Indian-American Prof. Akhil Amar named for key post in US May 21, 2015 05:17
An Indian-American professor from Yale University was named by the US President Barack Obama as a member of the prestigious National Council on Humanities to honour his service and to utilize his abundant knowledge in the field of Law and Political Science. Mr. Akhil Amar has been serving as a Professor of Law and Political Science at the university since 2008. He also served as a professor at both Yale Law School and Yale College since 1985 and has held various professorships, including Southmayd Professor from 1993 to 2008, Professor from 1990 to 1993, Associate Professor from 1988 to 1990, and Assistant Professor from 1985 to 1988. He also worked as a law clerk to judge Stephen Breyer, then of the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, from 1984 to 1985. He is co-editor of a constitutional law Casebook, 'Processes of Constitutional Decision-making', and has written several other books on constitutional law. "I am confident that these outstanding individuals will serve the American people well, and I look forward to working with them," the President said in a statement. The Sterling professor is a member of the Board of Directors of the Constitutional Accountability Center and the Coalition of Freedom Advisory Board of the National Constitution Center and he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007. Professor Amar has received his BA from Yale College and a JD from Yale Law School. He was named a Senior Scholar by the National Constitution Center in 2000. -Kannamsai
Read More
US Lawmaker Apologises May 19, 2015 10:28
A veteran US house member stirred a major controversy by making a gesture mocking native Americans or American Indians. California Democrat Loretta Sanchez, who is opposing the state's Indian-American attorney general Kamala Harris for the party's nomination for a 2016 Senate run said that the candidates who don't hide behind the handlers sometimes misstep. While speaking to an American Indian group in Anaheim, she was caught on mobile phone video, raising her hand in front of her mouth and making a whooping sound like a typical native Indian 'war cry'. She said: "I'm going to his office, thinkin' that I'm gonna go meet with woo-woo-woo-woo, right? 'Cause he said 'Indian American.'" Sanchez apologised at the state convention, saying "in this crazy and exciting rush of meetings yesterday, I said something offensive and for that, I sincerely apologise." "Those of you who put yourselves out there like I do, who open your heart and who don't hide behind handlers you know how hard it can be," she said. "It's hard to put yourself out there and do what leaders need to do day in and day out. Sooner or later, we all make mistakes. We're all human. But that is the only way to truly connect with people. You can't change the world from behind a desk." It is outrageous that native Americans do not accept people whose ancestors have migrated to US even centuries back and the present generation is born and brought-up in America, as Americans, instead they term the migrants as Indian American or so.This is a kind of racist attitude. By Premji
Read More
Prestigious Intel Award for Indian-Origin student May 16, 2015 12:25
An Indian-Origin student has won the popular Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award on Friday. At the same event nine students from India have won awards in various categories. The 18-year-old Karan Jerath has secured the prize for his work on refining a system to help protect the seas from oil-drilling disasters. He is one among the five students to win Intel and Indo-US Science and Technology Forum Visit to India Award. The group of five will have to showcase their research projects in India. They can visit leading educational and scientific institutions in India. Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (IISEF) in Pitsburgh, honours the young and high school student scientists, inventors and engineers after several rounds of screening and competitions held across the world. This Indian American from Friendswood (Texas) was given the $50,000 Young Scientist Award, the second highest prize at the IISEF. The top prize, the $75,000 Gordon E. Moore Award, went to Raymond Wang, 17, of Canada. Among 17 students selected for the IISEF, nine students have been awarded in various departments. -Kannamsai
Read More
Indian Student Found dead in Auckland, two suspects arrested May 14, 2015 07:02
Indian youth from Karnal was found dead under suspicious circumstances at Mission Bay in Auckland yesterday. He was actually scheduled to receive a management degree on June 20, for which his parents were planning to visit New Zealand. The youth, Manjit Singh, reportedly had injury marks on his face. Police have been investigating the case to find the causes of his death. Meanwhile, his parents have approached the local deputy commissioner in Karnal to help them in bringing back his body. According to the brief of his uncle, he had no issues with anybody of his college ‘International College of Auckland’ and with any others outside the campus. However, the police have taken two suspects into custody based on the footage of CCTV at a restaurant, where they were seen separately from Manjit’s place. The members of the deceased’s family are planning to meet Minister for External Affairs for ensuring government’s support in the investigation and to bring back his body asap. -Kannamsai
Read More
Indian-origin Priti Patel, new Employment Minister May 12, 2015 06:10
Prime Minister David Cameron appointed one of Britain's most prominent Indian-origin MPs Priti Patel as the new Employment Minister. Ms Patel was re-elected from Witham in Essex with a big majority in the general election. The 43-year-old replaces Esther McVey, who lost her seat at the polls. Priti Patel, who was born on 29th March 1972 is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament from the Witham constituency in Essex since 2010. Her parents migrated from Uganda and were of Gujarati origin who came to Britain in the 1960s. Ms. PritiPatel attended Watford Grammar School for Girls in Watford, studied economics at Keele University, completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Essex. She joined the Conservative Party when John Major was Prime Minister. It was a Ladies' Day at Downing Street as British Prime Minister David Cameron completed his cabinet formation, in which many ladies found the place. Amber Rudd is made Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Anna Soubry and Priti Patel are appointed as small business and employment ministers. Pakistani-origin Sajid Javid is moved from Culture Secretary to Secretary of State for Business and London Mayor Boris Johnson has been made a minister without a portfolio. By Premji
Read More
10 Indian-Origin MPs in Britain House of Commons May 08, 2015 10:30
The number of Indian-Origin members in House of Commons has not changed as only 10 members have become successful in Thursday’s election. Nine out of ten of previous house have won the election, while Paul Uppal of the Conservative party lost in Wolverhampton South West in the West Midlands of England in the hands of Rob Marris of the Labour party by a margin of 801. The constituency is having storng hold for Sikhs from India. However, Uppal’s loss was compensated by son-in-law of N.R. Narayana Murthy, Mr. Rishi Sunak of Conservative party, from Richmond in Yorkshire. And the nine members, who won their seats again, Keith Vaz (Leicester East), who has been an MP from 1987; his sister Valerie Vaz (Walsall South); Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove), who is half Indian-half Pakistani and was minister for culture, media and sport in the outgoing cabinet; Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall); Seema Malhotra (Feltham & Heston); Lisa Nandy (Wigan), who is half Indian-half English; Priti Patel (Witham), who was a junior minister; Alok Sharma (Reading West); and Shailesh Vara (Cambridgeshire North West), another junior minister who has been an MP since 2005. Over 50 Indian-origin members have contested in the neck to neck elections this time. -Kannamsai
Read More
Amitabh to Lead a campaign initiated by NRI doctors April 30, 2015 10:22
Indian movie legend Amitabh Bachchan will be leading an awareness campaign on road safety initiated by the American physicians of Indian Origin. There are several road safety missions and programmes existing in India, but they are unable to drop the number of accidents as expected or as needed. Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and pharma company Abbott jointly organizing the campaign in order to minimize the accidents and there by injuries and deaths. The campaign would include the posters with the messages on road safety endorsed by Amitabh will be showcased in all the clinics and hospitals across the country to remind the importance to the visitors. “I am with you in this campaign to create awareness about head injury and trauma because of road accidents”, said Bachchan in a press statement issued by Abbott. “AAPI is committed to building the right foundation to address the serious concerns of head injury and trauma,” said Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, president of AAPI. AAPI and Abbott have conducted a country-wide road safety awareness drive, which reached over 800,000 people as the Abbott is having larger base in Indian hospitals. The campaign includes the safety precautions like adequate protection, speed limits, concentrated driving. "With our vision of 'Zero Injury Zero Incidents', Abbott’s field force is trained on safe two-wheeler driving. This has resulted in reduction in accidents to the tune of 83 percent amongst Abbott employees," said Bhasker Iyer, Abbott management representative in India. "AAPI has been working with multiple stakeholders and professional associations like NSI, NSSI and AASAN in developing the first trauma and brain injury guidelines for India," said Anwar Feroz Siddiqi, honorary advisor to AAPI. They have designed the project in Indian context to nullify the accidents in India. Renowned actor and potential organizational support can help the NRI doctors to realize their aspirations. - Kannamsai
Read More
Yoga Events at Indian Embassy in Washington April 30, 2015 08:42
The Indian Embassy in Washington has started a series of curtain raiser events to promote the ancient Indian practice called ‘Yoga’. The embassy along with the practitioners, organizers and community associations are planning to conduct a day-long Yoga event at the Mall in Washington on June 21, coinciding with the International Day of Yoga. "Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between man and nature, a holistic approach to health and well-being," Charge d'Affaires Taranjit Singh Sandhu quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as saying at the UN last year. Most of the practitioners have been suggesting yoga as perfect tool to combat all difficulties and to discover the sense of oneness oneself. Yoga will create the social consciousness and help the practitioners to deal with the climate change. In just 75 days the United Nations General Assembly adopted an India-led resolution declaring June 21 as the 'International Day of Yoga' on December 11 with 177 countries becoming co-sponsors. India is planning to celebrate the day by organizing events in several parts of the world including US. Yoga is said to be a better mean to develop the best communication among the people and between people and environment. -Kannamsai
Read More
Raja Rajeswari, the first India-born judge in New York City April 28, 2015 07:38
India-born Raja Rajeswari has been sworn-in as a criminal court judge in New York by Mayor Bill de Blasio. She had immigrated to the US in her teenage. She had worked with the Richmond County District Attorney's Office. During her service, she worked in several bureaus including Criminal Court, Narcotics, Supreme Court, and the Sex Crimes Special Victims Bureau. She was deputy chief at Sex Crimes Special Victims Bureau. The 43-years old Rajeswari was sworn-in along with 27 other judges appointed earlier this month to the Family Court, Criminal Court, and Civil Court, which are part of the New York State Unified Court System. The ceremony took place on Monday in New York. The tenure of the judges will be 10 years in the New York City Criminal Court and the Family Court within the city. “To ensure New Yorkers have access to a fair, equitable justice system, we need judges who are qualified, honest and reflective of the people of this city,” said Mayor de Blasio. “With their wealth of legal experience, these appointees represent all five boroughs and all walks of life. From the first female South Asian-American judge in New York City to a former NYPD First Deputy Commissioner, these talented leaders truly reflect the diverse range of communities that make up our great city,” he said. Mayor has lauded the language skills of Rajeswari as she can speak in Indian, Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian languages and also praised the India-born judge for her extraordinary empathy for others. “For someone like me, an immigrant who comes from India, I’m beyond grateful,” Raja Rajeswari said. “I told the mayor this is not only my American Dream, but it shows another girl from a far away country that this is possible,” She said. She has worked on cases involving women and children and said they are the ones that touched her the most. She said that she hopes to use her new position to improve the judicial system by encouraging interpreters to have more access to aid immigrants. -Kannamsai
Read More
Satish Vemana and his panel wins TANA Elections with huge majority April 27, 2015 05:11
The results of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) elections have been announced on Saturday. Contestants have campaigned the elections as if the parliamentary elections. Satish Vemana has won the election for post of Executive Vice President with a majority of more than 5,000 votes. After serving two years in this post he will automatically become the President of the association. Satish Vemana has secured 8257 votes, and his opponent in the election Mr. Ram Yalamanchili got 3137 votes. Madhu Tata from Satish’ panel has won the election for the post of Secretary with 7039 votes while Baktha Balla got 4235 votes. For the Treasurer's post Murali Vennam got 7187 votes his opponent Mr. Paturi got 4033 votes. In the election for Joint Secretary Post, Ravi Potluri got 7934 votes and Mr. Bullaiah Chowdary who contested against him got 3293 votes.Laxmi Devineni has won the Regional vice presidential election for New York and New Jersey region in the tough fight on Vidyadhar Garapati. And Mr. Sivaram won Regional Vice President post for the North region and SK Vemuri won for the West. Doctor Chaudary Jampala will take the presidentship from the current president Mohan Nannapaneni at the 20th grand meet in Detroit. Satish Vemana will get the executive vice president charge on that stage. Other members will also take oath for their positions. -Kannamsai
Read More
Indian-origin woman scientist wins USD 2,50,000 Heinz award April 27, 2015 04:28
The prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy, and Employment with USD2,50,000 was given to Indian-origin scientist Sangeeta Bhatia for her work in tissue engineering and disease detection. She has developed artificial human microlivers for drug testing. The prestigious Heinz Awards conferred on individuals for their extraordinary contributions to arts and humanities; environment; human condition; public policy; and technology, the economy, and employment. The MIT scientist has said, “This type of recognition helps to bring science into the public eye so that everyone can appreciate the dedication and innovation that is happening in laboratories all over the country.” Her team has excelled in the fabrication of artificial human microlivers, which are widely used for testing the toxicity of drug candidates by many biopharmaceutical companies. The Indian-origin scientist at MIT is also using the using microlivers in the lab to model malaria infection and test drugs that can eradicate malaria parasites completely. She will receive the award on May 13 at a ceremony in Pittsburgh. The recipients in four other categories include Roz Chast, a best-selling illustrator and cartoonist (arts and humanities); Frederica Perera, an environmental health researcher at Columbia University (environment); William McNulty and Jacob Wood, founders of Team Rubicon (human condition); and Aaron Wolf, a geoscientist and professor at Oregon State University (public policy). All the awardees will be honoured at the event. -Kannamsai
Read More
Indian Woman’s brain has a baby inside with bone, hair and teeth! April 24, 2015 06:50
The medical case of a student from India, Yamini Karanam (26), was shocked the doctors in US, who diagnosed an embryonic twin complete with bone, hair and teeth in her brain. She has approached doctors when she started having trouble in reading and talking. The PhD student at Indiana University faced severe problem at eating and pain from top to bottom. According to the report of Washington Post, she was diagnosed with pineal tumour – a tiny pea-like structure in the centre of the brain. In March last year Yamini went to Hrayr Shahinian, a doctor performing radical 'keyhole' brain surgeries at the Skullbase Institute in Los Angeles. Dr Shahinian strung an endoscope into Yamini’s skull through a natural channel in her brain to the suspected tumor, after making a tiny incision in the back of patient’s head. The doctor then discovered that the tumor was a teratoma (a clump of bone, hair and teeth). According to some medical specialists, teratoma’s are believed to be a twin that never quite develop and are instead absorbed into the surviving baby's body. Dr Shahinian has successfully removed the teratoma and expecting Yamini to get full recovery. The Hyderabadi woman told NBC 4 that she was stunned to learn that her tumour wasn't just a lump of cells, but her "evil twin sister who's been torturing me for the past 26 years". The rare case really worried Yamini and her family. Image Credits: Telegraph.co.uk -Kannamsai
Read More
