|
|
| Pratham Launches Anti-Illiteracy Initiative with MIT | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | September 02, 2010 07:37:00 PM |
|
 |
MILPITAS, Calif. – Pratham, India’s largest child literacy organization, has launched a new initiative with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to look at the role of Indian mothers in their children’s education.
Pratham, together with MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab – known as JPAL — launched the project in July to research how a mother’s own literacy, education and home environment can impact her children’s learning.
“When a woman is educated, her mindset then changes t | | | | | Read More . | | |
| Archie Panjabi, Padma Lakshmi Take Home Emmys | | By LISA TSERING | | | indiawest.com | September 02, 2010 02:30:00 PM |
|
 |
Two of television’s most stunning Indian-origin beauties went home with Emmy Awards Aug. 29, marking a turning point not just for South Asian television talent but also for the awards themselves.
Archie Panjabi, a British actress of Indian descent, won the Emmy for best supporting actress in a drama series for her role in the CBS legal drama “The Good Wife.”
Padma Lakshmi, the Indian model who hosts Bravo’s “Top Chef,” took home an Emmy when the show was named best reality series over long | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Indian Filmmaker Claims Racism After Airport Arrest | | By LISA TSERING | | | indiawest.com | September 02, 2010 02:28:00 PM |
|
 |
Vijay Kumar, a documentary filmmaker from India, was arrested at Houston Intercontinental Airport on the afternoon of Aug. 20 for carrying brass knuckles in his checked baggage along with jihadist books and publications written in Arabic and more than $10,000 in cash.
Kumar, 40, remains in federal custody until his criminal court date Sept. 8.
Attorney Roger Jain, who along with Grant M. Scheiner is acting as Kumar’s co-counsel, said in a phone interview from Houston that his client had su | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Sangisetty Advances Unopposed in La. Congress Primary | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | September 02, 2010 02:26:00 PM |
|
 |
Democratic Party candidate Ravi Sangisetty of Houma, La., advanced unopposed in the Third District congressional primary Aug. 28 in southeastern Louisiana, but he still doesn’t know for sure who his Republican opponent will be in November.
After a bitter contest in the Republican primary, lawyer Jeff Landry of New Iberia, La., and former state House Speaker Hunt Downer of Houma, La., are headed for a runoff Oct. 2.
Landry barely missed an outright victory, polling just short of the 50 perc | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Flurry of Candidates Run in Maryland Primaries | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | September 02, 2010 02:24:00 PM |
|
 |
At least seven Indian Americans are running for state House or Senate seats in Maryland in the upcoming Sept. 14 primary.
In addition to House of Delegates Majority Leader Kumar Barve, Aruna Miller, Shukoor Ahmed and Sam Arora – all profiled or mentioned in earlier India-West stories — Neeta Datt, Dwight Patel, and Jody Venkatesan are also contesting for legislative seats.
Datt, a Democrat vying for a District 14 House seat, is running against seven other candidates including incumbent Ann | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Relief Efforts Mobilized for Flood-Ravaged Pakistan | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | August 26, 2010 02:39:00 PM |
|
 |
USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah arrived in Islamabad Aug. 24 to lead the U.S. response to Pakistan’s most devastating floods in 80 years which have killed more than 1,600 people and left more than four million homeless.
More than one-fifth of Pakistan is currently under water, following torrential floods that began July 29. The U.S. has pledged more than $150 million in aid, in response to the United Nations’ global call for $460 million to rebuild the largely agricultural country, and India h | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Innovation Key to Health Care Adoption, Says U.S. CTO | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 26, 2010 02:38:00 PM |
|
 |
SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. chief technology officer Aneesh Chopra has confidence that if the U.S. government gets the technology right in its health care delivery system, adoption by the nation’s consumers will not be a problem.
Speaking at a packed conference room at the Commonwealth Club here Aug. 18, Chopra said that if government agencies involved in health care delivery “get the design features right, it will drive adoption.”
Addressing the necessity for the secure transmission of health ca | | | | | Read More. | | |
| FBI Jeopardizing Muslim Civil Rights, Say Activists | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | August 26, 2010 02:36:00 PM |
|
 |
Several civil liberties organizations are claiming that the constitutional rights of Muslim Americans are in jeopardy following a startling revelation, made by the FBI itself, that the agency needs no suspicion of wrongdoing before it initiates surveillance.
In a July 28 letter addressed to Senate Judiciary committee members Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, following the testimony of FBI director Robert Mueller, the agency said that suspicion of wrongdoing was not n | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Congressional Hopeful Bera Returns Muslim Group Donation | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | August 26, 2010 02:35:00 PM |
|
 |
Physician Ami Bera, the Democratic contender for California’s third district congressional seat in Sacramento, has returned a $250 campaign contribution from the executive director of the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.
Bera returned a check from Basim Elkarra Aug. 16, following allegations by the Republican Jewish Coalition and the California Republican Party that CAIR has ties to the pro-Palestinian organization Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Ambassador Shankar Joins in IALA I-Day Celebration | | By PARIMAL M. ROHIT | | | indiawest.com | August 26, 2010 02:32:00 PM |
|
 |
CANOGA PARK, Calif. — An estimated 15,000 people filled the Canoga Park High School campus here Aug. 21 and joined the Indian ambassador to the United States, a Bollywood film star and a congressman in celebrating India’s 64th Independence Day.
Ambassador Meera Shankar, serving as the guest of honor, and Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) attended the Independence Day festivities one day after enjoying a dinner and Bharat Natyam performance at a private residence in Pacific Palisades.
Th | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Suja Lowenthal Named Vice Mayor of Long Beach | | By - | | | indiawest.com | August 26, 2010 02:31:00 PM |
|
 |
LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Long Beach City Council July 27unanimously selected Suja Joseph Lowenthal, a representative of the Second Council District, as the city’s vice mayor.
Lowenthal has been a member of the city council since 2006, where she has championed issues to increase parking, promote a culture of bicycling, reduce noise pollution, improve air and water quality, increase international business with the Port of Long Beach, revitalize downtown and become a more sustainable city.
A | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Cardiologist in Rural Arizona Runs for Congress | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 19, 2010 05:38:00 PM |
|
 |
A cardiologist who founded and operated the only heart center serving a rural area in northeastern Arizona is running for Congress in the Republican primary there Aug. 24.
Steve Mehta told India-West last week that he believes U.S. red tape has “really damaged healthcare to our community.”
He said the U.S. needs to find a way to encourage doctors to remain in rural communities. Two of three internists in Show Low, Ariz., where Mehta practices, have left for greener pastures, he said
Meh | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Mallika Grand Marshal of UFICA-FIASC I-Day Fete | | By PARIMAL M. ROHIT | | | indiawest.com | August 19, 2010 05:37:00 PM |
|
 |
NORWALK, Calif. — Patriotic tunes and the aroma of Indian food filled the air as nearly 10,000 people filled the outdoor fields at the former Excelsior High School here Aug. 14 to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of India’s independence.
With a center stage anchoring a U-shape of nearly 100 booths and a schedule of about 50 song and dance items featured during the evening-long cultural program, the Indian Americans celebrated Aug. 15 with the event’s grand marshal, Bollywood crossover actress | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Goyle’s Foe Apologizes for Tweet Link to Racist Rant | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 19, 2010 05:35:00 PM |
|
 |
Republican National Committee member and Kansas congressional candidate Mike Pompeo has personally apologized for a tweet his campaign sent out directing people to check out an article that subjected his opponent, Kansas state Rep. Raj Goyle, to a racist and hate-filled diatribe.
The article that Pompeo’s camp promoted as a “good read” said in part: “Just like his evil muslim (sic) communist USURPER comrad (sic), barrack (sic) hussein (sic) Obama, This goyle (sic) character is just another ‘t | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Activists Anchor Indo/Pak Independence Day Celebration | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | August 19, 2010 05:34:00 PM |
|
 |
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – More than 50 South Asian Americans gathered here Aug. 14 at the new offices of the Global Fund for Women to jointly celebrate Indian and Pakistani Independence Day.
The annual event was co-sponsored by GFW and the Friends of South Asia. This year’s celebration was titled “We Refuse to Be Enemies,” and featured a discussion with four noted activists on the prospects for peace between India and Pakistan.
The panelists included documentary filmmaker Samar Minallah; Adm | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Chaudhary’s Missteps End in Crushing Loss in Minnesota | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 19, 2010 05:32:00 PM |
|
 |
A legislative rebuke for backing a bill to improve fishing rights at a lake where he owned a cabin and a large tax bill combined to send incumbent Minnesota state Senator Satveer Chaudhary to a crushing defeat in the primary election Aug. 10.
The three-term Indian American legislator was swamped in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary in District 50 by DFL-endorsed former state Representative Barb Goodwin by a 70-30 margin. In unofficial results, Goodwin polled 5,470 votes and Chaudhary | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Raj Goyle Handily Wins Kansas Primary for Congress | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 12, 2010 02:12:00 PM |
|
 |
By a dominating 80 percent to 20 percent margin, Kansas state Representative Raj Goyle won the Democratic primary for Congress in Kansas’ 4th congressional district Aug. 3.
He received 16,969 votes, with underdog Robert Tillman garnering just 4,284 ballots.
In front of an overflow crowd at what proved to be his victory celebration in Wichita, Goyle said the next member of Congress from the district “will have one critical and fundamental responsibility — protect and create Kansas jobs."
| | | | | Read More. | | |
| B’deshi American Senator Wins Mich. Congress Primary | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 12, 2010 02:09:00 PM |
|
 |
Bangladeshi American state Senator Hansen Clarke upset seven-term incumbent African American Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick Aug. 3 to win the Democratic primary election in Michigan’s 13th congressional district in Detroit.
The polls had predicted Kilpatrick was in trouble due to scandals relating to family members.
The forecasters were proven right, as her 13-year tenure in Congress ended with a 47 percent to 41 percent defeat. The balloting was 22,570 votes for Clarke and 19,516 | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Teen Politico Switches Gears to Run for College Board | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | August 12, 2010 02:07:00 PM |
|
 |
Eighteen-year-old Ishan Shah, who last year made headlines as perhaps the nation’s youngest political candidate, has switched gears by dropping out of the Fremont, Calif., city council race to contest instead for a seat on the local Ohlone Board of Trustees.
Shah, contesting in the Nov. 2 general election, will appear on voters’ ballots in Fremont, Newark, and Union City, Calif.
The nine-member Board of Trustees governs the main campus of Ohlone College in Fremont, and a satellite campus i | | | | | Read More. | | |
| India Protests Senate Bill to Hike H-1B Visa Fees | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 12, 2010 02:06:00 PM |
|
 |
To help fund a proposed $600 million border-security bill, the U.S. Senate passed legislation Aug. 5 to substantially increase fees for skilled-worker visas, a move that drew a protest from India and opposition from the leading group representing India’s technology sector.
The measure now awaits action in the House.
The Senate bill, passed before senators left for their August recess, would require all companies with more than half of their U.S.-based employees on H-1B or L-1 visas to incr | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Four Indian Americans are Coolest Young Entrepreneurs | | By - | | | indiawest.com | August 12, 2010 02:04:00 PM |
|
 |
Four young Indian Americans — Naveen Selvadurai, co-founder of Foursquare; Ooshma Garg of Anapata; Vikas Reddy of Occipital; and Sachin Agarwal of Posterous — have been included in Inc. magazine’s list of "30 Under 30: America's Coolest Young Entrepreneurs."
July was a busy month for Sevadurai, a former software architect at Sony Music. Foursquare, the location-aware social networking app that Selvaduri co-founded in 2009, picked up $20 million in a Series B round led by Netscape founder Marc | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Consul Heads Address New Visa Regulations at ICC Meet | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | August 05, 2010 02:19:00 PM |
|
 |
MILPITAS, Calif. – More than 400 Indian Americans crowded into the auditorium at the India Community Center here July 29 to ask San Francisco Indian Consulate officials questions about the new complex rules for travel to India.
Many in the crowd expressed frustration over a new regulation requiring any Indian who has become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. to relinquish his or her Indian passport and obtain a “surrender certificate” before receiving a visa to travel to India. Several non-res | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Artesia’s Little India Hit by Rash of Robberies | | By SUNITA SOHRABJI | | | indiawest.com | August 05, 2010 02:18:00 PM |
|
 |
Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, Calif. — an area known as Little India — has been hit with at least two burglaries and one armed robbery in the past month.
In the latest such incident, burglars broke into Surati Farsaan Market at 3:14 a.m. on the night of July 28 and made off with two flat screen televisions. No suspects have yet been identified in that case.
Ambala Cash and Carry was also burglarized, sometime between 11 p.m. June 24 and 10 a.m. the next morning, according to local police. | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Sunil Kumar to Head Chicago’s Booth School of Business | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 05, 2010 02:17:00 PM |
|
 |
Stanford University professor and operations management expert Sunil Kumar Jan. 1 will join the ranks of Indian Americans heading top-tier graduate business schools in the United States.
Currently Fred H. Merrill Professor of Operations, Information and Technology at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Kumar July 28 was announced as the next dean of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Nitin Nohria, a leadership and ethics expert, took over as the 10th dean | | | | | Read More. | | |
| Life on the Beat with Lt. Manjit Sappal of the Richmond P.D. | | By LISA TSERING | | | indiawest.com | August 05, 2010 02:16:00 PM |
|
 |
RICHMOND, Calif. — This city bordering the San Francisco Bay is the one of the most dangerous in America, but Richmond Police Lieutenant Manjit Sappal is doing his best to clean it up — one bad guy at a time.
Right now, that means speeding east on Interstate 580, on the way to a burglary in progress. An India-West reporter and photographer are along for the ride, and it’s a bumpy one, in a 250-horsepower Ford Crown Victoria police unit, blasting along at 90 miles per hour, siren wailing.
| | | | | Read More. | | |
| Desh Deshpande to Co-Chair Obama’s Entrepreneurship Council | | By RICHARD SPRINGER | | | indiawest.com | August 05, 2010 02:14:00 PM |
|
 |
Serial entrepreneur and philanthropist Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande has been named to co-chair President Barack Obama’s National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Currently chairman of A123 Systems, HiveFive, Tejas Networks, Sycamore Networks and Sparta Group, Deshpande was the only South Asian American entrepreneur named to the 26-member panel.
The council has been formed to support Obama’s “innovation strategy” by developing “policies that foster entrepreneurship and ident | | | | | Read More. | | |
|
|