23rd December 2024
Vivek Ramaswamy: All about the Indian American Republican in race for President

Vivek Ramaswamy: All about the Indian American Republican in race for President

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Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-origin American entrepreneur is running for the 2024 presidential election. The Republican candidate is making heads turn with his ideology and actions.

Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy, an Indian-origin American entrepreneur is running for the 2024 presidential election. The Cincinnati-born 38-year-old was born on August 9, 1985, to Hindu Tamil Brahmin immigrant parents.

His family immigrated from Palakkad, Kerala where they had an ancestral home. Growing up, Vivek attended a Catholic school affiliated with the Jesuit order.
Apart from being a devoted Hindu, Vivek is a vegetarian, believes in one god and is absolutely fluent in his mother language Tamil. He is married to Apoorva Ramaswamy, a physician he met during his law years at Yale. He shares two sons with his wife.

Careerwise, Vivek co-founded Campus Venture Network, a social networking website for university students who aspired to launch businesses in 2007, along with working at the hedge fund QVT Financial till 2014.

In 2014, he founded a biotechnology firm Roivant Sciences, that purchased medicinal patents and brought medicines into the market. He stepped down as the CEO of the company in 2021 but still remains the sixth-largest shareholder in it.

While he announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections on Tucker Carlson Tonight on February 21, 2023, Vivek’s political career has been building up for years. He supported Donald Trump in the 2020 election and has made significant political contributions to both Republicans and Democrats.

During his political campaign for the presidential post, Vivek has made heads turn with his unique ideology and eloquence.

While LGBTQ+ While he announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections on Tucker Carlson Tonight on February 21, 2023, Vivek’s political career has been building up for years. He supported Donald Trump in the 2020 election and has made significant political contributions to both Republicans and Democrats.

During his political campaign for the presidential post, Vivek has made heads turn with his unique ideology and eloquence.

While LGBTQ+ and gender in essence have been emphatic points of discussion in the US for the last few years, Vivek is of the view that there are only two genders and is vocally against the ‘tyranny of the minority’ as in forcing children to acknowledge the gender variations that exist for adults.
As a part of his campaign, he also proposed to raise the voting age from 18 to 25. In July this year, he detailed his plans of abolishing the FBI, Department of Education and Nuclear Regulatory Commission all of which he believes have been corrupted and can not be reformed. and gender in essence have been emphatic points of discussion in the US for the last few years, Vivek is of the view that there are only two genders and is vocally against the ‘tyranny of the minority’ as in forcing children to acknowledge the gender variations that exist for adults.
As a part of his campaign, he also proposed to raise the voting age from 18 to 25. In July this year, he detailed his plans of abolishing the FBI, Department of Education and Nuclear Regulatory Commission all of which he believes have been corrupted and can not be reformed.

Additionally, he also plans to achieve peace in Ukraine and stop the China-Russia military alliance, just like President Nixon did in 1972.

The Indian-American community celebrates world’s largest ‘India Day Parade’

The Indian-American community celebrates world’s largest ‘India Day Parade’

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The world’s largest ‘India Day Parade’ outside India kicked off on Sunday afternoon in New York City, with the celebration witnessing huge floats and marching groups comprising members of the Indian-American community.

Supporting the spectacle were several members of the diaspora including spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Jacqueline Fernandez and New York City Mayor Eric Adam.

The parade began at 12 pm (local time) at 38th Street and Madison Avenue in New York. It was organized by the Federation of India Association in New York as part of the 41st World Largest India Day Parade.
With many holding the Indian tricolour and dressed in celebratory attire, and performers dancing and playing drums, the parade served as a vibrant convergence of cultures, patriotism, and shared values that unite India and America.

Actor Jacqueline Fernandez, during the parade, was seen waving the Indian tricolour.

Randhir Jaiswal, the Consul General of India in New York, also joined the parade. He said that India and the United States have shared democratic values and that the message of India is that they want to be a “force for global good.”

This year’s tagline is “Mission Life”, the same name as a mass movement launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Mission life is lifestyle about the environment. We want to tell the world that we must change our behavioural habits. We must change the way we live if we care about the planet,” Jaiswal said.
He further added that the global community is celebrating the year of millets which are considered superfoods that can also help the planet because they can be grown with less water than other foods.

Regarding Mission Life, PM Modi highlighted that climate change goes beyond only government responsibility and needs contributions from individual, families and communities. The Prime Minister underlined that Mission LiFE makes the fight against climate change democratic, in which everyone can contribute with their respective capacities.

Samantha, who will next be seen in the movie ‘Kushi’ with Vijay Deverakonda, called it an honour to witness such a rich representation of Indian culture and heritage.

“It is truly an honour for me to be here today…you have made me realise how rich my culture and heritage is and what I have seen today will last me for a lifetime. Thank you for all the support through the years. Thank you USA for supporting every film of mine,” Samantha said.

Many Indian celebrities have been invited to the parade in the past; including Arjun Rampal, Abhishek Bachchan, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunny Deol, Allu Arjun, and Raveena Tandon.

Bhagavad Gita Online Classes for Children And Youth by RadhaKrishna Temple Dallas!!

Bhagavad Gita Online Classes for Children And Youth by RadhaKrishna Temple Dallas!!

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In an endeavor to connect younger generations with the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, the RadhaKrishna Temple Dallas presents a golden opportunity for children and youth. These online Bhagavad Gita classes are set to commence from August 18, 2023, occurring every Friday between 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM CDT (4:30 AM IST).

Upon conversing with the temple coordinator, it was affirmed that these Bhagavad Gita classes are tailored for children and youth aged 9 and above. The classes are thoughtfully designed to be conducted online, providing a convenient platform for young learners to immerse themselves in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Guided by expert teachers from JKYog, these classes promise a holistic learning experience.

Young participants will have the privilege of gaining valuable life skills through these Bhagavad Gita classes, such as:

  1. Focus and Concentration: Learning techniques to enhance focus and concentration, empowering them to excel in various areas of life.
  2. Clarity and Purpose: Navigating life with clarity and purpose, fostering a sense of direction in their endeavors.
  3. Decision-Making: Equipping with tools to make informed decisions, aiding them in overcoming life’s challenges.
  4. Emotional Intelligence: Learning to understand and manage emotions, leading to healthier interpersonal relationships.
  5. Meditation and Self-Exploration: Embarking on a journey of self-discovery through meditation, unlocking the potential within.
  6. Gems of the Gita: Extracting the gems of wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita, enriching their perspectives on life.

How to Join:

If you’re excited to embark on this enriching journey with your children or youth, visit the RadhaKrishna Temple Dallas website at https://www.radhakrishnatemple.net/BalMukund. Here, you can find details about enrollment, schedules, and more.

Should you have any questions, the temple is just a call away at 469-795-9130. The dedicated team is eager to guide you through the enrollment process and provide any assistance you may need.

Empower the young minds of today with the wisdom of ages – let them embark on a journey of growth, purpose, and fulfillment through the Bhagavad Gita classes at RadhaKrishna Temple Dallas.

A More Challenging US Citizenship Test on the Horizon

A More Challenging US Citizenship Test on the Horizon

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The path to the American dream may become more challenging as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plans to update the citizenship test. According to the Washington Post, the proposed changes, which include the addition of a new English-speaking section and multiple-choice civics questions, could pose difficulties for aspiring citizens. USCIS announced in December its intention to pilot the updated speaking test and civics exam, aiming to implement the changes by 2024.

Currently, English proficiency assessment for prospective citizens occurs during the eligibility interview with an immigration officer, not the citizenship exam itself. One of the proposed modifications involves transforming the civics section into a multiple-choice format administered on a tablet, replacing the current format of providing short oral answers.

The existing test evaluates an applicant’s English speaking ability through personal questions that have already been addressed in their naturalization paperwork. In the new test, officers would display photos depicting everyday scenarios and request verbal descriptions from the applicants, as reported by the Associated Press.

During the Trump administration, the citizenship test underwent significant changes, with the number of civics questions doubled and the pool of potential questions expanded. However, these revisions were reversed by the Biden administration in 2021. Despite this, the passage rate remained consistently above 90 percent, according to the Washington Post.

The proposed changes to the citizenship test have raised concerns among immigration advocates and preparation centers. Jessica Senat, who directs English-language programs at the Immigrant Learning Center in Malden, Massachusetts, noted that it would create a learning curve. The center is one of the volunteer sites testing the revised exam this year.

Considering the lengthy waits endured by thousands of H1B aspirants for their green cards, the potential impact of these proposed changes on the path to acquiring US citizenship becomes even more intriguing.

Field of Dreams: Indian American Teen Arjun Nimmala Among Top-15 Pick of Major League Baseball Draft Class

Field of Dreams: Indian American Teen Arjun Nimmala Among Top-15 Pick of Major League Baseball Draft Class

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For years, Florida teenager Arjun Nimmala spent more time on a cricket field in India than the travel baseball circuit. Now he’s projected to be a top-15 pick of this year’s MLB draft class which is set to take place in Seattle between July 9 and 11. A recent graduate of the Strawberry Crest High School outside of Tampa, the 17-year-old has committed to Florida State as a freshman starting this fall. This offseason, he trained with New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, “who happens to be Nimmala’s favorite player,” according to ESPN. Lindor’s agent reportedly advised Nimmala ahead of the draft.

According to global sports content platform Sportskeeda, “scouts have been enamored” with Nimmala, who is “capable of driving out 40 home runs per season on account of a powerful swing.” At 6-foot-1, he moves” very lightly on his feet,” the website says, he has “often recorded exit velocities well in excess of 100 miles per hour.” The website notes that because of the young player’s “capabilities at the shortstop position lead many to draw comparisons to Minnesota Twins shortstop and former Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa.”

 

ESPN Baseball Insider Kiley McDaniel saw Nimmala play in April in a regular-season game for Strawberry Crest High School outside of Tampa, where “a couple dozen scouts came. One scout who saw Nimmala play weeks before McDaniel told him that he had “the most impressive pregame [combinations of] infield [practice] and batting practice I’ve ever seen from a high school player.”

Sports Illustrated notes that Nimmala is getting “rave reviews from scouts in private workouts and could be around for the Chicago Cubs in the first round.” The youngest of the prep position players, the young baseball player “has been wowing teams in private workouts, consistently posting the best exit velos and with probably the best shot to stick at shortstop of those players, as well,” the publication added.

 

However, baseball wasn’t Nimmala’s first choice; cricket was. He was introduced to India’s favorite sport, during his annual visits to visit relatives in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, according to ESPN. He was a batsman — when he tried bowling, it didn’t go well. “I’m horrible, I don’t get the form right,” he told ESPN about his bowling. “I’m just a hitter.” When asked by McDaniel if he was good enough to play cricket professionally, Nimmala replied that if he “really practiced to the point that the others did,” he thinks he would’ve been “pretty good at cricket.”

Last summer, his last year playing travel baseball, Nimmala realized he was good at the game. “I realized I was pretty good because I heard draft talk and it’s hard to keep away from that because things just get to you and people talk,” he told McDaniel. “Then I realized that there was a decent amount of attention, and that’s kind of when I realized that I had a good chance.” And although he was playing with the best players in the country, he remained humble, McDaniel wrote, and “considered himself a potential pro prospect at the latest time he could possibly think that.”

In his ESPN profile, McDaniel raves about the young prospect’s skills and lists factors that could favor him, like his age. Nimmala is nearly a year younger than most of the other players in his draft class. “Being young for the class is one of the strongest empirical indicators of future success for high school position players, which is why Nimmala allows scouts and executives to imagine almost any outcome.’ His inexperience works in his favor as well, McDaniel writes. “Nimmala missed all of those showcases full of middle schoolers and their dog-eat-dog travel parents in search of that elusive D-I offer — because as a freshman in high school, he and his family still weren’t aware any of it existed.” Nimmala told McDaniel that his parents are from India and “had no clue about the recruiting process.”

In a short time, Nimmala went from being late learner to “one of the earliest commitments in his class to training with his favorite MLB player,” as well as playing in front of the “heavy-hitter” executives and general managers coming to every game. “What I realized is that I should really not be thinking about that they’re here,” Nimmala told McDaniel. “I want to impress them and do as well as I can, but I’m playing for my team and for myself, not for them.”