Articles
1/15/2002
| Cereva named one of top 100 companies in world for 2001
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — For Cereva Networks, the well-known line from Charles Dickens rang true for 2001: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” On the one hand, the highly touted high-tech company landed $51 million in additional venture capital, bringing its total to $157 million in financing and credit.
| | Groups raised over $300,000
In a groundbreaking effort in the early part of last year, a wide range of Indian organizations pulled together to form a New England coalition whose role is to aid victims of the Gujarat earthquake. All told, member organizations raised over $300,000.
| | India-Americans stood vigilant in remembrance of Sept. 11
BOSTON — As the sun set on Sept. 14's National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, about 50 members of area Indian-American groups gathered in front of the Massachusetts Statehouse for a candlelight vigil dedicated to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States.
| | Desphande gives $20m to MIT technology center
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is setting up a new center for technological innovation with a $20 million gift from Desh Deshpande and his wife, Jaishree, who runs the couple's charitable trust.
| | Starent sets pace for high-speed wireless switch
TEWKSBURY, Mass. — Ashraf Dahod is out to push the bounds of wireless communication. Dahod is chief executive officer of Starent Networks, an 18-month-old company trying to get a foothold in the nascent business of high-speed wireless communications.
| | Rally seeks peace in South Asia
BOSTON — Peace and harmony in South Asia was the theme as a spirited group of about 80 people rallied in downtown Boston this month as tensions boiled along the border between nuclear powers Pakistan and India.
“Let us stand together: Peace, not war, is the solution,” Rajesh Kusturirangan, a founder of the new South Asian Center, told the crowd. Kusturirangan, a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is from India.
“Emotions are running very high” on the subcontinent, said Shahid Amed Khan, vice president of the Pakistani American Congress. “We are afraid both nations may use nuclear weapons.”[Read more]
| | Saheli creates advisory board, looks to growth, fund-raising
BOSTON — As the new year begins, leaders of Saheli, the India Association of Greater Boston's women's group, are cementing plans for growth by bringing on new core committee members, adding an advisory board and increasing fund-raising efforts.
| | Tasker takes step forward
WALTHAM, Mass. — Shiv Tasker says what interested him in joining Phase Forward in 1998 was that the software company was both “mainstream” and “revolutionary” — and he got to be a chief executive officer for the first time.
| | Acharya brings national attention
WAYLAND, Mass. — Under Nishith Acharya's guidance this past year, the Boston chapter of the Network of South Asian Professionals has grown dramatically and was thrust into the spotlight when it was selected to host the national group's 2002 conference.
| | Bopardikar’s Cereva listed in top 100; backed by $157m
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Investors are banking on Cereva Networks and Raj Bopardikar, its chief technology officer, to come through with new equipment that will make a big splash in the ever-growing area of computer-data storage.
| | Dang named president emeritus of region’s IIT alumni society
LEXINGTON, Mass. — Puran Dang's longtime commitment to serving Indian-American community groups was capped last year when he was made president emeritus of an influential alumni group. But his interests and volunteer activists range from Indian classical music to entrepreneurship.
| | Deshpande donates $20m to MIT for new technology center
CHELMSFORD, Mass. — Desh Deshpande's area of expertise is generally seen as entrepreneurial. After all, Deshpande, co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks, previously filled the that role at Cascade Communicaitons, which was sold for billions in the late '90s.
| | Madan’s Achla Designs expands with $4.5m building project
FITCHBURG, Mass. — Over time, Achla Madan has designed apartment buildings and shopping centers and run her own small architectural firm, which focused on restaurants. Now she has turned her attention to designing and marketing the trendy, handmade products her company offers.
| | N.H. technology council names Nair co-entrepreneur of year
MILFORD, N.H. — For Rajesh Nair, co-founder of Degree Controls, his company's successful expansion drive was capped when the New Hampshire High Technology Council named him and co-founder David Gagnon entrepreneurs of the year for 2001.
| | Shanmugham increases efforts with TiE, launches new program
BOSTON — By day, Suresh Shanmugham deals with software and communications companies as a partner at Boston Millennia Partners. In his off hours this past year, he has become an important player in TiE-Atlantic, the regional chapter of the IndUS Entrepreneurs.
| | • ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT
“Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years” Through February 2002 at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston.. Tickets: $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, students; and $8 for children ages 13 to 17. The special exhibition, “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years — Selections from the John F.
| | • COMMUNITY
Marathi Festival Saturday, Jan. 19, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Mindess School, Ashland, Mass. Admission: $5 for members in advance, $6 without RSVP; $8 for non-members in advance, $9 without RSVP. Makar Sankranti festival, to include Haldi-Kunku, is being organized by the New England Marathi Mandal.
| | • MEETINGS, SPEAKERS
PEN Sponsors Entrepreneurs Conference Sat., Jan. 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Seaport Hotel, World Trade Center, Boston. Cost: Free to OPEN members; $25 to non-members. The Organizations of Pakistani Entrepreneurs to hold conferene featuring its $50,000 Business Plan finalists, high-tech entrepreneurs, venture capitalists.
| | To the readers of INDIA New England News:
We are very pleased to provide you with the second edition of Indus Stars, which looks at our 25 choices for this annual award. This supplement to INDIA New England News recognizes the contribution and leadership that the honorees exemplified in their industries and in New England's Indus community in general.
| | Reader says ‘enough is enough’ on split of women’s group
To the Editor:
Your Dec. 1 INDIA New England news report about the Saheli saga, explaining the organization's amoeba-like split into AASRA and Saheli, should serve as a reminder to us, the members of Asian/ Indian community — that something is truly lacking here.
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