A large number of Indian-Americans waiving Tricolour held a peace rally in front of the Indian consulate in San Francisco to express solidarity with India following vandalism at the facility by Khalistan supporters early this week.

A group of pro-Khalistan protesters on Sunday attacked and damaged the Indian consulate in San Francisco. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags on the consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.

Scores of Indian-Americans drove from in and around San Francisco and waived the Tricolour to show solidarity with India on Friday.

“The attack on India’s consulate by fringe elements was disturbing to not only Indian-Americans but the whole world community. We wanted to show our solid support and solidarity hand in hand with India “ Satish Vale, a technology professional and community worker, said.

Indian-American community members condemned the destructive activities of separatist Sikhs, who were also present there in small numbers.

Local police were present there in sizable numbers to prevent any untoward incident. Some of the separatist Sikhs shouted pro-Khalistan slogans, but they were outnumbered by a large gathering of Indian Americans who chanted “Vande Mataram” and waved the Indian national flag along with that of the US.

“It was truly heartening to see people of all backgrounds (Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims) and ages show up to show solidarity with India against violence perpetrated by Khalistani terrorists who damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco,” said Gauging Desai from Friends of India.

“I am also disappointed that none of the bay area elected officials has condemned this act of violence against India,” Desai said.”

In recent months there has been a rise in anti-India activities in Canada, Australia and the UK by Khalistan supporters who have vandalised some Hindu temples in these countries.

India on Monday lodged a strong protest with the US Charge d’Affaires in Delhi over the incident of vandalism at the Indian consulate general in San Francisco by some pro-Khalistan elements during a protest.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said the US government was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

About 4.2 million Indian American/Indian origin people reside in the US. Persons of Indian origin (3.18 million) constitute the third largest Asian ethnic group in the US.

New Jersey (NJ) Governor Phil Murphy on Thursday, 21 April, appointed eminent Indian-American physician Nimisha Shukla to the State Board of Medical Examiners.

Shukla, who owns and manages multi-location paediatric practices in New Jersey, will be the first Indian-American physician to be serving on NJ Medical Board of Examiners under the Murphy administration, news agency PTI reported.

She was chief resident at SUNY Downstate Medical Centre College of Medicine and also taught medical students at Michigan State University.
New Jersey’s Board of Medical Examiners is responsible for protecting the public’s health, safety and welfare. Additionally, the board is also responsible for the oversight of a number of allied health providers.

Shukla has also served on the Federal Communication Commission’s advisory committee on diversity and digital empowerment, and also became the first Indian-American woman broadcaster as a result of her acquisition of a Metropolitan New York area radio station.

Michael Kuruvilla, an Indian American cop in the Brookfield Police Force is being promoted to the post of police chief. He will be the first person of colour to hold this position since the inception of the institution.

Kuruvilla, who serves as the Deputy Police Chief has roots in the southern Indian state of Kerala. He was the first Indian American to be recruited in the Brookfield Police in 2006. He joined the Brookfield Police as patrol officer and then served the department as a sergeant and a lieutenant before taking charge as deputy chief. The 37-year-old will take over as the police chief on 12 July.

Kuruvilla has an undergraduate and a masters degrees in social work from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Coming into this (police work), especially belonging to an immigrant family, was not something on the radar while growing up. I didn’t know anyone in law enforcement.
-Kuruvilla told Riverside-Brookfield Landmark

Kuruvilla’s candidature for the top job was approved by Brookfield Village Manager Timothy Wiberg on the recommendation of acting Police Chief Edward Petrak, PTI reported.

He has all the skills and knowledge to be chief. Fifteen years is plenty of experience to run a department. He’s been successful at every level. He’s ready for it.
Petrak told local publication Riverside-Brookfield Landmark

US President Joe Biden would present the 2021 National Humanities Medals to Indian-American Vera Mindy Chokalingam, known professionally as Mindy Kaling, among others, the White House announced Monday.

The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists, arts patrons, and groups by the US government and honors exemplary individuals and organisations that have advanced the arts in America and offered inspiration to others through their distinguished achievement, support, or patronage.

It honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities and broadened citizens’ engagement with history, literature, languages, philosophy, and other humanities subjects, the White House said. Biden would present both the awards to more than a dozen recipients at the White House on Tuesday.

“Imbued with humor and heart, Mindy Kaling’s work across television, film, and books inspires and delights—capturing and uplifting the experiences of women and girls across our Nation,” the White House said, releasing the list of 2021 National Medal of Arts Recipients.

Among other recipients are Judith Francisca Baca, Fred Eychaner, Jose Feliciano, Gladys Knight, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Antonio Martorell-Cardona, Joan Shigekawa, Bruce Springsteen, Vera Wang, The Billie Holiday Theatre, and the International Association of Blacks in Dance.

The recipients for 2021 National Humanities Medal are Richard Blanco, Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Walter Isaacson, Earl Lewis, Henrietta Mann, Ann Patchett, Bryan Stevenson, Amy Tan, Tara Westover, Colson Whitehead and Native America Calling.

The President previously awarded a National Humanities Medal to Sir Elton John in September 2022, during a White House event, “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme.” First Lady Jill Biden will attend the ceremony as well, the White House said

China on Wednesday sounded doubtful about backing Indian-American business leader Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank, saying it is “open” to supporting ”other potential candidates” based on merit.

Reports from Washington said 63-year-old Banga, who is nominated by US President Joe Biden to head the Bank, is due to visit China on Wednesday to meet officials of the People’s Bank of China to seek Beijing’s support for his candidature.

Asked whether China will back Banga, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here that “we have noted the candidate nominated by the US side and are open to other potential candidates”.

He said the World Bank is the most influential multilateral development institution in the world and is of systemic importance to global poverty reduction and development.

“As a major shareholder of the World Bank, China stands ready to work with all parties for an open, transparent and merit-based presidential selection process,” he said and asked the media to competent authorities for more details.

Biden last month announced that the US is nominating Banga to lead the World Bank, saying the Indian-American business leader is uniquely equipped to lead the global institution at “this critical moment in history.”

If confirmed by the World Bank Board of Directors, Banga would be the first-ever Indian-American and Sikh-American to head either of the two top international financial institutions: International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Banga currently serves as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic. Previously, he was President and CEO of Mastercard, leading the company through a strategic, technological and cultural transformation. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016.

“Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history,” President Biden said in a statement.

“He has spent more than three decades building and managing successful, global companies that create jobs and bring investment to developing economies, and guiding organisations through periods of fundamental change,” Biden said.