Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

US anthology inspired by Kamala Harris narrates the rise of Indian diaspora

A GROUP of Indian Americans have come together to write an anthology, inspired by the historic election of Kamala Harris as the vice president of the US, about the rise of Indian Americans.

Compiled and edited by veteran editor Tarun Basu, the 'Kamala Harris and the rise of Indian Americans' anthology explores the story of advancements of Indian diaspora through 16 essays.


"The story of Harris ascending to the vice presidency is one of public service, and of struggle, hard work and the diaspora's potential to succeed. She embodies the promise that so many first- and second-generation Indian Americans are aspiring to-whether in public service or an increasing array of different fields-as this book attests to," said venture capitalist M R Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora which plays an advisory role in the book.

"We have grown from a community that largely had numbers in a few professions to one that now has both breadth and depth, with influence in several different areas. From academia to tech, from business to medicine, from hospitality to government, we are actively shaping industries in the US and globally, and our rise to political power, especially within this last decade, has been incredible to behold."

He added: "This anthology maybe the first of its kind, and much needed in terms of highlighting our diaspora's history in the US and its progress. I hope our children and their children will read it so that they are inspired to serve in whichever field or arena they feel compelled."

Harris, 56, is the first woman, the first black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected the vice president in the US.

Indian Americans now number more than four million in the US with 1.8 million as eligible voters.

Authors in the anthology include former Indian Ambassador to the US Arun K Singh, Shashi Tharoor MP, former diplomat T P Sreenivasan, former India Abroad editor Aziz Haniffa, chancellor of University of California San Diego Pradeep K Khosla, chairman of Pratham USA Deepak Raj, chief strategy officer for the Battered Women's Justice project Sujata Warrier, co-founder of Manavi Shamita Das Dasgupta, chief operating officer of Global Press Laxmi Parthasarathy, scholar and professor Maina Chawla Singh, and veteran journalists Mayank Chhaya, Arun Kumar and Suman Guha Majumder.

More For You

'Hundreds of million pounds can be saved by abolishing NHS'

Keir Starmer speaks with medical staff during a visit to the Elective Orthopaedic Centre at Epsom Hospital in Epsom, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

'Hundreds of million pounds can be saved by abolishing NHS'


HUNDREDS of millions of pounds could be saved and patient waiting lists reduced as prime minister Keir Starmer announced plans to abolish NHS England, the body overseeing the state-funded health system.

In a speech delivered in Hull, Starmer explained his decision to streamline the National Health Service's management structure: "I can't, in all honesty, explain to the British people why they should spend their money on two layers of bureaucracy."

Keep ReadingShow less
Early risers in the UK witness stunning Blood Moon eclipse

The lunar eclipse of Friday may not have been as dramatic as the total eclipses seen in other parts of the world

iStock

Early risers in the UK witness stunning Blood Moon eclipse

In the early hours of Friday morning, stargazers across the UK were treated to a partial lunar eclipse, with many enthusiasts rising before dawn to catch a glimpse. The celestial event, which saw the Earth's shadow partially covering the Moon, began at 05:09 GMT. Although only partial for most UK observers, it still presented a spectacular sight, with western parts of the country and regions further afield, such as the Americas and some Pacific islands, witnessing the eclipse.

For some, like Kathleen Maitland, the experience was magical. Stargazing from Pagham Harbour in West Sussex, she described the beauty of watching the Moon gradually darken and transform into a reddish hue, with the sunrise unfolding behind her. The eclipse gave rise to the so-called "blood Moon," a phenomenon that occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow, turning a dusky red as sunlight is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sangam Foundation celebrates Women's Day

From L- Reetu Kabra, Maya Sondhi, Shobu Kapoor and Meera Syal during Sangam Foundation's Women's Day celebrations.

Sangam Foundation celebrates Women's Day

HUNDREDS of women gathered for the International Women's Day celebrations of Sangam Foundation last week. Prominent actresses Meera Syal, Shobhu Kapoor and Maya Sondhi have attended the event, a statement said.

The British Asian celebrities shared their experiences of breaking into an industry rife with misogyny and prejudice. The industry veterans also talked about challenges they faced in a male-dominated field.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian tycoon Sudhir Choudhrie  backs Liberal
Democrats with £23,000

Sudhir Choudhrie

Asian tycoon Sudhir Choudhrie  backs Liberal Democrats with £23,000

BUSINESSMAN Sudhir Choudhrie has emerged as one of the biggest British Asian donors to the Liberal Democrats in the last quarter of 2024, according to the latest data from the Electoral Commission.

Choudhrie, currently an advisor on India to the leader of the Liberal Democrats, contributed on six different occasions to the party between October and December 2024, totalling more than £23,000. He contributed in a similar fashion in the previous quarter as well.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sunak is ‘content in his MP role
and has no desire to move to US’

(From left) Rishi Sunak with wife Akshata Murty, and parents Usha and Yashvir Sunak

Sunak is ‘content in his MP role and has no desire to move to US’

RISHI SUNAK “loves being an MP” and has no intention of flying to California to begin a new life in America, as his enemies alleged during the general election campaign last year.

And, unlike Boris Johnson, he is not striving to be prime minister again, even though he is still only 44.

Keep ReadingShow less