself from his heritage. His dad, who “grew up in a house without electricity or running water” and “was the only person in his family…
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Haley’s call to remove secessionist flag intensifies
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As South Carolina’s Indian-American governor Nikki Haley channelled the outrage over Charleston church massacre with a call to remove the Confederate flag, the campaign against the slavery-era secessionist banner intensified. By Arun Kumar Heeding Haley’s call, lawmakers made debating whether to remove the flag from the State House grounds an urgent matter as protestors rallied…
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Bobby Jindal set to join White House race
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Louisiana governor Piyush “Bobby”Jindal is widely expected to launch a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, becoming the first Indian-American and 13th Republican to join the 2016 White House race….reports Asian Lite News. By Arun Kumar “If I decide to announce on June 24th that I will seek the Republican nomination for President, my candidacy…
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US senator to be honoured as ‘Friend of India’
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A leading Indian community organisation will honour a US senator as a Friend of India with five outstanding achievers of the Indian American community at its annual awards banquet in Stamford…. reports Asian Lite News. The Connecticut chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has selected senior Democratic senator from Connecticut,…
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Sikh student can keep his turban in US army
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By Arun Kumar A Sikh college student will be able to join the US Army, without being forced to cut his hair, shave his beard or stop wearing his turban thanks to a Washington court ruling…..Reports Asian Lite News. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled last week that the Army violated Hofstra University student…
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Jeevanantham’s spice trail to Moscow
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By Venkatachari Jagannathan At P. Jeevanantham’s chain of retail outlets selling Indian spices and other food items in Russia, Russians are his major customers and not Indians. No, his Russian customers are not cooking Indian food at their homes, but buy the spices for their medicinal properties. “When I started the Indian Spices Shop…
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From US to Himalayas in search of ….
Karan Bajaj, the author of best selling The Seeker, says his journey from New York to Himalayas inspired the book…. Kavita Bajeli-Datt meets Karan He left his cushy job as a top executive in a New York firm to search for that elusive answer about death and suffering. After a year-long sabbatical through a Buddhist retreat in the…
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Three NRI’s shortlisted for White House Fellowship
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Three Indian Americans are among the national finalists for the 2015-16 White House Fellowship that offers exceptional Americans first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government…reports Asian Lite News. By Arun Kumar Luxme Hariharan, Payal Patel and Anil Yallapragada are among those representing “an accomplished and diverse cross-section of professionals from…
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Telangana Jagruti celebrates one year of statehood
To coincide with the one-year anniversary date of Telangana, the 29th state of India, the The UK chapter of Telangana Jagruthi, organised an event on Saturday 6th June 2015 at the Shri Guru Ravi Dass Sabha in Manor Park, London reports Asian Lite, UK’s leading newspaper popular among British Asians. The event’s Chief Guests were Stephen Timms, MP, Councillor Paul Satheanesan and Pavani Reddy,…
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NRI digital art explores police gunbattle deaths in US
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An Indian-American digital artist and educator has produced an interactive multimedia installation to explore the problem of killings in police gunbattles in the US which result in at least two deaths every day according to a media estimate. The “Hands Up” digital exhibit is about “generating empathy”, said Roopa Vasudevan, who created it with fellow…
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Trinidad and Tobago marks 170 years of Indian arrivals
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Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, a person of Indian origin, has commemorated the 170th anniversary of the first arrival of East Indians in the island nation, saying that ethnic Indians were a privileged lot. In her Indian Arrival Day message on Friday, Persad-Bissessar said it was “an honour and privilege” to have influence…
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Indian American students Spelling Bee co-winners
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Two Indian American students have jointly won the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition. Vanya Shivashankar, 13, of Olathe, Kansas, and Gokul Venkatachalam, 14, of Chesterfield, Missouri, were declared co-champions on Thursday night, CNN reported. Vanya correctly spelt ” scherenschnitte” and Gokul did likewise with “nunatak”. In this year’s national championship, 285 spellers competed for the…
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Most UK migrant entrepreneurs are Asian
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Migreat, the online platform that facilitates migration by providing accurate, clear and understandable information around all aspects of immigration has published a new report titled “Open Borders to Entrepreneurs & Innovators” that compares 12 start-up visa schemes worldwide and their results. The “Open Borders to Entrepreneurs & Innovators” was produced to draw attention to visa…
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NRI scientist creates first single-molecule device
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A team of Columbia Engineering researchers led by an Indian-American scientist Latha Venkataraman has created a single-molecule electronic device which has a potential of real-world technological applications for nanoscale devices. Under the direction of Venkataraman, researchers created a single-molecule diode which performs 50 times better than all prior designs. Constructing a device where the active…
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Prevent Blindness elects Bradly D’Souza to the Board of Directors
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The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness, the state’s leading volunteer nonprofit public health organization dedicated to its mission to prevent blindness and preserve sight, elected Cincinnati resident Bradly D’Souza, Product Specialist, Tesla Motors, to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting on May 18, 2015 for a three year term. Bradly, also a student…
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‘Sikh Samaritan’ gets new furniture
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The Sikh man who captured the hearts across the globe when he took off his sacred turban to cradle a boy’s head who had been hit by a car has been rewarded for his kind act after a generous business owner donated new furniture for his sparse home. Harman Singh, 22, didn’t think twice about…
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NRI kid graduates with three degrees in US
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An 11-year-old Indian-American kid, has graduated from a Californian college with three associate degrees in math, science and foreign language studies. At an age, when most kids of his age are busy scrolling through iPads or smartphones, this Indian American is different. Tanishq Abraham is now the youngest person to graduate from American River College…
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Wokingham gets a Sikh Mayor
Indian-origin councillor Parvinder Singh Batth was chosen as the mayor of Britain’s Wokingham Borough Council, the first Sikh to hold the position, media reported on Friday. “Being born in Punjab to a farming family, I come from a humble background,” he said while officially taking over his post. “However I now feel even more humbled…
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NRI scientist turns blood into nerve cells
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Stem cell scientists led by Mick Bhatia from the McMaster University have successfully converted adult human blood cells into neural cells. The team directly converted adult human blood cells to both central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) neurons as well as neurons in the peripheral nervous system (rest of the body) that are responsible…
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Chandy praises Modi for evacuating Keralites
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By Sanu George Politically he doesn’t agree with the prime minister but Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is happy that Narendra Modi helped evacuate Keralites from troubled spots in the Middle East. Asked to sum up one year of Modi’s rule at the head of the union government, Chandy expressed appreciation for all the assistance…
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Bobby Jindal testing waters for 2016
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By Arun Kumar Louisiana’s Indian-American Governor Bobby Jindal has taken another step towards a possible 2016 presidential run by forming an exploratory committee and launching a national website, www.bobbyjindal.com. Though Jindal has said he still isn’t an official candidate yet, he is expected to formally enter the race after the Louisiana Legislature adjourns on June…
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NRI professionals most successful in UK
People of Indian origin are most likely to be in elite professional and managerial roles in Britain, a study based on official census figures has found. According to a detailed analysis of the 2011 census, Indians are the most successful ethnic minority group with 15.4 per cent found in class 1 of eight occupational groups,…
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A Sikh Samaritan lauded worldwide
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A young Sikh from India who did not hesitate to break religious protocol by removing his turban to help an injured child bleeding profusely after an accident in New Zealand’s largest city of Auckland has earned worldwide praise. Harman Singh woke up on Sunday to hundreds of messages from around the world praising his humanity.…
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Sikh community outraged over smoking cartoon
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Sikhs in Australia have expressed outrage after a daily published a cartoon of a Sikh man smoking a cigar, a media report said. “You would never see a person of Sikh faith smoking — not even a cigarette, let alone a cigar, so it just seems out of context,” Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) quoted the…
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14-year-old NRI wins National Geographic Bee
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A 14-year-old Indian-American won this year’s National Geographic Bee, the contest about the geograophy IQ, in which the runner-up and the second runner-up are also of Indian origin. Karan Menon, an eighth-grader from New Jersey, fought off competition from 10 finalists, to win the annual contest, joining a long list of Indian-American winners. The win…
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‘Indian diaspora should move beyond culture’
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By Paras Ramoutar The Indian diaspora must move beyond culture, heritage and traditions into present day areas of sustainable development, according to a well-known academic here. Clement Sankat, principal of the St. Augustine Campus, University of the West Indies, said at the opening ceremony of the International Indian Diaspora Conference at the university on Tuesday…
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NRI scientist develops new tool for cancer diagnosis
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Rohit Bhargava, an IIT-Delhi graduate and now with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has developed stainless staining that provides a new tool for clinicians and researchers for better diagnosis of cancer. Till date, prepared biopsy samples are stained and examined under a light microscope. Using infrared spectroscopic imaging for microscopy, Bhargava has reported the development…
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Indian origin MPs remains at 10
The number of Indian-origin members in the new House of Commons following the British general elections will remain at 10, unchanged from the previous house. All sitting MPs were re-elected bar one. Paul Uppal of the Conservative party lost in Wolverhampton South West in the West Midlands of England. He was defeated by Rob Marris…
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Sikhs explain the turban to US lawmakers
By Arun Kumar Sikhs have to explain to American people what the turban means because that is the immediate source of their identification, according to the author of a new report on Sikhs in America presented to US lawmakers. “Sikhs have to explain what it symbolizes and what values it represents,” said Geoff Garin, former…
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NRI duo develop app to detect sleep apnoea
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A team of Indian-American researchers from the University of Washington (UW) has developed an app that uses a smartphone to wirelessly test for obstructive sleep apnoea in a person’s bedroom. Unlike other home sleep aponea tests in use, “ApneaApp” uses inaudible sound waves emanating from the phone’s speakers to track breathing patterns without the need…
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Kalyan withdraws ‘racist’ ad
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Kalyan Jewellers withdraw ‘racist’ ad featuring Aishwarya Jewellery brand Kalyan Jewellers on Thursday announced its decision to withdraw its Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer advertisement, which a group of activists has labelled as “insidiously racist”. “This creative was intended to present royalty, timeless beauty and elegance. If we have, inadvertently, hurt the sentiments of any individual or…
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INTERVIEW: Vivek Murthy
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By Arun Kumar Son of Indian immigrant parents, Dr. Vivek Murthy says his rise to the position of “America’s Doctor” was improbable but he got where he was by standing on principle. “As I look around this arena, I am struck by a simple truth: by any reasonable measure, I shouldn’t be standing here,” he…
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US seeks extradition of NRI UK trader
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US authorities have sought extradition from Britain of an Indian origin trader accused of contributing to the “flash crash” of 2010 that briefly wiped out nearly $1 trillion in stock market value. Navinder Singh Sarao, 36, from West London, appeared in a Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and said he would oppose extradition to the…
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Palani Kumanan shares Pulitzer Prize
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A software engineer of Indian descent shared The Wall Street Journal’s Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in growing recognition of the importance of using information technology tools for reporting as well as for presentation. Palani Kumanan, who is a software architect and technical lead with Dow Jones that publishes the Journal, was a part of…
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US Sikhs honour Eric Holder
The Sikh community here has honoured the US Attorney General Eric Holder with a siropa, a ceremonial robe of honour, and a Sewa Service Award for services to their community. Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF) of Rockville, Maryland and National Sikh Centre (NSC) of Washington, DC presented the award to Holder at a ceremony at…
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Hindu temple vandalised in US
In the latest attack on Hindu houses of worship in the US, a temple has been vandalised in Texas “horrifying” both Hindus and non-Hindus, who have offered to help the temple clean the damage, media reported. In the attack at the North Texas Hindu Mandir in Lake Highlands suburb of Dallas, vandals painted symbols of…
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New York gets its first NRI judge
By Arun Kumar Chennai born Raja Rajeswari, who came to America when she was 16, has become the first person of Indian descent to be named as a criminal court judge in New York City. Rajeswari, 43, an assistant district attorney at the Richmond County District Attorney’s office, who was nominated to the bench by…
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Modi gets a rock star welcome in Canada
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By Gurmukh Singh The Indo-Canadian community is set to give a rock star like welcome to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who landed here for his three-day visit. Modi was welcomed by Canadian Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney and Indian High Commissioner Vishnu Prakash and a large number of Indo-Canadian leaders on his arrival at Ottawa…
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Vaisakhi resolution introduced in US House
Sixteen US lawmakers led by Democrat John Garamendi have introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives, honouring the Sikh community’s celebration of Vaisakhi. The bipartisan resolution was co-sponsored among others by the lone Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera, Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, one of the largest…
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Obama names NRI Shamina Singh to key post
President Barack Obama has named yet another Indian-American as member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring in October 2019. The nomination of Shamina Singh, executive director of the MasterCard Centre for Inclusive Growth since December 2013, has been sent to the Senate, according…
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Indian Americans among biggest givers
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By Arun Kumar Two Indian Americans have been listed among the 50 biggest philanthropists of 2015 by the Town and Country Magazine with the likes of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Apple CEO Tim Cook. “These are the men and women whose serious dollars, bold ideas, and old-fashioned hard work have made them the year’s…
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Abhay K new director of London’s Nehru Centre
Poet-diplomat Abhay K. has been appointed the new director of the Nehru Centre, London. He will succeed current director Sangeeta Bahadur shortly. The Nehru Centre, London, since it started functioning in 1992, has had a number of illustrious names in the field of art and culture such as Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Girish Karnad, Pawan K. Varma…
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NRI develops new imaging technique
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A new imaging technique developed by an Indian American scientist will allow pathologists a peek into the structures of tissues and cells, enabling quicker and better diagnostic assessments. Rohit Bhargava, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois, led the team of researchers that developed the new technique that uses a combination of advanced…