The United States is home to not only the growing community of Indian immigrants but also their revered deities. For the first time, the world’s oldest democracy will witness the rare confluence of Buddhist values, equality message, spiritual teachings, and Indian history at one place near the White House, with the scheduled unveiling of Dr BR Ambedkar’s 19ft statue in Maryland on October 14. Termed as the Statue of Equality, the Ambedkar statue will democratize the nation further by sharing space with the Statue of Liberty and the Statue of Freedom in the northeast US.

The world’s largest Ambedkar statue outside India is the center of attraction in the upcoming Dr Ambedkar Memorial complex spread over 13 acres in Accokeek City of Maryland, about 20 miles from Washington DC. To be built for $1.5 million, that is a mere 1% of the total cost of the world’s largest BAPS Akshardham Temple, the Ambedkar Memorial will memorialize the Indian visionary of the modern world and spread his ideals on the American soil, where many Indian immigrants including Kala Bagai have been subjected to racism.

PC: Ambedkarinternationalcenter.org

A beacon of equality in the land of the American Dream, the statue of Ambedkar in Maryland depicts Babasaheb holding the Indian Constitution in his left hand. It is designed by India’s renowned sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar who breathed life into the world’s tallest Statue of Unity in Gujarat and India’s tallest statue of Ambedkar (108 feet) in Hyderabad, Telangana. The Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee also sculpted the 108-ft tall statue of Kempe Gowda at BLR International Airport, among 90+ sculptures in India, the US, France, Italy, Russia and other countries.

Other than the Statue of Equality to be unveiled in Maryland this October 14, the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial will feature Buddhist sculptures, a memorial hall, a residential center, a library, fountains, beautiful gardens, and a souvenir shop among the facilities and attractions celebrating the father of the Indian Constitution. If things fall in place as planned, the project will be completed in 2025.

Among the highlights of the Ambedkar Memorial near Washington DC is Buddha Garden featuring a 6ft Buddha statue as the Symbol of Peace and Humanity. The statue made of white marble will be seated against a replica of Sanchi Stupa. Buddha Garden, also known as the Garden of Enlightenment, will be adorned with sculptures, statues, and murals mirroring the Buddhist art and architecture. The garden will be landscaped with rocks whereon the spiritual lessons of Lord Buddha and Dr. Ambedkar’s inspirational quotes will be engraved.

Another attraction is a replica of the Ashoka Pillar harking back to the Mauryan era when propagation of the Buddhist ideology reached its zenith in India and abroad. A mile-long ‘wisdom trail’ meandering through the Garden of Enlightenment and featuring statues of spiritual reformers on both sides will take visitors on an enlightening walk. Nalanda Library, among the state-of-the-art facilities, will be designed as a treasure of Buddhist literary works and Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thought-provoking works for research enthusiasts from across the world.

In Maryland’s Dr Ambedkar Memorial, the main building spanning 3000 sq. ft will house innovative exhibits related to the life of Babasaheb, one of the founding fathers of India. Equipped with massive display screens and advanced sound systems for presentations, the building can accommodate 150 members during a conference or event. The memorial is envisaged as a ‘center for social change initiatives, learnings, cultural and economic developments, conferences, celebrations, and the propagation of Ambedkar’s philosophy throughout the United States’.

The post USA to Unveil North America’s Tallest Ambedkar Statue in 13-acre Memorial Center near Washington DC This Month appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The US midterm elections 2022 results include two historic wins for the Indian American community that represents itself in the corridor of power and politics. Aruna Miller and Shri Thanedar scripted history, with an overwhelming support to their campaigns and a landslide victory in the 2022 midterms. Aruna has a history of undertaking several welfare initiatives for the people of Maryland, whereas the Black community of Michigan voted Shri Thanedar to the US House of Representatives as their voice.

Aruna Miller, the first Indian American Lieutenant Governor of Maryland

One of the historic wins in the US midterm polls 2022 belongs to Aruna Miller who is the first South Asian and the first Indian American to be elected as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. The 57-year-old Democrat, a civil engineer by profession, was born in Hyderabad, India. Her parents immigrated to New York from the undivided Andhra Pradesh in 1972 when she was only 7. Her father was a mechanical engineer at IBM. Aruna majored in civil engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Maryland’s new lieutenant governor Aruna Miller is now the running mate of Maryland’s first Black governor, Wes Moore. Naturalized as a US citizen in 2000, she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010, and she represented the 15^th District in Montgomery County for eight years. During her tenure in the House of Delegates, she espoused several causes, such as family welfare, domestic violence check, marriage equality, gun purchase control, and renewable energy in the state. She was also vocal about the need to increase minimum wages.

While in the Maryland House of Delegates, she went on to exclude underage smokers from the users of e-cigarettes, implement GPS tracking of domestic abusers, and establish a fund for rape crisis centers in the state. In 2018, she backed the need of studying and promoting alternative treatments to help Americans tide over the ‘opioid’ crisis. She also brought a bill pushing high schools to introduce computer science in their curriculum for earlier grades. She had offered her service as a transportation engineer to local governments in California and Virginia before she relocated to Maryland in 1990.

After the US midterm results were announced, Indian American Aruna Miller tweeted, “Maryland, you showed the nation what a small but mighty state do when democracy is on the ballot. You chose unity over division, expanding rights over restricting rights, and hope over fear. Ever since I came to this country, I have never stopped being excited for the promise of America. I will never stop fighting to make sure that promise is available to everyone.”

Shri Thanedar joins other Indian Americans in House of Representatives 

The US midterm elections 2022 catapulted Indian American Shri Thanedar to the House of Representatives from the 13^th Congressional district of Michigan. With a majority of votes from Detroit, he kissed a landslide victory in the midterm elections this year – which, in turn, enables him to join four other Indian American Representatives: Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, Pramila Jayapal from Washington, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera of California.

Shri Thanedar’s journey from Karnataka where grew up in abject poverty to the US where he became a millionaire, is a rags-to-riches story. Born and brought up in a low-income family, he worked menial jobs to make ends meet for a family of eight members when he was 14. His story of hardships and humble beginnings resonated with the Black community that accounts for nearly 78% of Detroit’s racial fabric. In his victory speech, he promised to work hard for the welfare of his Black supporters and voice their concerns in the US Congress. “I will serve the people of Michigan’s 13^th district to the best of my abilities,” he said.

As a meritorious student, Thanedar graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry only at 18. On completion of his post-graduation at the University of Bombay, he joined the University of Akron, Ohio for a PhD in chemistry, and that made him travel to the United States in 1979. His experience as a researcher at Petrolite Corp, coupled with a PhD degree in chemistry, turned a key to dig gold in the chemical business. He learned the nitty-gritty of the chemical business by working a graveyard shift for $15/hour at Chemir, which he bought for $75,000 in 1991.

“By 2005, his maiden business – Chemir – employed 40 PhD chemists among 160 employees and registered a revenue of $16 million. He sold the company for $26 million to rise over the bankruptcy triggered by a colossal loss that his other businesses incurred during the Great Recession in the USA. His active participation in the 2018 elections for the Governor of Michigan became a launchpad for his political career. He funded his state-wide campaign with $10 million from his own savings and earned the media spotlight, but his donation to a Republican campaign pushed him back in the race for the Office of Michigan Governor,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats.

The post Among Indian Americans, Aruna Miller and Shri Thanedar Make Historic Wins in US Midterm Elections 2022 appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Indian American Abeer Dey, a 4^th grader, made headlines for what many others, rather older than him, race to achieve. He has been selected as a junior mayor in the state of Maryland. At the mayor and city council meeting, Gaithersburg, a city in Maryland, declared Abeer Dey as the next junior mayor. His selection happened through an essay competition that saw more than 50 entries from Gaithersburg. Abeer’s swearing-in was virtually officiated on June 21.

Picture Credit: City of Gaithersburg Government

“It’s important that we provide opportunities for our youth to learn about municipal government and how it impacts their lives every day,” said Mayor Jud Ashman. “Abeer is following in the footsteps of a long line of young Junior Mayors who have had an opportunity to experience local government in a unique way, and we’ve appreciated what they’ve taught us in the process,” said Jud Ashman, Mayor of Gaithersburg. Students are asked to describe what change they would like to see or bring in for a better community.

The annual essay competition for selection of a junior mayor is intended to inculcate lessons on municipal governance to young minds and help them grow into responsible citizens. “Teamwork through Flexibility, Respect, Leadership and Civility” was the theme of the “If I were Mayor…” essay contest this year. The Maryland Municipal League and the Maryland Mayors Association invite fourth graders, irrespective of their nationality or cultural background, to pen and submit essays expressing what they would like to do if they are appointed a mayor.

In his essay, Abeer Dey took on bullying and described the ways to curb it as the next junior mayor of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Bullying of kids in schools is what bothers him. He wants to work with community members, teachers and parents to address the problem at its root. The following is an extract from the essay:

“Bullying in schools is a very serious problem and it causes a lot of distress for students. Hence, I want to solve this issue by implementing a few measures, such as increasing the number of teachers at the playground during recess, to be more vigilant and intervene quickly if they see someone getting bullied. I would set up cameras around the school premises which are blind spots and may lead to bullying activities. There should be a station at the playground where kids can go and report their grievance if they are being bullied. The station should always have a teacher present who can listen to the students and help them. The teachers should also talk to the kids who are bullying and try to find out about their behavior and talk to their parents if necessary. In conclusion, I think that implementing these measures would help to solve the issue of bullying and make all the students very comfortable and relaxed in schools, which in turn would help them focus on their studies. As a Junior Mayor, I would like to help you to bring a stop to this major issue and make our schools a better place.”

Interview of the participants is part of the selection process, in addition to the essay. Being junior mayor, Indian-origin Abeer Dey will also be given the charge of a community service project at his Rachel Carson elementary school. The city council and mayor will assist him on this. Maryland-based Abeer is now a member of the elite club of young achievers just like these two Indian American brightest students in the world.

The post This Indian-origin Fourth Grader becomes Junior Mayor of a US City and Takes on Bullying in School appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

If 15-year-old Tanishq Abraham from California could become the youngest biomedical engineer in the United States, why not 12-year-old Naisha Bellam from Maryland could turn a humanitarian for underprivileged kids of her age? Naisha Bellam, a resident of Montgomery Country in Maryland is a Good Samaritan for school dropouts and needy school goers in rural India.

A committed member of Chirag’s Youth Club in the US, Indian American Naisha Bellam has gone beyond her school textbooks to learn from realities in day-to-day life. She launched “Caring4Kidz” initiative as part of Chirag Nonprofit Organization headquartered in Fremont, teamed with several young volunteers across the US, raised funds over $20,000 and helped set up mini libraries for more than 10,000 students at 125 rural schools in different parts of India, including Telangana.

A 7^th grader at Rocky Hill Middle School in Clarksburg, Chirag Youth Club’s Naisha Bellam belongs to Khammam, a suburb 120 miles away from Hyderabad in Telangana. Her trips to India from USA have been epiphanic realizations and life-changing experiences for her. The inspiring story of Naisha Bellam and her humanitarian work is part of ‘Young Indian‘ series at Travel Beats, a portal for overseas Indians in USA by Indian Eagle Travel.

During her past trips to India, she encountered dire pictures of child labor in Khammam and nearby rural areas. She observed kids at the mercy of their employers, and the working kids’ poor living conditions appalled her. On a further probe into the hard-edged reality, she found that those kids were left to earn for themselves or supplement the family income at a very tender age. Most of them were school dropouts who ended up being child laborers due to lack of motivation, support and facilities.

50% of Indian children aged 6-18 do not go to school, and dropout rates increase alarmingly in class 3 to 5, according to her finds. Astonished by the poor literacy stats in rural India, Maryland-based Naisha Bellam contacted Chirag Youth Club and checked on how to support those children. The members of Chirag Youth Club, including Indian American teens responded to her.

Also Check: Indian American Sajni Vederey Helps 1500 Rural Indian Girls in STEM Studies

Naisha launched Caring4Kidz initiative for the welfare of school dropouts and underprivileged students in rural India, in collaboration with Chirag Nonprofit Organization. She recruited more volunteers for Chirag Youth Club and increased the member strength. She leveraged the collective power of social networking, YouTube videos and online communities to run awareness campaigns on the abject circumstances of children in rural India. She, along with her team successfully raised funds for the initiative.

She also found to her utter surprise that most schools in the rural belt of India hardly provide quality education due to limited resources, such as lack of libraries and inadequate access to quality books. A place without a library is like a wilderness for growing children. Several research studies have revealed that libraries have a positive impact on reducing school dropouts and helping children take interest in education. Undeniably, reading is a good exercise. It improves imagination and helps develop other skills.

“In summer 2018, my dad and I took flights to Hyderabad, stopped by some schools in our hometown to check how much they would benefit from the mini library project, and found the project a highly feasible one. That’s how we initiated the Chirag Mini Library project to help the students of 125 government / tribal schools in rural India with access to quality books on social studies, science, math, English and fiction,” said Naisha Bellam sanguinely.

Naisha Bellam and her team of volunteers distributed around 200 books to each of the 125 rural schools and brought more than 10,000 students within the purview of mini libraries under the Caring4kidz initiative.

“With the mini libraries being accessible to all, school dropouts can continue their passion for reading and learning. Personally, I have learned a lot from this experience and these kids have taught me to be optimistic and smiling in every phase of life. I wholeheartedly would like to thank the entire Chirag team, Chirag youth volunteers and PMR memorial trust (India) for their support, encouragement, and guidance,” Naisha shared with Travel Beats.

A member of the US girl scouts, Naisha Bellam is an equally active philanthropist in Montgomery County. She earned the Girl Scout bronze in 2017 for having collected winter cloths and distributed to the needy people at Germantown Park and Ride. She worked more than 250 hours as part of the Student Service Volunteering in Montgomery County and earned “The 2018 Superintendent’s Student Servicing Learning Award”. She also raised funds for National Center for Children and Families and donated 50 backpacks.

The post IndianAmerican Naisha Bellam is Good Samaritan for Poor Students and School Dropouts in Rural India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Indian American women are taking the bull by the horns in business, philanthropy and politics. Kamala Harris in the US Senate and Pramila Jayapal in the US House of Representatives have got a strong foothold into the US politics. Now more four Indian American women leaders from different walks of life are all set to run for the US Congress in 2018. They are promising, strong, determined and confident. The other Indian American candidates for US Congress in 2018 are Harry Arora from Connecticut, Sapan Saha from Illinois and Jitendra Diganvker from Illinois. We at Indian Eagle celebrate the Indian American women power.   

Aruna Miller, Maryland

A member of the Maryland House of Delegates, Indian American Aruna Miller is all set to run for the US Congress this year. A 53-year-old Democrat, she is the second Indian American delegate from Maryland. A civil engineer by profession, Aruna Miller is also a member of the Land Use and Transportation Committee of Montgomery County in Maryland, USA. She serves on the executive board of the women legislators of Maryland too.

One of the most promising Indian American candidates for US Congress in 2018, Aruna Miller has selected jobs, economy and infrastructure as her focus areas. She came to New York from India at the age of 7 and made America her home. When she was a high school senior, she had to take a job at a fast food restaurant after her father lost his job due to a serious health problem.

Democratic Aruna Miller has championed many causes in the House of Delegates, including family welfare, marriage equality, end of capital punishment, background check for gun purchases in Maryland. She has also moved the House of Delegates to increase the minimum wage and raise renewable energy targets in Maryland.

A diehard animal rights advocate, Aruna Miller has established funding for rape crisis centers, implemented GPS tracking of domestic abusers, and banned the sale of e-cigarettes to underage smokers in the state of Maryland. If elected, she will replace John Delaney who has announced to run for presidential elections in 2020.

Also Check: Atlanta-based Uma Lakshman Saves and Promotes Dying Indian Crafts

Dr. Hiral Tipirneni, Arizona

One of the most determined Indian American candidates for US Congress in 2018; Phoenix-based Dr. Hiral Tipirneni is a Democrat from Arizona’s second congressional district. Since she came to the United States from India at the age of 3, she has had an eventful journey from Cleveland, Ohio to Phoenix, Arizona, from an emergency room to cancer research advocacy.

An alumnus of Northeast Ohio Medical University, Dr. Hiral Tipirneni has worked as an emergency room physician at several hospitals in Phoenix for 20 years. Her mother was a social worker and the director of a senior care center in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was her mother who introduced the Meals on Wheels program in Cleveland, and encouraged Dr. Hiral to serve the community.

A member on several nonprofit boards of directors including Maricopa Health Foundation, Indian American Dr. Hiral Tipirneni is at the helm of leading teams of researchers, physicians and health advocates to treat patients of breast cancer, prostate cancer and childhood leukemia. She was the chief organizer of a TEDx event focused on positive changes in the Northwest Valley.

Also Check: Beijing Offers 6-day Visa-free Policy for US-India Travelers

Anita Malik, Arizona

Among the Indian American candidates for US Congress in 2018 is Anita Malik, a digital media entrepreneur and a Democrat. A former journalist, Anita Malik is running for a seat in the US Congress from Arizona’s 6^th Congressional District. Indian American Anita Malik believes that fair tax reform is a must to level the playing field for both small businesses and individuals in Arizona. Gender equality at workplace and low-cost health coverage for everyone will also be on her agenda.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri and brought up in Arizona, Anita Malik is a graduate in information technology and finance from Arizona State University. She is a mentor to women in marketing and an advocate of affordable childcare programs. She will be using her content marketing experience, story-telling power and digital media knowledge to support the collective voice of all South Asians in her campaigns.

Apart from working with several tech startups and government agencies, Anita Malik instituted East West Magazine, a national publication for the Asian American community. One of her recent achievements is ListenforHer, a tool to help women at work. She believes in leading by listening and solving problems by uniting resources.

Also Check: Inspiring Stories of Young Indians in America 

Vandana Jhingan, Illinois

One of the Republican Indian American candidates for US Congress in 2018, Vandana Jhingan is a journalist, community activist and business woman. Based in a Chicago suburb, she is the Midwest Bureau Chief of TV Asia, an Indian American cable network. She is supported by Indians in Illinois, and the Republican Hindu Coalition, a most powerful Hindu organization in the US.

Vandana Jhingan will contest against Indian American Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi. She promises to bring jobs, fiscal responsibility and firm foreign policy to the state of Illinois and the USA at large. Indian American Republican Vandana moved to the United States from India in pursuit of her American Dream, on completion of her business administration studies in New Delhi.

“I have demonstrated my commitment by serving the community for more than 20 years. I will serve as tireless advocate for the people and businesses of my district. I promise that I will handle these issues with the utmost integrity and responsibility,” said Vandana Jhingan in a statement of her candidacy.

Travel Beats is a leading Indian American portal by Indian Eagle, a trusted travel partner of Indians in USA booking their cheap air tickets even for last-minute flights to India. Subscribe to Travel Beats’ free newsletter for the latest immigration, visa, air travel and community news. 

The post Indian American Candidates for US Congress in 2018 Include Four Women of Power appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

After days of bated breath and speculative arguments, Indian American health consultant Seema Verma’s selection as head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is ultimately confirmed by the US Senate based on a 55-43 vote to her. The second Indian American in the Trump regime, Seema Verma will not only push President Trump’s plans to ‘repeal and replace’ the Obamacare but also helm the $31 trillion healthcare agency that insures the health of more than 130 million people in the US.

A graduate in life science from the University of Maryland, Seema Verma has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry of USA. The founder, president and CEO of SVC Inc., a health insurance company, Seema Verma redesigned health insurance plans in several US states, including Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Iowa. She deserves a special mention for her immense contribution to designing Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), which is recognized as the nation’s first consumer-driven Medicaid program for the low-income groups under the Affordable Care Act.

“She’s unquestionably qualified to be the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It’s time to get her in place especially when healthcare reform is a priority on President Trump’s agenda,” said Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary, during a press briefing.

A protégé of Vice President Mike Pence, Seema Verma has worked with state health departments, governors’ offices, state Medicaid agencies, alongside private companies and institutions. Now in the Trump administration, she will be heading administration of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an agency with nearly 6,500 employees in the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Seema Verma is the best person to understand and mitigate the challenges of the Obamacare to Americans, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He said further that she is amply experienced to reform Medicare and Medicaid services so the health insurance programs work the best for the needy. He believes that she is an able leader to ensure increased access to the Medicare and Medicaid services at lower costs.

As the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in USA, Seema Verma is expected to act as a liaison to the Republican governors whose role in the congressional debate on the future of the Obamacare is considered essential. During her confirmation hearing, she made it clear that Medicaid needed to be overhauled completely and that she did not see any point in making Medicare a ‘voucher’ plan.

Early in her career, she worked at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials in Washington, DC. She also holds a master’s degree in public health policy management from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Travel Beats is a leading Indian American portal by Indian Eagle, a trusted travel partner of Indians in USA. Travel Beats publishes the latest immigration, visa, air travel and Indian community news. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest updates. 

The post Indian American Seema Verma to Head $31 Trillion Health Insurance Agency for 130 Million Americans appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.