Articles
May 2012
| 'Suhana Safar' to pay tribute to Hindi film great Mukesh
 For New England fans of Bollywood’s “Golden Era” some local concert organizers have just the thing: “Suhana Safar: A Tribute to Mukesh, the Bollywood Legend.” The event, which is also a fund-raiser for Saheli and the O.P. Nayyar Memorial Trust, is slated for 6 p.m. on May 19 at Keefe Tech High School auditorium in Framingham, Mass.
| | Aunty Namaste launches Web site for South Asians
 Have you ever wished you were more connected to your roots, either to familiarize your kids to your culture, or make your visiting family feel home or longed for better ways to conjoin to the wider South Asian populace across America? The Massachusetts-based Aunty Namaste is hoping to fill this void with its new Web site: AuntyNamaste.com.
| | Dunkin' Donuts Indian American franchisee suing for discrimination
 According to reports from Fox News, a franchisee is suing the Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Brands for racial discrimination described as against “Asian Indian American women of color.” The suit alleges the chain has a poor track record with people of color, though Dunkin’ Donuts has long been popular with Indian American small business entrepreneurs.
| | Dunkin' Donuts opens first locations in India
 Earlier this week, Dunkin' Donuts opened its first two restaurants in India — both in New Delhi. In 2011, Dunkin' Donuts signed a franchise agreement with Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. to develop 500 restaurants across the country over the next 15 years. The agreement marked the largest international store development commitment in Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Donuts' history.
| | Gov. Deval Patrick to headline political forum event
 The Massachusetts chapter of the Indian American Forum for Political Education will celebrate Asian Heritage Month with an event on May 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Burlington Marriott hotel in Burlington, Mass., with guest of honor Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. The event will also recognize Indian Americans for contributions to the state, as well as kick of the group’s annual Summer Political Internship program.
| | Harman inks multi-year deal with Tata Motors
 Connecticut's Harman has agreed to a multi-year relationship with Tata Motors to develop and supply branded audio, navigation and multimedia products for vehicles across Tata's model lines. According to Harman, the agreement marks the first time an Indian automaker will bring premium branded audio and infotainment systems to the domestic market.
| | Kaman Aerospace to form manufacturing business in India
 Kaman Aerospace Group Inc., which is part of the Bloomfield, Conn.-based Kaman Corp., has signed a deal with Kineco Pvt. Ltd. to form a manufacturing company in India. The venture will be based in Goa and will manufacture advanced composite structures for aerospace, medical and other industries.
| | Leader Bank celebrates 10th anniversary
 Leader Bank marked its 10th anniversary on May 8. The bank first opened for business on May 8, 2002 at its East Arlington branch. At the time, the bank had seven employees and $6.5 million in assets. A decade later, Leader Bank has grown exponentially, operating five branches and two loan production offices, with over 170 employees in Massachusetts and $535 million in assets.
| | MGH doctor named American Kidney Fund fellow
 Dr. Sagar Nigwekar was one of three doctors named an American Kidney Fund 2012 Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellow. Nigwekar, who was specifically awarded the American Kidney Fund-Sanofi Clinical Scientist in Nephrology Fellowship, is a clinical and research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital.
| | MIT awards $100K to professor
 The Lemelson-MIT Program has named Ashok Gadgil as the recipient of the 2012 $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation in recognition of his steady pursuit to blend research, invention and humanitarianism for broad social impact. Gadgil is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, whose diverse inventions and sustainable innovations are helping those in the developing world to live healthier, safer lives.
| | N.H. company launches India business
The Dover, N.H.-based, iWorx Systems Inc., has launched iWorx Systems India Pvt. Ltd. to develop and market data acquisition hardware, software and systems for the Indian physiology and pharmacology educational and research markets.
| | Sri Lanka college student named Steinbrecher Fellow at Clark Univ.
 Clark University junior Kulani S. Panapitiya Dias, of Sri Lanka, was one of 10 of the school's undergraduate students recently named Steinbrecher Fellows; all will undertake projects this summer and during the 2012-2013 academic year. The Steinbrecher Fellowship Program was established in 2006 to encourage and support Clark undergraduates' pursuit of original ideas, creative research, and community service projects.
| | Wellesley College senior named a Fulbright Scholar
 Wellesley College’s Sohini Pillai, a theatre studies and South Asia studies major from Lexington, Mass., was awarded a Fulbright Scholar full grant to India where she will conduct research on how the performing arts impact society. Pillai, a senior, graduates from Wellesley College this week.
| | YouthTrade scores big deal with Whole Foods Market
 Poonam Ahluwalia's YouthTrade has secured a distribution agreement with Whole Foods Market that will see all 28 stores in the North Atlantic region carrying a selection of products from 20 young business owners who are certified YouthTrade entrepreneurs.
| | 2012 Woman of the Year finalists selected
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INDIA New England is proud to announce the 20 finalists for the 2012 Woman of the Year award. After a record shattering year for nominations, the editorial staff is pleased with what is the most impressive list of Woman of the Year finalists yet. And it comes at a great time, as this year will mark the 10th winner of the Woman of the Year award.
"With so many impressive nominations this year it was a real challenge for the editorial staff to choose the 20 finalists for the INDIA New England 2012 Woman of the Year award, but we all are extremely satisfied with this tremendous collection of accomplished, respected and influential women," said Upendra Mishra, publisher of INDIA New England. "While there are so many women that proudly represent the best and the brightest of the South Asian community in New England, it is hard to imagine finding a more successful group of women, from a variety of professional and volunteer backgrounds, than these 20 finalists for INDIA New England 2012 Woman of the Year."
The following finalists were chosen based on their contributions to their community, culture, organizations, business and their personal achievements: Click here to view the list of finalists |
| | Chinmaya Mission team raises $31K for Project Bread
A group of 300 fund-raisers raised $31,212 for Project Bread during the organization's annual Walk-for-Hunger held last week. Named "Chinmaya Mission Boston Walkers," the team consisted of participants ranging from 2 to 70 years of age. The team had the second highest fund-raising total for the event.
| | Conn. art center delves into work of the South Asian Diaspora
The Windsor Art Center in Windsor, Conn., is hosting a month-long exhibition of art from South Asian artists. "Radiate, Art of the South Asian Diaspora" presents the work of 11 artists currently residing in the Northeast United States who share origins and connections in South Asia.
| | Marketing guru Peruvemba leads e-paper revolution
When talking to E Ink Corp. Chief Marketing Officer Sriram Peruvemba, like any good marketing whiz, he conveys an excitement for his company's products. However, when it comes to electronic paper, it is clear that Peruvemba believes the innovations of his company are changing the world as we know it.
| | Mass. Gov. Patrick promises India visit
The Massachusetts chapter of the Indian American Forum for Political Education celebrated Asian Heritage Month with an event on May 21 at the Burlington Marriott hotel in Burlington, Mass., with guest of honor Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick praising the India American community and promising to visit India during the remaining two-and-a-half years of his term.
| | 'New Paradigm' tour set for Boston area stops
 The head of the Maharishi Organization, Tony Nader, will stop in Boston for three days in early May as part of the speaking tour "A New Paradigm: Veda, Consciousness, the Ramayana, and the Self." Visiting 10 North American cities this spring, "A New Paradigm" will be at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, on May 8, at the Shri Lakshmi Mandir in Ashland, Mass., on May 9 and at the Shri Dwarkamai Vidyapeeth in Billerica, Mass., on May 10.
| | 'Rising above the Tide' at Harvard
 The recent Pakistan Conference at Harvard University "Rising Above the Tide" brought together noted diplomatic, economic and business experts to discuss Pakistan's relationship with India, as well as the United States.
| | 'Suhana Safar' tribute to Hindi film legend Mukesh a big hit
 "Suhana Safar: A Tribute to Mukesh, the Bollywood Legend" thrilled New England fans of Bollywood's "Golden Era" this past weekend. The sold-out event, held on May 19 at Keefe Tech High School auditorium in Framingham, Mass., drew 450 attendees. It raised money for Saheli and the O.P. Nayyar Memorial Trust.
| | 'UNDEFEATED'
 Mass. doctor ventures into film industry, brings home Academy Award
When the film "Undefeated" won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature earlier this year it likely marked the first time an Oscar winner could trace part of its roots back to the urogynecology community. And it also gave New England's Indian American community its own holder of a golden statuette in Neeraj Kohli.
| | Apna Punjab brings India cuisine to suburban palate
One might not think that the Rehoboth/Attleboro line would be a hot site for a new Indian restaurant, as that region of Massachusetts is not exactly know for its diverse dining fare, but Apna Punjab co-owner and manager Jatinder Vij felt that made it exactly the right place to cook up some Indian cuisine.
| | Area Carnatic musicians succeed at Cleveland Aradhana
 A number of New England Carnatic music enthusiasts found success at the recent Cleveland Aradhana's music and dance competition for children. Close to 500 children took part in the competition and several from the region collected prizes.
| | Celebrating culture with Shishubharati
On a crisp Sunday morning in March, students walked into Walpole High School in Walpole, Mass., dressed in the most beautiful traditional Indian clothing, carrying dishes wrapped in saran wrap and large tri-fold poster boards. For a regular day at Shishubharati School of Language and Culture, this seems out of the ordinary. Yet, this is no ordinary day. This day was The Culture Day, where students have the opportunity to discover the wonders and enormity of Indian culture.
| | Chopra thrives wearing many hats
 From dean to author, doctor leaves big mark
Dr. Sanjiv Chopra is a man who appears to be able to do it all, and does it on a continual basis, so it is no surprise that this month he receives one of the highest honors bestowed upon immigrants to the United States — The Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
| | Comedians trigger big laughs for fund-raiser
South Asian comedians Paul Varghese and Paul Singh, as well as skit writer Usha Govindarajulu, presented "South Asian P.U.P Comedy" on Saturday June 2 at Nick's Comedy Stop in Boston. The show raised funds for the Indian Medical Association of New England's Charitable Projects.
| | Conn. graduate student wins 2012 Soros Fellow
 Indra Sen, who was born in Norwalk, Conn., to an Indian father and a Chinese mother has been named a 2012 Soros Fellow. Sen will use the fellowship toward graduating with a degree in public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
| | E-learning Innovator
Dutta forecasts blend of education, technology — and Ivy League calls
 The last time academic, author and tech expert Soumitra Dutta spoke to INDIA New England it was almost exactly three years ago and he was stopping off in Boston on a book tour for "Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom: How Online Social Networking Will Transform Your Life, Work and World." Now, Dutta caught up with the newspaper to talk about the continual social media revolution and how an Ivy League business school has tapped him to lead it into a new age of technology, e-learning and innovation.
| | Ekal Vidyalaya raises $100K
The New England supporters of Ekal Vidyalaya marked an impressive fund-raising tally during "Ekal Sandhya: Donors Appreciation Day" on the evening of May 20 at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield, Mass. The evening, which featured music, a dinner and was attended by about 400 people, raised $100,000 during a pledge drive that was also part of the event.
| | Eleven ideas for finding innovation
 I believe innovation arises from ideas. Ideas are revealed when one applies a process of being creative. Creativity in one's job is shaped by an individual's engagement and commitment to one's work, which is directly influenced by one's personal values and the company's organizational values. That being said, in my 25 plus years of experience, I have concluded that the single biggest deterrent, and at the same time the single biggest enabler of organizational innovation, is the propensity for risk-taking.
| | Exploring India through cultural education
At the most recent Shishu Bharat "Explore India!" young children and their parents filled the field house of Lexington High School and upon entering, received an "Exploration Pass" and a "Program" which guided the visitors through the two sections of the event, the performances and the booths — all with the goal of inviting the viewer into the culture of India.
| | Foodservice, hospitality industry group honors Asian leaders
 The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance is honoring distinguished leaders of diverse background whose achievements have contributed to the advancement of the food and hospitality industry. In May, during the Asian Pacific American Heritage month, MFHA is celebrating successful leaders of Asian descent by releasing its 2nd Annual Tribute to Asian Pacific American Leadership in Hospitality media campaign.
| | GOPIO-CT honors six at annual gala
 The Connecticut chapter of the Global Organization of People of India Origin held a "Moonlight & Magic" gala on April 28 in Stamford, Conn., to honor five Indian-American Achievers and one "Friend of India." The event included a cocktail reception, dinner, magic show and live music and drew over 200 Indian-American community leaders, supporters and public officials, including U.S. Congressman Christopher Shays and Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia.
| | Harvard-bound Kalapurakkel wins 'future leader' award
 The National Association of Asian American Professionals Boston chapter has selected Sreeja Kalapurakkel as one of three recipients of the 2012 NAAAP Boston Future Leader Award. She was specifically honored with the $3,000 NAAAP Boston- Professional Staffing Group Future Leader Award.
| | Hilton partners with Room to Read, will donate as much as $150K
 Hilton Worldwide has entered a three-year partnership with Room to Read, a nonprofit organization focused on improving literacy and gender equality in education. The partnership supports Room to Read's holistic approach to literacy and girls' education in South and Southeast Asia — aiming to reach more than 2,000 young people in the first phase of the program. Hilton Worldwide will also support Room to Read's annual spring fundraising campaign promoting the Girls' Education program by matching donations up to $150,000.
| | Investing in potentially promising housing market
 In this piece, we will look at the state of the U.S. housing market, and its outlook for the remainder of the year. A self-sustaining economic recovery is reliant on a recovery in housing, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch strategists believe that after seven years since its peak, the dynamics of the housing market may be headed in the right direction once again.
| | Local groups hold vigil for slain BU student
The Indian Association of Greater Boston and the Orissa Society of New England held a candle light vigil on April 29 for Kanagala Seshadri Rao, a 24-year-old graduate student at Boston University who was found shot dead on April 19.
| | Madan named finalist for Mrs. India International pageant
 Jharna Madan, of Nashua, N.H., has been selected as one of 14 finalists for the Mrs. India International pageant, which will be held on May 25 in Atlanta. The Mrs. India International pageant is touted as an event that focuses on family values and judges contestants on the "complete beauty of the married woman" and how she balances her persona, family, professional life and what she does for the society/community.
| | Maine college student gets chance to Rise Up!
 Mariya Ilyas, a junior at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, has been chosen for South Asian Americans Leading Together's Young Leadership Institute, called Rise Up!, which is being held from May 6 to May 9 in Washington, D.C.
| | Mass. high school student wins National Science Bowl
 Lexington, Mass., teen Zaroug Jaleel was part of a team that won the 2012 high school National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Energy. The team took home the top prize on April 30 by beating a team from North Hollywood High in California.
| | Matinee Masala
 The theatre releases for the month of May are masked with mysteries and thrillers so march to the theatres to piece together the complicated conundrum.
| | Milan Cultural Association founder recognized
 At the recent 2012 Connecticut Immigration Day Celebration, Suresh Sharma was recognized as an immigrant of India in the State of Connecticut and for his efforts as founder and president of the Milan Cultural Association.
| | One on One with Dr. Sucheta Doshi
Tell INDIA New England readers about your role as president of the Indian Medical Association of New England and any plans for your tenure.
I am currently the youngest president of IMANE, as well as the first second-generation president, born and brought up in the United States. It is a tremendous honor and I hope to lead the organization forward this year by strengthening our alliances with other medical organizations.
| | Poll finds Asian American and Pacific Islanders favor Obama
 Following an INDIA New England political poll of Asian Indians earlier this year, the Asian American Justice Center and APIAVote have recently released a poll of Asian American and Pacific Islanders that similarly found that President Barack Obama is in high favor compared to other candidates for the 2012 Presidential Election.
| | Savvy investment moves pay off big for Monsoon
 When former TiE-Boston President and Chairman Gautam Prakash wanted to start his own investment firm it made sense — both in his heritage and professional background — to target India. However, to survive the financial crisis of 2008, he had to take an innovative approach to fund investing, particularly in India — and his moves have paid off greatly. Not only has his firm Monsoon Capital weathered the financial storm, its India hedge fund — by all accounts — is that top performing hedge fund in India.
| | Sawhney honored by The Immigrant Learning Center
 High tech entrepreneur Amar Sawhney was one of three Massachusetts business owners highlighted during The Immigrant Learning Center's Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Mass., on May 9. Sawhney received the award for "Outstanding Science/Technology Business."
| | TAGB celebrate Ugadi event
 The Telugu Association of Greater Boston held an Ugadi event celebrating the Telugu New Year called "Sri Nandana Naama Samvastaram" at Marlborough Middle School Auditorium on April 21. More than 1,200 community members attended the six-hour event.
| | The 388 Learning Center announces new classes
Following on the heels of a number of successful programs, including the gavel club and tabla classes, The 388 Learning Center in Sharon, Mass., is expanding its offerings, starting in May with a new programming class, a STEM class and a Kathak class.
| | Thinking about 'Think Tanks'
 "Think Tanks" mostly employ critical thinking rather than creative thinking when conducting research to provide advisory services for shaping public policy in areas such as — political strategy, social policy, economic/scientific/technology issues, military, business and industrial policies.
| | TiECON has eyes on future inventiveness
 The Boston chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs has held its annual conference for 13 years and with about 500 attendees trekking out consistently to the event the success of this year's 14th edition is without question. However, TiECON East 2012, which is being held at The Westin Hotel in Waltham, Mass., on May 31 and June 1, is not concerned with the past and will look forward with the theme "Invent Your Future."
| | Two students named Presidential Scholars
 High school seniors Akshat Shekhar, of The Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury, Mass., and Anupa Murali, of Bishop Brady High School in Concord, N.H., were named 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars. The pair will be honored during an event in June when they will receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.
| | TyE competition crowns Productions 3D
 TiE Young Entrepreneurs-Boston had its grand finale with the students participating in the 10K Business Plan Competition on April 7 at the Holiday Inn Select in Woburn Mass. Eight teams -- Aurora, Enlighten, Medicia, MedTech, Productions 3D, Reperio, TutorConnect and Yolo -- participated with ideas that spanned diverse sectors like education, health care, cleantech and technology.
| | U.S-India health-care summit held in Cambridge
 The USA-India Chamber of Commerce, a bilateral Chamber of Commerce held its annual U.S.-India BioPharma and Healthcare Summit on May 11 at the Hyatt Cambridge. The summit focused on overcoming the barriers to building collaborative partnerships between the Indian and global companies.
| | U.S. Dept. of Energy working on $125M deal with India
 Renewable Energy World is reporting that the U.S. Department of Energy is moving toward a $125 million partnership with India that is aiming to increase international biofuels production and support the development of solar technology and energy efficiency.
| | Web giant eBay to open Bangalore center, hire up to 1,000
 Online auction king eBay Inc. says it plans to open a new development center in Bangalore, India, and expects to hire up to 1,000 technologists over the next three years. According to the company, the new center will house employees working for both eBay and PayPal.
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Ten-year-old Sana Nadkarni, of Andover, Mass., has been chosen as Massachusetts' winner of the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award from the National Association of Gifted Children. Nadkarni's artistic outlet of choice is painting. 
