Another good news for Indians in and around New England, USA after our recent news article about Air India planning nonstop flights from Boston Logan International Airport. It seems Boston is the center of attention for major airlines operating flights between USA and India. Now Etihad announced the launch of its service to and from Boston, starting 31 March 2024. This is Etihad’s fourth direct destination in the US after New York, Chicago, and Washington DC.

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The upcoming Etihad flights to and from Boston are scheduled four times a week. The airline will provide hassle-free connection to eight cities in India via its hub, Abu Dhabi. Indian and non-Indian travelers from New England will get connecting flights to New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi and Ahmedabad via Abu Dhabi, a great city to explore during a stopover or a long layover.

Interestingly, Indians having a 6-month valid passport are eligible for Abu Dhabi’s 48-hour transit visa for free. The Canadian and US citizens are eligible for the UAE’s visa on arrival facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Read more about Etihad Airways’ stopover programs before planning your family trip to/from India.

Etihad Airways’ Boston flights will be in direct competition with American Airlines, Lufthansa, and other Middle East carriers, such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines. All these airlines have itineraries with varying connection times (suitable for different travel plans) and offer economical fare deals for Boston to India flights through IndianEagle.com, a leading travel-booking agency serving America’s Indian Diaspora for over 15 years.

Below are the airlines operating flights from Boston to Delhi for trips starting 1 April and their respective travel duration:

• SWISS Air via Zurich: 16 hrs 30 mins
• British Airways via LHR: 17 hrs 45 mins
• Lufthansa via Munich: 17 hrs 55 mins
• Etihad Airways via AUH: 18 hrs 00 mins
• Qatar Airways via Doha: 18 hrs 10 mins
• Emirates via Dubai: 18 hrs 15 mins

The online booking of Etihad flight deals for Boston to India travel is open on IndianEagle.com. If you have plans to travel in April 2024, you can grab Etihad Airways’ best deals (precisely lowest airfares) available now (as of today, August 2). The below deals available today are likely to be sold out or expire any time, since airfares are dynamic depending on demand, seat availability, and other factors. At Indian Eagle, you can easily search for flights to other destinations in India and by other airlines.

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This Republic Day 2020, the government of India honoured 141 achievers including four Indian Americans with Padma awards for their distinguished service and contribution in their respective fields. All the recipients of Padma awards 2020 were felicitated by President Ram Nath Kovind on the 71^st Republic Day in New Delhi, India. The third richest Indian-origin billionaire Romesh T. Wadhwani, marketing guru Jagdish Sheth, California University’s economics professor Prasanta Kumar Pattanaik, and S.P. Kothari, former deputy dean at MIT Sloan School of Management are the four Indian American Padma awardees in 2020.

Romesh T. Wadhwani, Jagdish Sheth, SP Kothari (from left to right)

Billionaire-cum-Philanthropist Romesh T. Wadhwani

One of the richest billionaires in USA  and the wealthiest Indian Americans on Forbes’ 2019 list, Romesh T. Wadhwani is awarded the Padma Shri on the eve of the 71^st Republic Day. The third richest Indian-origin billionaire in USA with net worth USD 3.3 billion, Romesh Wadhwani is the founder of CEO of Symphony Technology Group. A resident of California, he is not just an astute entrepreneur but a compassionate philanthropist too. His journey from the day his family relocated to India from Karachi during the Partition to the day he became the richest Gujarati businessman in USA, is full of inspiring tales. An IIT Bombay graduate with a PhD in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, he set up the Wadhwani Foundation with focus on socio-economic development in India. In 2012, he launched a world-class research facility at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru and named it after his mother, Shanta Wadhwani.

Marketing Guru Jagdish Sheth   

Among the overseas Indians honoured with Padma awards is Indian American Jagdish Sheth from Atlanta, Georgia. Popularly known as marketing guru, Jagdish Sheth received Padma Bhushan for his contribution in literature and education. ‘Theory of Buyer Behaviour’, co-authored by him, is considered as a ‘bible’ of consumer psychology and marketing. It was Jagdish Seth who presented the Philip Kotler Presidential Award to Narendra Modi in January 2019. A Professor of Business at Emory University Goizueta Business School, he came to the USA for MBA studies at the University of Pittsburgh in 1962. He is a widely published author with more than 200 articles to his name in leading marketing journals across the world.

California University’s Professor Prasanta Kumar Pattanaik

One of the Indian American Padma Shri awardees, Prasanta Kumar Pattanaik received the prestigious honour in literature and education. A professor of Economics at the University of California, Pattanaik hails from Odisha. A graduate of Odisha’s Utkal University with a PhD from Delhi School of Economics, he has several feathers in his cap. Apart from being a fellow of the Human Development and Capability Association, Prasanta Kumar Pattanaik works as a research associate for the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. He shares the distinction of being an advisory editor for the journal, Social Choice and Welfare, with Nobel Laureate and economist Amartya Sen.

MTI’s Former Deputy Dean S.P. Kothari   

S.P. Kothari from Boston is one of the Indian American Padma Shri recipients in 2020. Kothari is the Gordon Y. Billard Professor of Management. He was the deputy dean at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. An eminent alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad with a PhD from the University of Iowa, S.P. Kothari served as the chief economist and director of the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis in the United States. He was once the global head of Equity Research, Barclays Global Investor. The American Accounting Association honoured him with the Accounting Literature Award 2014. Indian American S.P. Kothari is one of the experts on India’s economic policies.

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Ram and Meenu Gupta from Boston, is all set to ring in the New Year 2020 with a gift for the visually impaired in India. The Indian American couple came forward to fund a national resource center for the visually challenged in and around New Delhi. The new Indian center of the US-based Vision Aid, a nonprofit organization in Massachusetts, will start in January 2020.

Dedicated to the memory of Ram Gupta’s late father, Lachhman Das Gupta, the New Delhi center of Vision Aid will not only treat the visually impaired, but also educate and empower them for a better life. The Indian American Gupta family owes their philanthropic commitments to late Lachhman Das Gupta, who breathed his last this year.

Picture Credit: Vision-Aid Facebook

The root of Ram and Meenu Gupta’s philanthropic mission in India is Lachhman Das Gupta’s loss of eyesight. He was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa when he was 30. He almost lost his eyesight and became blind of both eyes by the age of 50. However, he never turned blind to his social responsibilities and civic duties. He was always on his toes to help others out with knowledge, experience and intuition. His empathetic outlook to people around him was his third eye.

The way late Lachhman Das Gupta run a high school, managed a temple trust, raised funds for a charitable dispensary, and maintained dharamshalas in India had nothing to do with his loss of eyesight. His vision was his life’s driving force. In memory of late Lachhman Das Gupta, Ram and Meenu are looking to found a trust in order to continue supporting the charities and furthering the causes for tens of years down the lane.

The Gupta family-funded center of Vision Aid in Delhi will act as a vision rehabilitation center for underserved communities. It is said to offer an array of meticulously designed programs for children and adults affected by terminal vision impairment. There is more to what the new national resource center of Vision Aid will offer starting in January 2020.

In compliance with the mission of Massachusetts-based Vision Aid – that is to enable persons with vision disabilities live independently – the New Delhi center will offer skills-based training programs and impart lessons on spoken English to the visually impaired adults, depending on their individual needs and specific circumstances. Computer-based training in mobile technologies is also among the programs for empowering them. Those with complete blindness will be provided assistive devices and gadgets to help reduce their dependence on others.

Meenu and Ram Gupta were introduced to the vision and mission of Massachusetts’ Vision Aid by Puran Dang and one of their family friends. Chairman of Vision Aid, Puran Dang lauded the Gupta couple’s generous support for a new resource center in Delhi, India. Citing references to their long family history of giving back, he described them as a shining example of benevolence and philanthropy.

Founded by Ramakrishna M. Raju and his wife Revathy Ramakrishna in 2004, Vision-Aid has journeyed from Boston to India. Currently, Vision-Aid’s rehabilitation centers include Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Agra, Mangalore, Vizag (Andhra Pradesh), Madurai, Gujarat and Aligarh.

This inspiring news about giving back to India is part of our continued effort to promote good deeds of Indian Americans, at Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians in the US and a subsidiary of Indian Eagle. Indian Eagle not only strives to offer the cheapest fare deals for flights to India from USA but also caters inspiring community stories, visa & immigration news, and international travel alerts through free newsletters.

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The fourth richest US state in 2018 and the eight wealthiest US state in 2019, Massachusetts is home to more than 60,000 Indian Immigrants and over 30 Hindu temples. The Indian community in Massachusetts is all set to build a Shiva temple on a land of 17 acres in Bellingham. The construction of the Bellingham Shiva temple, MA will commence in 2020. The land cleaning on the proposed temple site would take place later this year.

Located on the southwestern fringe of Metropolitan Boston, Bellingham is a rapidly growing town with a population of over 20,000. What Bellingham is known to Boston Indians for is the Boston Sri Kalikambal Shiva Temple, which has been conducting prayer services and community welfare programs under a rented roof for a couple of years.

Sri Kalikambal Shiva Temple in Boston is the second jyotirlingam temple in the USA. Santa Clara’s Maha Kaleshwar Temple in San Francisco Bay Area is the first jyotirlingam temple consecrated to the fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva. Both the temples are sacred manifestations of Swami Sathasivom’s unique vision of twelve jyotirlingam shrines in the United States, on the lines of 12 Jyotirlingams in India. Swami Sathasivom is a leading practitioner from the Saiva and Sakta order. He is the elder son of Sambamurthy Sivachariar, an eminent Hindu priest of Sri Kalikambal Temple in Chennai, India.

The upcoming Bellingham Shiva temple would be the new and permanent abode for the presiding deities of the Boston Sri Kalikambal Shiva Temple, in 2020. The construction will be completed in a phased manner. The first phase will have the main temple building and a parking lot for nearly 300 cars. The second phase of the Bellingham Shiva temple construction will have a sanctuary, a community hall, a staff residence unit, a dormitory for visitors, classrooms, etc.

A stream run through the 17-acre land acquired for the new Shiva temple in Bellingham, and six acres of the site comprise wetland. The Boston Sri Kalikambal Shiva Temple board has decided to keep the wetlands undisturbed in order to protect the ecosystem and preserve the natural ambiance around the future temple. “If any tree in close proximity to the wetlands is uprooted to make way for construction, we pledge to compensate the loss of one tree with two trees,” said Mrs. Mangalam Sambamoorthy, the president of the temple board.

Having obtained all legal permits for the Bellingham Shiva temple project, the Boston Sri Kalikambal Shiva Temple is looking to broaden the horizon of community activities and cultural enlightenment, which has not been possible till date because of the limited space at the current place. The present temple offers Sanskrit lessons, but the temple authorities have plans to offer classes on several Indian languages at the new location, since Boston houses different Indian communities.

Since the foundation of the Sri Kalikambal Shiva Temple in Boston, the temple board has been serving the local community in various ways, including two annual scholarships of $1000 each in recognition of high school seniors’ outstanding volunteer service. The new Shiva temple in Bellingham, MA will facilitate execution of the cultural agenda including a number of educational activities other than Indian classical music and dance, according to Mrs. Mangalam Sambamoorthy.

The Bellingham Shiva temple complex may have a community kitchen or canteen to serve devotees, much like Queens Ganesh Temple in New York and Groton Sai Temple in New England.

The Boston Sri Kalikambal Shiva Temple in Bellingham is dedicated to three Shivalingas, including the presiding deity, Lord Omkareshwara. Sri Kalikambal, an incarnation of Goddess Shakti is another chief deity of the temple. Lord Omkareshwara is a powerful god of mercy and healing. Lord Ganesha, Lord Ayyappa, and Lord Anjaneya are the other gods at the Shiva Temple in Bellingham, Massachusetts.

Brought to you by Indian Eagle Travel, a leading travel booking organization in the US, this article is part of our continued series of Indian community news and stories at Travel Beats. You can contact at 508 966 8332 or write to smspeetam@gmail.com if you wish to contribute to the making of the new temple.

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Recently, India honored Dr. Mukesh Hariawala from the Boston Indian community in Massachusetts, as a visionary of the decade, in recognition of his contribution to the global healthcare economy. Indian American cardiac surgeon, Dr. Mukesh Hariawala received the ‘Indian Healthcare Visionary of the Decade’ award at the 4^th Annual Business Leadership Conclave in Mumbai last week. This Boston Indian is a leading research scientist and healthcare economist too.

Dr. Mukesh Hariawala shared the stage of the 4^th Annual Business Leadership Conclave with two industrialists – Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani – during the felicitation. The ‘Transformational Leader of the Decade’ award went to Ratan Tata, and Mukesh Ambani was bestowed on the ‘Millennium Business Leader of the Decade’ award.

Indian American research scientist, Dr. Mukesh Hariawala stole the show with the audience by enthusiastically delivering a keynote lecture in praise of India’s current healthcare infrastructure and collective talent of medical professionals including doctors as well as nurses. In his spirited lecture to a packed audience, he emphasized a multi-billion dollar medical tourism opportunity for the growing economy of India as a byproduct of “Obamacare,”which is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act brought by former US President Barack Obama.

Dr. Mukesh Hariawala said in no uncertain terms that the gradually changing healthcare ecosystem in USA would be compelling millions of Americans, who are impatient of ‘long waiting periods’ for surgical procedures in the country, to seek medical treatment outside the United States. It is likely to benefit India as a sought-after destination for medical tourism in the long run.

Also Read Dr. Vivek Murthy on Mission to Save America from Health Crisis

Once it proves to be a boon for the healthcare industry of India, it will also help generate revenues for other sectors such as hospitality, travel & tourism, banking, shopping, etc. Indian American health economist Mukesh Hariawala opined that India could grab a large pie of billion dollar revenues if soft government policies are framed to encourage building of modern hospitals on outskirts of major Indian metropolises where semi-skilled workers from rural India find employment.

This is what will raise GDP of India and result in urbanization of the country’s rural landscape by ensuring a steady flow of medical tourists and channeling FDI funds to India from USA, in Indian American Dr. Mukesh Hariawala’s vision.

Born in Gujarat, Dr. Mukesh Hariawala is an eminent keynote speaker at leadership summits worldwide. He is a widely talked-about figure in global media. He studied MBBS at a Mumbai University affiliated medial college. On completion of post-graduation in London, he got fellowship in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston in 1944.

Besides being a member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the Indian Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Dr. Mukesh Hariawala is an alumnus of the New York Film Academy. He has acted in several Bollywood films including Akira, A Flying Jatt, Jagga Jasoos and Rough Book. He has even worked with superstar Amitabh Bachchan. What’s the most interesting about him is that he was cast in more than 10 films in the first year of his acting career.

Travel Beats, a leading Indian American community magazine by Indian Eagle, publishes the latest travel, tourism, visa, immigration and community news. Indian Eagle is a trusted travel partner of Indians in USA for booking their cheap international flights to India from US cities.

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Indian Independence Day Celebrations in USA are the biggest events for Indians in America. The calendar of August 2017 is full of events around the 71^st Indian Independence Day in USA. Needless to say; the Indian community in US cities will be having a gala time throughout the month of August. We at Indian Eagle handpicked some of the best 71^st Indian Independence Day celebrations in USA cities for you.

List of 71st Indian Independence Day Celebrations in USA

Festival of India in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta will soak in Indian culture and heritage at the Festival of India on August 5. First held in 1997 to commemorate the 50^th Independence Day of India, the festival became one of the biggest Indian Independence day events in Atlanta. Among the most-awaited Atlanta Indian events in August 2017, the 21^st edition of the festival will celebrate India’s 71^st Independence Day with mouthwatering dishes from various Indian cuisines and cultural programs on Indian performing arts. The event will also feature petting zoo for kids, shopping booths and seminars on different topics. Being hosted by India American Cultural Association, the event will be held at Infinite Energy Center in Duluth.

India Day Parade in New York

The Indian Independence Day celebrations in New York City are second to none. Desis in New York will commemorate India’s independence with the grand India Day Parade on August 20. One of the biggest Indian events in New York in August 2017, it was initiated in 1981 and became an annual tradition for New York Indians. The India Day Parade NYC is a great chance to witness the Indian Independence Day celebrations in New York. Organized by Federations of Indian Associations, the NYC India Day Parade 2017 will start at Madison Avenue’s 40^th Street and end at the 23^rd Street.

India Day in Boston

Boston Indians are not less enthusiastic about Indian Independence Day celebration than Indians in other US cities. The India Day by India Association of Greater Boston on August 20 is among the best Boston Indian events in August 2017 as the event marks the celebration of 71^st Indian Independence Day. One of the top Indian Independence Day events in USA, the India Day in Boston has the theme ‘Unity in Diversity’. In keeping with the theme, the programs on the schedule of the India Day 2017 in Boston will showcase the cultural diversity of India.  The Hatch Memorial Shell is the venue for the India Day in Boston.

2017 India Day in Naperville, Chicago

Indian Independence Day celebrations in Chicago include the 2017 India Day in Naperville on August 13. Hosted by Indian Community Outreach, it seems one of the largest events for Indians in Naperville in August 2017 to celebrate India’s 71^st Independence Day. To be held at Naperville’s Knock Park, the event will start with a spectacular parade followed by a live concert by Bollywood rockstar Mika Singh. Other entertainment programs include local talent show and fashion show. The Indian Independence Day events in Naperville will conclude with a breathtaking display of fireworks.

India Independence Day in Los Angeles

Are you looking for the top Indian Independence Day events in Los Angeles? Then you should definitely show up at the India Independence Day in California’s Chatsworth on August 26. Among the August 2017 events for Los Angeles Indian community, it will offer Bay Area Indians an amazing chance to take part in Indian Independence Day celebrations in California. The Desis can have tryst with Indian culture, heritage and food as the event venue will have several booths dedicated to Indian food and cultural performance. There will also be many fun programs for kids besides a health fair. The event is sponsored by Emirates Airlines and the India Association of Los Angeles at Chatsworth High School in California.

FOG India Day Parade in Fremont, CAL

Among the Indian Independence Day celebrations in Fremont, the 2017 FOG India Day Parade in Fremont on August 13 celebrates whatever is Indian to the core. Among the biggest Indian parades in USA, it features majestic processions of Grand Marshals riding more than 100 open-top cars, 50 colorful floats, cultural presentations, etc. Expected to see the participation of over 150,000 people, it will surely be on the list of events for Indians in San Francisco in August 2017. Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont is the venue for the grand parade.

Jai Ho! Independence Bollywood Party in Seattle

Among the upcoming Indian Independence Day celebrations in Seattle, Jai Ho! Bollywood Party will make Indians in Seattle celebrate the 71^st anniversary of Indian independence by shaking their legs to some of the best Bollywood songs. The best of Seattle Indian events in August 2017, it will be a great opportunity to socialize with the fellow Desis. The party will also feature eminent DJ Ki and other special guests for entertaining the audience. Make sure to wear either orange, white and green clothes or traditional Indian attires as there is a dress code. Being hosted by DJ Prashant, the dance party will be held on August 12 at the Crocodile Club in Seattle.

India Independence Day Parade in Chicago

India Day Parade NYC might be famous as the world’s biggest Indian day parade, but Chicago’s annual India Independence Day Parade is undoubtedly one of the not-to-be-missed Indian Independence Day celebrations in Illinois. With a lineup of exciting activities for Chicago Indians, the parade is among the top Indian events in Chicago in August 2017. The Indian Independence Day Parade in Chicago will start at 11 AM on August 19 from Devon Avenue.

Parade of India in Austin, Texas

The Parade of India in Austin on August 12 is what Austin Indians are eagerly waiting for to get soaked in patriotism during the Indian Independence Day celebrations in Austin. Of the upcoming Austin Indian events in August 2017, it will be a spectacular celebration of not only Indian independence but also Indian culture. The schedule of the 2017 Parade of India in Austin is chock-a-block with a number of cultural performances alongside many fun activities such as face painting for kids. Delicious Indian food at the Parade of India in Austin will surely be a treat to the taste buds. The Texas State Capitol is the venue for the parade in Austin.

Magnificent India- Independence Day Celebrations in Stafford

Indians in Stafford are gearing up to take part in the 71^st Independence Day celebrations in Houston at the Magnificent India festival on August 20. One of the best August 2017 events for Houston Indians, it will be an ethnic extravaganza full of cultural programs. While Indian kids can participate in quiz and elocution contests, the grown-ups can catch up with their fellow Indians over appetizing Indian dishes and drinks. The Riyaaz Qawaali music concert is another highlight of the event. Being organized by the non-profit India Culture Center, it will be held at Stafford Centre.

Independence Day Mela in St. Louis, Missouri  

The list of Indian Independence Day celebrations in St. Louis includes Independence Day Mela by the India Association of St. Louis on August 13 in Missouri. The event will start with the hoisting of Indian Flag. One of the most awaited Indian community events in St. Louis in August 2017; the Independence Day Mela in St. Louis takes Missouri Indians on a ride of nostalgia through whatever is Indian essentially and what they miss in USA. Mahatma Gandhi Center in St. Louis is the venue for the event.

India Festival 2017 in Portland, Oregon

Indians in Portland are about to experience the culture, food, traditions and heritage of India like never before during the 71^st Indian Independence Day celebrations in USA. One of the amazing Portland Indian community events in August 2017, the India Festival 2017 will commemorate India’s 71^st Independence Day with dance, food and music. The cultural gala includes also children’s craft workshop, rangoli making and sari tying in its schedule of entertaining programs for Portland Indians. Hosted by India Cultural Association Portland, the India Festival 2017 in Portland will be held on August 13 at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Indian Eagle is a leading travel partner of Indians in USA for booking their flights to India from US cities. The lowest airfare along with the best service is guaranteed. Indian Eagle’s Indian American community portal, Travel Beats publishes the latest tourist, travel, visa and immigration news.

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Let’s not go the Indian winner of a Grammy unnoticed amid the Hollywood glamor of the Grammy Awards 2017. Though legendary singer George Michael’s electrifying performance and Beyoncé’s baby bump stole the show with social butterflies in the event, the only Indian winner stood out gloriously and looked his best in a traditional silk kurta.

Sandeep Das, a noted Indian American percussionist from Boston, won a Grammy in the World Music category as part of the music album ‘Sing Me Home’ recorded by Silk Road Ensemble, an American-Chinese group of artists. Sitarist Anoushka Shankar, who lost out the Grammy to him, was another nominee in the same category. A gold medalist in English literature from Banaras Hindu University, Sandeep Das made his stage debut with none other than Sitar maestro Pundit Ravi Shankar in India in 1986.

Sandeep Das’ initiation into Indian music at the age of 8 is an interesting story worth knowing. A teacher of Sandeep’s school complained that Sandeep disturbed the whole class by tapping the desk with his hands even during study hours. The complaint was a blessing in disguise for Sandeep Das. His father bought him a pair of tabla and put him under the tutelage of Pundit Shiv Kumar Singh instead of scolding him.

After the first year of training, Sandeep’s father approached Pundit Kishan Maharaj in Varanasi, a renowned master of the Banaras Gharana in those times, to bless his son with lessons on tabla. The tabla maestro examined Sandeep in various ways to check if he deserved to be his disciple. On successful testing, he euphorically said, “Sandeep has tabla in his blood and I will teach him.” That’s when the 9-year-old Sandeep Das’ embarked on a journey to make it big in the world of Indian music, and his journey still continues.

A lot of dedication and perseverance has gone into the making of what Sandeep Das is today. For instance, he used to travel from Patna to Banaras every Friday evening, stay overnight there and return home on Sunday for the first few years while training under Pundit Kishan Maharaj. He never spent a single holiday at home until they relocated to Varanasi.

In 1991, Sandeep Das shifted to Delhi to scale his career as a professional percussionist. His first foreign tour took place the same year. He wowed the audience, including Indian Americans, with his performance in USA during the tour. He also performed in Trinidad and Tobago. He also won the national drumming championship three times.

In the initial years of his ascending career, he shared the stage with such eminent figures of Indian classical music as Shubha Mudgal, Pundit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and Ustad Shujaat Khan. Gradually, he became a known face in the popular music festivals of India and international concerts abroad. Today, Sandeep is recognized for his compositions in Indian and western genres of music.

Not many people know that Tarang, the theme music for Blind Sight, a documentary on the first Everest climb by six blind climbers, is a masterpiece from Sandeep’s repertoire. His first nomination for a Grammy in the World Music Category was for his recording ‘The Rain’ in 2003.

Dallas Concert at Montgomery Arts Theatre on February 25-27 is one of Sandeep Das’ upcoming concerts in USA. He will also perform at Harvard University on March 1.

Travel Beats is a leading Indian American portal by Indian Eagle, a trusted travel partner of Indians in USA for booking their flights to India. Travel Beats publishes the latest immigration, visa, air travel and community news.

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Atlanta-based Patti Tripathi is up with the Saris to Suits Calendar 2017 edition, which features 13 powerful women activists, humanitarians, entrepreneurs and professionals from different communities. A tribute to women power and an initiative for women empowerment, the Saris to Suits Calendar seeks to raise funds to drive campaigns against domestic violence and gender inequality. Proceeds from sales of the calendar go to support a number of women-aiding activities by several non-profit organizations in USA.

Former CNN news anchor and TriPath Media founder, Patti Tripathi unveils who and what the role models are in the 2017 edition of her calendar which does not objectify women unlike fashion calendars of skimpily clad models. We are honored to profile the inspiring women leaders, who have graced the calendar and supported the move by featuring in the latest edition, at Travel Beats, an Indian American Community portal by IndianEagle. (Know more about Patti Tripathi) 

Hardeep Melamed

Hardeep Melamed, a Punjabi American entrepreneur, is one of the faces in the 2017 edition of Saris to Suits Calendar. The CEO of PurseN, she has been in the fashion industry for the past 20 years. Her career in the fashion retail niche started at an early age. After a stint in managing fashion retail stores in Houston, Atlanta and Los Angeles, Hardeep opened her own store, Mint Beverly Hills, in Houston and Atlanta. A mother of two children, she has launched her own clothing line, Forte.

Kiran Chetry

A Nepali American, Kiran Chetry is an award-winning journalist and the Editor in Chief of the first bimonthly magazine, “The Nepalese American Magazine,” which highlights the Nepali American community’s contributions to the socio-economic progress of USA. A mother of two, Kiran Chetry has been into anchoring, reporting and television broadcasting since 1995 during her professional journey from Maryland to Pennsylvania to California. She prides herself on featuring in the Saris to Suits Calendar 2017.

Dr. Renu Khator

One of the influential Indian American women, Dr. Renu Khator is the President and Chancellor of the University of Houston (UH). Recently she has been inducted into Texas Women’s Hall of Fame for her remarkable contribution to the academic progress of Texas. As Chancellor of Houston University, she is at the helm of a system that caters to over 70,000 students. Born in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Renu Khator pursued her masters and PhD in political science at Purdue University. She is an eminent scholar in the global environmental policy and a published author too.

Raaheela Ahmed

Raaheela Ahmed in the league of women for Patti Tripathi’s Saris to Suits Calendar 2017 edition is a financial advisory associate and an elected member on Prince George’s County Board of Education in Washington DC Metro Area. She won the Sally Byrd Citizenship Award for her outstanding leadership role at the University of Maryland. Raaheela Ahmed is a double graduate with a B.S. in finance and a B.A. in economics.

Dr. Sangeeta N. Bhatia

Another powerful face of innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship in the 2017 edition of Saris to Suits Calendar, Dr. Sangeeta N. Bhatia is an Indian American biotech entrepreneur, MIT professor, cancer researcher and biological engineer. Born in Boston, she started her career as a faculty at the University of California, San Diego in 1999 and then became an associate professor. Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia along with her students has launched 10 biotech companies to improve human health through medical innovations. She is a proud winner of the Lemelson-MIT Prize, the ‘Oscar for Inventors.’

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is the most familiar face among the women that Saris to Suits Calendar features in its latest edition. The youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and a staunch activist for girls’ education, she needs no introduction. Her human rights advocacy for education has become a global movement. The United Nations named July 12 “Malala Day” in support of her advocacy for all girl children’s access to adequate education.

Roopa Unnikrishnan

One of the role models of women empowerment for Patti Tripathi’s Saris to Suits Calendar 2017, Roopa Unnikrishnan is a published author, innovation consultant and a Rhodes Scholar from Chennai, India. An ardent advocate of athletics in India, she received the Arjuna Award (India’s highest sporting prize) in 1999. Roopa Unnikrishnan pursued MBA at the School of Business, Oxford University and married Sreenath Sreenivasan, the Chief Digital Officer of New York City.

Rayna Chandra

Rayna Chandra is the youngest of all women supporting Patti Tripathi’s initiative for women empowerment. A World Champion Ballroom dancer, she turned 18 in September this year. She does lots of charity and dances to benefit several initiatives like PACE for girls and Saris to Suits. Based in Florida, she traces her roots to Hyderabad and Bengal. She aspires to study law aiming to help victims of domestic violence. Her surgeon father and dentist mother are well known for their philanthropic activities in Florida.

Dr. Nazeera Dawood

Dr. Nazeera Dawood is a courageous activist for women and a health & wellness ambassador for Fulton in the Greater Atlanta Area. She has been working for community health improvement from India to Atlanta. She serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Fulton County Office of the Chairman Board of Commissioners and works as the health promotion program manager for the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness. In 2014, Fulton Country honored her and recognized her leadership by declaring October 1 as ‘Dr. Nazeera Dawood Appreciation Day.’

Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan

The bravest of all role models featuring in the 2017 edition of Saris to Suits Calendar, Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan is a fighter and activist. Born in Hyderabad and raised in Canada, she was diagnosed with a rare, progressive muscle-deteriorating condition at 30. However, it couldn’t hold her back from becoming a humanitarian and working for the underprivileged children on behalf of UNICEF. Cara E. Yar Khan went on to work in Angola, China, Botswana, Madagascar, Haiti and Mozambique. Though she needs the support of two leg braces and canes to walk, she plans to cross the Grand Canyon on horseback in April-May 2017 to fight discrimination against the physically challenged.

Dr. Vanila Singh

An Indian American of Rajasthani origin, Dr. Vanila Singh is a powerful proponent of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) for women and girls. She is also an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Stanford University. Based in California, Dr. Vanila Singh advocates the national health policy and motivates immigrants to take part in public service as well as political affairs. Among the inspiring leaders in the Saris to Suits Calendar 2017 edition, she is trained in Kathak and Bharatnatyam.

Reshmee M. Bharratt and Puneet Kaur Sandhu

Reshmee M. Bharratt and Puneet Kaur Sandhu are also associated with Patti Tripathi’s Saris to Suits Calendar. Reshmee is an accountant at PwC in Orlando and a member of the Saris to Suits board. Puneet Kaur, a UK-born Punjabi American in Florida, is one of the volunteers for Saris to Suits. An aspiring documentary filmmaker, she is looking to pursue masters in journalist at City University of New York.

Join the Saris to Suits, a non-profit initiative and contribute to empowerment of economically disadvantaged women in developing countries including India. All contributions to this noble charity are exempt from federal tax under 501(C) 3 Revenue Code in USA. For more information, log on to SarisToSuits.org or write to Info@SarisToSuits.org. You can also post your queries in the comment section below.

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