Anu Nakka has been elected to the Milpitas Unified School District’s (MUSD) Board of Education becoming the first Indian-American ever elected to public office in the Silicon Valley city.

“I honestly didn’t expect so much support,” Nakka told The Milpitas Beat. “But I think it’s time for change. It’s time for collaboration and for teamwork.”

When Nakka moved from India to Milpitas in 2001 to be with her husband, she could’ve never, in a million years, imagined the life that she has currently.

“I never expected I would reach what I am today,” said Nakka. “When I came to this country, I didn’t know how much potential and how many resources would be offered to us. It’s a huge deal, and it feels very rewarding.”

Although she’s a newcomer to the Milpitas political scene, Nakka was still able to receive support from various elected officials and community leaders, according to The Beat.

When asked what was behind her ability to attract support and ultimately win the election, she had 3 key words: “Walk, knock, and talk.”

“Talking to people one-on-one made a huge impact and difference during my campaign,” Nakka told the local newspaper. “I think it’s about connecting with people…”

Nakka gets officially sworn in on Dec 13, and plans to jump right into the job on Day One. She knows that it will initially be a learning process. “I want to listen and learn before anything else,” said Nakka.

Nakka also shared something she learned after having gone through her campaign, “This country has given me a lot. And it’s never too late for anybody. If you want to do something, to give your bit of contribution, it’s never too late.”

As a child, Nakka found that she was naturally keen on education—always looking to learn new things and grow in any way she could, the Beat reported.

She loved immersing herself in the study of different languages, and was always active in extracurricular activities. She also participated in learning traditional folk dances, alongside her formal education.

As Nakka’s grown older, her love of education has only blossomed. She has served on various PTAs and been deeply involved in supporting both her daughters’ schools in any way she can. Her youngest is an 8th-grader at Rancho Middle School; her oldest is a senior at Milpitas High.

India’s leading economist & Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Bibek Debroy has been conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Australia India Chamber of Commerce (AICC).

The business network that seeks to facilitate, nurture and transform Australia-India business, bestowed this highly coveted honor upon Debroy In appreciation of his outstanding contribution and service towards growing economic prosperity in India.

The award was handed over by Chris J. Mooney, Chairman of the Australia India Chamber of Commerce, in the presence of Harish Rao, the Executive Director of AICC at an event in Melbourne.

Accepting the award, Debroy said, “I accept this award with all humility. There are many I have received in the course of my life, but this is one I will always treasure, as a reminder of the close ties that bind India and Australia.”

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has a Special Visit Program under which distinguished visitors from overseas are invited to visit Australia, to understand Australia and to have discussions with their counterparts in Australia.

Under this Special Visit Programme, Debroy visited Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney from Nov 13 to Nov 21. Other than discussions and talks, he delivered a special lecture at the Australia India Chamber of Commerce on Nov 14, outlining the course and trajectory of India’s reform. The event was held at the Australian Club (The Gallery), Melbourne.

Educated in Calcutta, Delhi and Cambridge, Debroy has worked in the realm of academia, the government and research institutions. Debroy was a Member of Niti Aayog, the successor to the former Planning Commission, from its formation in January 2015 till August 2017 after which he became the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.

Debroy has worked on poverty, inequality, development, governance, law reform and international trade issues and has been the Chairman of a Committee set up by the Chief Minister of Jharkhand (2010-12) to recommend a development plan for the State and a Member of the Rajasthan Chief Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (2014-15).

He was also Chairman of a High-Powered Committee for Restructuring the Railways, set up by the Indian government (2014-2015).

From September 2018 to September 2022, he was the President of the Indian Statistical Institute. He has received several awards in the past including Honoris Causa DLitt, DPhil and DS. degrees, Lifetime Achievement Awards by US-India Business Summit (2016), Prestige Institute of Management and Research (2018) and Skoch Foundation (2022) and Padma Shri (2015).

An astute scholar, Debroy has translated the unabridged version of the Mahabharata into English, in a series of 10 volumes. He has also translated the Bhagavad Gita, the Harivamsa, the Vedas and Valmiki’s Ramayana (in three volumes).

He has translated the Bhagavata Purana (in three volumes), the Markandeya Purana (one volume), the Brahma Purana (two volumes) and the Vishnu Purana (one volume). He is only the second person to have translated both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, in unabridged form, into English.

Democratic Congressman from New York Hakeem Jeffries, who has announced to seek the powerful position of the House Democratic leader, has received immediate endorsements and would be a “tremendous leader” for the Indian-American community, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said on Friday.

“I know Chairman Hakeem Jeffries well, and I am confident he will be a tremendous leader for the Indian-American community,” Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi told PTI in an interview.

A day earlier, after the Democrats lost their majority in the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 82, on Thursday announced that she will relinquish her leadership role, which he had successfully held for 20 years.

Ms. Pelosi extended her support to Mr. Jeffries soon after the latter announced his bid for the position.

“Today, I write to humbly ask for your support for the position of House Democratic Leader,” Mr. Jeffries wrote in a dear colleague letter on Friday.

If elected Mr. Jeffries, 52, would be the first Black person to lead a party in Congress. Mr. Jeffries said that his candidacy for House Democratic Leader is rooted in three operating principles: Empowering Every Member, Prioritising Security and Reclaiming The Majority.

“Yesterday, I said on the Floor that the time has come for a new generation to lead our magnificent House Democratic Caucus. It is with pride, gratitude and confidence in their abilities that I salute Chairman Hakeem Jeffries, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark and Vice Chairman Pete Aguilar for being ready and willing to assume this awesome responsibility,” Ms. Pelosi said in a statement soon thereafter.

“In the 118th Congress, House Democrats will be led by a trio that reflects our beautiful diversity of our nation. Chair Jeffries, Assistant Speaker Clark and Vice Chair Aguilar know that, in our Caucus, diversity is our strength and unity is our power,” Ms. Pelosi said.

According to Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Jeffries is a friend of the Indian-American community and he understands the issues relating to the community.

“I am proud to endorse Hakeem Jeffries to serve as the next House Democratic Minority Leader,” he said in response to a question.

“I have spoken to Hakeem at length about the many important issues impacting the health and prosperity of the diaspora, and he keenly understands the need to implement high skilled immigration reform, to grow small businesses, and to further expand and enhance the U.S.-India relationship,” Mr. Krishnamoorthi said.

CNN said Mr. Jeffries would represent a generational change from the current triumvirate of House Democratic leaders, who are three decades older than him.

He became the chairman of the Democratic caucus in 2019, making him the youngest member serving in leadership.

“He is an Associate Member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus [CAPAC], which is truly special given that he is not of Asian origin, and this has given him a strong appreciation for the unique traditions and customs of religious, ethnic, and cultural minorities that make up the diverse community,” he said.

“Indian-Americans, and all South Asians, already contribute greatly to the economic and social fabric of this country. However, they are also one of the fastest growing groups in America. Nobody understands this better than Hakeem Jeffries, and under his leadership, opportunities for our community will flourish,” Mr. Krishnamoorthi said.

In his dear colleague letter, Mr. Jeffries said House Democrats must also continue to advance a forward-looking vision anchored in kitchen table, pocketbook issues.

“We can unify around an agenda designed to make life better for everyday Americans from all walks of life, and simultaneously embrace issues of social justice consistent with the promise of the Constitution. I will also work hard to make sure that our track record of substantial legislative accomplishment translates into future electoral success,” he said.

“To that end, I hope to lead an effort that centers our communication strategy around the messaging principle that values unite, issues divide. House Democrats are actually the party that defends freedom, promotes economic opportunity and values families by uplifting them,” he asserted.

“We must make sure that the perception of the Democratic brand matches up with the reality that we do in fact authentically share values that unite the Heartland, Urban America, Rural America, Suburban America and Small Town America. This undertaking will not be easy. We must show up early and in unexpected places. It will require the involvement, creativity and input of every single House Democrat to be successful. Together, we can make it happen,” Mr. Jeffries said.

Nabeela Syed has scripted history by becoming the youngest member to get elected to the Illinois General Assembly. In the recently held US midterm elections, the 23-year-old Indian-American defeated her Republican opponent Chris Bos. She received 52.3% votes in the election for the 51st District in the Illinois State House of Representatives.

Sharing her excitement on Twitter, Mr Syed said, “My name is Nabeela Syed. I am a 23-year-old Muslim, Indian-American woman. We just flipped a Republican-held suburban district.”

She added, “And in January, I’ll be the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly.”

In a follow-up tweet, Ms Syed added, “Thank you thread incoming tomorrow. We had an incredible team that made this possible.”

Nabeela Syed has also written a long note talking about her journey on Instagram. Talking about her mission, she said, “When I announced for State Representative, I made it a mission to genuinely engage in conversation with people – to give them a reason to get involved in our democracy and hope for better leadership that represents their values.”

Ms Syed added that she won this race “because we engaged in that conversation.”

Thanking everyone for their support, Ms Syed said, “I knocked every door in this district. Tomorrow, I start knocking them again to thank them for placing their trust in me. I’m ready to get to work.”

People, on social media, made a bee-line to congratulate Ms Syed.

A user, on Twitter, wrote, “I’m so proud of the young people stepping up. It’s your time. Do great things.”

Another person added, “Great job, Nabeela [Syed]. You are never alone and we stand with you every step of the way.”

“Congrats. Wishing you a long journey ahead,” read a comment under the post.

Nabeela Syed did her graduation in Political Science and Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

Federal law enforcement authorities in the US arrested an Indian American, Rathanakishore Giri, in Ohio on Friday on criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme that raised at least USD 10 million from investors.

According to court documents, Giri (27) from New Albany allegedly misled the investors by fraudulently promoting himself as an expert cryptocurrency trader, with a specialty in trading Bitcoin derivatives.

As alleged in the indictment, the accused falsely promised the investors that he would generate lucrative returns with no risk to their principal investment amount, which he guaranteed to return, federal prosecutors alleged.

In reality, Giri often allegedly used money provided by new investors to repay old ones — a hallmark of a Ponzi scheme, the prosecutors said.

In addition, Giri allegedly had a record of investment failures, including a long history of losing investors’ principal investments, and misled the investors about the reasons for delays when they sought to cash out their investments or otherwise obtain the return of their “guaranteed” principal, according to court papers.

Giri is charged by indictment with five counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, according to a media release.