Indo-American News: April 25, 2025

Friday, April 25, 2025 • Vol. 44, No. 17

April 25, 2025

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April 25, 2025

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Friday, April 25, 2024 | Vol. 44, No. 17

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Indo American News

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Published weekly from Houston, TX

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Special Reports Community Briefs Local Politics South Asians in the News

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HAF Gala Shines Spotlight on Public Education & Advocacy

P4 Hindu American Foundation staff and volunteers celebrate after a successful annual gala on April 12, 2025.

Local Organizations Condemn Pahalgam Terror Attack on Hindus -- P7

WEDDINGS, SPECIAL EVENTS, TENTED EVENTS, OUTDOOR COURTYARD

3 3 3 0 F M 1 4 6 3 | K a t y, T X 7 7 4 9 4 | 8 3 2 . 8 5 5 . 5 5 2 0 | p a l m r o y a l v i l l a . c o m Indo-American News • Friday, april 25, 2025 • www.indoamerican-news.com

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COMMUNITY

April 25, 2025

HAF Gala Shines Spotlight on Public Education & Advocacy

HAF volunteer Lavannya Pandit explains the HAF “Spin the Wheel” trivia game to Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers

HAF Board Members Rajiv Pandit (left), Rishi Bhutada, Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton, Coretta Middleton, and Kiran Rao.

Houston: The Hindu American Foundation delighted a sold-out crowd with an evening as thoughtprovoking as it was entertaining at its annual Houston Fundraising Gala on Saturday, April 13th. Held at the Bayou City Event Center, the program emphasized HAF’s commitment to ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of Hindus and Hinduism in Texas public education.

The event was hosted by HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla and National Leadership Council Member Priya Pandit, with appearances from Board of Directors Member Rajiv Pandit and Texas Policy Fellow Nimai Shukla.

The evening wove together powerful storytelling, community connection, and a live-action “Whodunnit” mystery game that kept the audience engaged and energized. It underscored how narratives can be a tool for advocacy, mirroring HAF’s own strategic work in shifting how Hindu Americans are perceived and portrayed.

The program featured an in-depth presentation outlining HAF’s priorities nationwide, including legal advocacy, curriculum reform, and media engagement. Special attention was given to the Foundation’s expanding efforts in Texas, where they have educated the Texas State Legislature regarding the most pressing issues facing the Hindu community and were instrumental in having Holi recognized for the first time in Texas.

Guests also heard about recent wins and ongoing challenges, particularly the urgent need to counter anti-Hindu bias in K-12 materials and higher education, where misinformation and stereotyping remain common.

HAF’s leadership emphasized that community involvement is the key to long-term change and empowerment, and highlighted their Dharma Advocates and Dharma Ambassadors programs, which equip citizens to step into advocacy roles in their community with the support of HAF’s trainings and toolkits.

Nearly 300 attendees filled the room with enthusiasm and generosity, raising significant funding in support of HAF’s mission, both in Texas and nationwide.

A raffle added to the excitement of the evening, featuring exclusive items such as tea for two at Kiran’s, an acclaimed Indian restaurant in Houston. The gala concluded with a delicious dinner from Daawat Catering, a division of Madras Pavilion, giving guests a chance to unwind and connect with fellow advocates and supporters.

HAF extends deep gratitude to local partners Hindus of Greater Houston and DISHA, for their ongoing support and to the Houston chapter team for organizing another impactful event. HAF looks forward to continuing its work in Texas and beyond to create a more informed and inclusive future for Hindu Americans.

Stay up to date with HAF’s work in education, advocacy, and community empowerment by visiting hinduamerican.org and follow us on social media: @ hinduamerican on all platforms.

Indo-American News • Friday, april 25, 2025 • www.indoamerican-news

COMMUNITY

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April 25, 2025

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April 25, 2025

Tagore Talk 2025 at India House

COMMUNITY

Glimpses of India’s History and Governance by Sanjeev Sanyal

By Partha Sarathi Chatterjee Advisor, TSH Houston: It was not a Bollywood star or a famous religious preacher, but on April 19th evening it seemed that a rock star had come to town from the overflowing crowds that came to India House to attend the 2025 Tagore Talks. The featured speaker at the event was Mr. Sanjeev Sanyal, Secretary of the Government of India and a member of PM Modi’s Economic Advisory Council.

The Talk was the 10th in an annual series that is organized by the Tagore Society of Houston (TSH), an iconic Houston institution established in 1974 with the primary mission of propagating the universal philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore’s vision for a modern India is beautifully expressed in the words of the poem “Where the mind is without fear…into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.” It is in this light that Tagore Society invited Mr. Sanyal, who in his own right is a renowned thinker, economist, in fact a veritable polymath, to headline this year’s Talk, to illuminate for the community the inner strivings of the Government of India in order to reach the goal of a Vikshit (Developed) Bharat by 2047.

This Talk was attended by a standing room only crowd.

Many of them have been ardent followers of his eloquent podcasts and interviews on the internet. The event was kicked off by a soulful rendering of Tagore’s famous song “Anandaloke” by two of the youngest members of Tagore Society. Dhruba Ghose, TSH President, welcomed everyone and gave the highlights of TSH mission and

Sanjeev Sanyal with interviewer Sunanda Vashisht

TSH boardmembers with dignitaries

its achievements. Honorable DC Manjunath, Consul General of India in Houston, spoke about why the Talk and TSH’s mission is relevant in modern times and Tagore’s connection to Houston. Dhruba Ghosh then introduced Ms. Sunanda Vashisht, a celebrated Houston journalist, who then introduced Mr. Sanyal to the crowd and moderated the rest of the Talk.

Sanjeev Sanyal’s Talk was focused “India’s Process Reforms: Attrition Warfare vs DOGE Blitz”.

He explained the meticulous pro-

cess that is being followed to reduce bureaucracy, cut down on processing time, eliminate waste and ridiculous norms, many carried over from British times. Every success he highlighted needed deep investigative analysis and incessant desire to find waste and improve processes. Tagore’s words are so apropos for the passionate zeal by which these reforms are being approached, as detailed by Mr. Sanyal. “... Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit …”

The important aspect of the Talk was not the details but its demonstration of the brilliant technical minds that are driving India’s development.

Sanjeev Sanyal attended other smaller gather-

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ings before the event including at the Consul General’s house, with community leaders, TSH volunteers and sponsors, and also after the event. At every such gathering, the discussions were animated and covered many aspects of India’s governance and place in the world. One could sense his admirable brilliance across subjects.

From AI to modelling in ship design to economics to governance, he floored the audience with his clarity of thoughts and depth of knowledge. He talked about his work in building a stitched ship in line with India’s maritime glory.

He discussed how the world order needed disruption for meaningful change and how India is primed for success given the world situation now. A stable educated population, governed by an efficient government, can do wonders. He even talked about AI governance, the perils of declining population faced by various countries, terrorism and instability, and how it is critical for India to continue the path it is currently on.

Seeing Mr. Sanyal in person, hearing him talk and converse in smaller groups, it is obvious that India is in good hands; it completely moved the needle in the terms of the community’s general perception of how India is governed.

Tagore Society of Houston could bring this fantastic event and the brilliant speaker Sanjeev Sanyal, thanks to the incredible team of Executive Board, Advisors and volunteers, supported by sponsors and partner organizations. TSH will continue to bring such eminent speakers and cater to the vibrant community here in Houston.

INDIA

April 25, 2025

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Local Organizations Condemn Pahalgam Terror Attack Against Hindus Houston: Several local organizations have issued statements condemning the terror attack against Hindus in Pahalgam.

Hindus of Greater Houston Echoes of 1990: A Kashmiri Pandit’s Call for Justice Amid Renewed Brutality Militant Islamic terrorists killed at least 26 innocent tourists at Pahalgam in Kashmir, India in a barbaric slaughter targeted at Hindus.

The tourists were forced to identify as Hindus and asked to recite the Muslim prayer of Faith or Kalma.

Men were killed, right in front of their wives, kids and other family members. A militant group, called The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the banned terrorist organization “Lashkar-e-Taiba”, based out of Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Hindu tourists from various regions of India, and a few from abroad were the unfortunate victims. Religious fanaticism against Hindus was the key motivation behind this targeted terrorist attack.

Amit Raina, Director of Hindus of Greater Houston (HGH) and a proud Kashmiri Pandit from the Greater Houston area, described the brutal attack as a grim reminder of the unspeakable suffering endured by the Kashmiri Hindu community at the hands of Islamic extremists.

“It takes us back to 1990 - a time when we, the indigenous and peaceful people of Kashmir, were hunted, killed, and forced to flee our ancestral homeland,” he said.

“The same venomous hatred and radical ideology that drove our exodus decades ago still casts its dark shadow over the Valley.”

No polished tourism campaign can conceal the scars of this ongoing trauma or erase its harsh realities. Every attack like this is more than just an act of terror, it tears open old wounds that have never been allowed to heal.

Our hearts go out to the families devastated by the Pahalgam massacre. In their grief, we find solidarity. And through that, we renew our unwavering call for justice, accountability, and an end to the vicious cycle of violence that continues to plague our homeland Kashmir.

Hindus of Greater Houston condemn the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, expressing solidarity with India and victims’ families.

Jewish Federation of Greater Houston “The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is deeply saddened by this tragic attack. We stand in solidarity with our friends at Hindus of Greater Houston and the global Hindu community during this time of grief and mourning.” -Erica Winsor, Public Affairs Officer, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston.

Young Hindus of Greater Houston We, the Young Hindus of Greater

Indian security officers inspect the site in Pahalgam where militants opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam in Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. AP

PM Modi: Pahalgam Attackers, Conspirators will be Punished beyond their Imagination Patna: Offering tributes to all those killed in Pahalgam on April 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphatically said that those responsible for the terrorist attack and their conspirators will be punished “beyond their imagination”.

“The punishment will be significant and stringent, which these terrorists would have never even thought about,” he said, while addressing a public rally in Bihar during an event to mark National Panchayati Raj Day. Mr. Modi started his address in Hindi but suddenly switched to English while issuing a stern warning to terrorists. “Today, from the soil of Bihar I want to say to the whole world that India will identify, trace and pun-

ish every terrorist, supporter and conspirator. We’ll pursue them to the end of the Earth. They will be punished beyond their imagination,” said Mr. Modi in English, apparently to give his message to the world. The perpetrators will face the “full might of India’s response”, he said. He also urged the crowd to observe a minute’s silence for the victims.

The gathered crowd cheered loudly when Mr. Modi declared that those responsible for the terror attack on “Indian’s soul” would not go unpunished. “Terrorism will never break India’s spirit. Every effort will be made to make sure that justice is done.

The entire nation from Kargil to Kanyakumari is one in its resolve,” Mr. Modi continued in

English. “Everyone who believes in humanity is with us.

I also thank people of several countries and their leaders who have stood with us.”

While calling the terrorist attack a “cowardly and inhuman act”, he further said: “The entire nation shares the pain of the bereaved families. Some lost their son, some brother and some, a life partner. But their sorrow is the sorrow of the entire nation.”

Mr Modi also reaffirmed the government’s “zero tolerance policy towards terrorism”. “The enemies of the country have dared to attack the soul of India.. but the willpower of 140 crore Indians will now break the back of the perpetrators of terror,” he said.

Houston, stand in solidarity with the victims of the horrific terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22, 2025. The brutal targeting and execution of innocent Hindus, including tour-

ists and locals, is a serious reminder of the ongoing threats to peace and humanity. This is just the latest example of religious persecution many Hindu communities face - this time occurring in their

own country. We unequivocally condemn this heinous act of violence and mourn the innocent lives lost in this senseless tragedy. As a community rooted in the values of dharma, compassion, and advo-

Indo-American News • Friday, april 25, 2025 • www.indoamerican-news.com

cacy, we seek to bring attention to the severity of this incident and call on global leaders and citizens alike to stand against terror in all its forms.

Fort Bend Interfaith Council Pastor John Strader, Chair of the Fort Bend Interfaith Council, responded to Hinduism Interfaith representative Geetha Ravula’s post, stating: “This is absolutely heartbreaking. I grieve alongside our Hindu brothers and sisters, and I join you, Geetha, in denouncing this horrific act of violence. No person should ever be targeted for their faith. The dignity of every life, regardless of religion, must be upheld. As a member of the interfaith community, I stand committed to building the kind of solidarity and compassion that can speak louder than hatred.

Thank you for raising your voice, Geetha—we mourn this loss, and we must continue working together to pursue peace, justice, and understanding.”

During the Fort Bend Interfaith Council’s meeting on April 23, 2025, attendees from diverse communities and faith groups remembered the victims of the recent violence in Kashmir, where reports indicate that Hindu tourists were senselessly murdered by Islamist extremists. They encouraged you to read further and reflect, as such events are painful reminders of why our interfaith work matters so deeply.

Hindu American Foundation The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has sharply condemned what it calls a “shameful and deliberate erasure” by major Western media outlets in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 Hindu tourists were executed in cold blood by terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front—a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy backed by Pakistan.

“Let’s get this straight,” said Suhag Shukla, Executive Director of the Hindu American Foundation, in a scathing rebuke of international media coverage following the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam. “Terrorists from the Resistance Front took credit for storming a meadow in Pahalgam and murdering at least 26 tourists, seeking out Hindus with chilling precision, in the worst civilian massacre in Kashmir since 2008.”

HinduPACT Hindus Advancing Human Rights Initiative (HAHRI), an arm of HinduPACT, unequivocally condemned the brutal terrorist attack on innocent tourists. “The message from the terrorist state across India’s western border is clear,” said Ajay Shah, founder and convenor of HinduPACT, in a statement sent to American Khanai. “On behalf of American Hindus, we express our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims.”

8 April 25, 2025 COMMUNITY PM Modi, JD Vance Review Bilateral Ties -- Tech & Defence Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US vice president J D Vance reviewed and positively assessed progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation, while taking note of continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas, the Indian readout said.

The US is looking to ramp up its defence exports to India, hoping it will help bridge its trade deficit with Delhi.

Cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, and also small and advanced modular reactors, is also on top of the Indian agenda with the US. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward, according to the Indian govt. There was a discussion on the situation in Ukraine and Gaza, with the PM reiterating India’s support for peace talks involving all stakeholders.

PM Modi was said to have

VP JD Vance with PM Modi (top) and family at Akshardham temple in New Delhi.

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fondly recalled his visit to the US in Feb, within weeks of Trump’s return to the White House, and his “fruitful discussions with President Trump which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the US, leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047”.

The American side too recalled that during that meeting, the two leaders had reaffirmed the strength of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and jointly launched the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) for the 21st century, an initiative anchored in mutual trust, shared interests, goodwill and robust engagement of their citizens.

“Prime minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to the vice president, second lady and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India,” the Indian govt said.

April 25, 2025

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BUSINESS

WSJ: Big Oil Is Offshoring Its Prized Engineering Jobs to India

By Colin Eaton

Houston: Competition for engineering and geologist jobs in the oil-and-gas sector was already fierce—and that was before President Trump’s tariff blitz sparked fears about a global recession that sent oil prices tumbling.

Chevron, BP and other oil companies are offshoring more specialized white-collar positions and related work to lower-cost labor pools in countries such as India, while cutting thousands of jobs elsewhere.

The shift, alongside a string of mergers and cost-cutting, has thinned the companies’ ranks of skilled U.S. workers. It has also disrupted the industry’s pecking order, which for decades has been topped by specialized engineers whose positions were more insulated during oil busts.

Chevron said in February that it would cut as many as roughly 8,000 jobs, or 20% of its global workforce, by the end of next year.

That decision has prompted angst at its global headquarters in Houston, where many of its higher-paid

skilled workers are based.

The same day, the oil behemoth said it was “changing how and where work is performed” and would expand the use of global centers, such as one in India where it aims to add about 600 jobs by the end of this year. About half of Chevron’s nearly 40,000 employees are in the U.S. That decision reflects a growing pool of skilled workers in India

who are willing to do the same jobs for a fraction of the cost, along with advances in technology that enable remote working. Engineers there have long drawn salaries around a third or a fourth the size of their counterparts in the U.S., though pay is climbing thanks to rising demand for talent.

“India seems a lot less distant,” said Nicholas Bloom, an economist at Stanford University who

has advised companies on work setups and remote work. “Many managers have told me comments like, ‘Our remote operations are typically 90% as efficient, but 70% of the cost, so it’s a great deal for us.’ ” The new positions aren’t only traditional back-office jobs that U.S. companies have offshored for years. Chevron intends to hire engineers, geologists and environmental scientists in India as part of a $1 billion investment to develop an engineering and innovation hub near Bellandur, a suburb of Bengaluru, a spokesman said.

Hiring for skilled posts in the U.S., meanwhile, has slowed to a pace typically associated with an oil downturn, recruiters say. The slowdown is creating gaps in the résumés of experienced oil workers, forcing some to take pay cuts in new roles and dissuading recent college graduates from joining the industry.

Amanda Rico, a career adviser in Houston with Rico Editorial Services, said workers with advanced degrees are competing more fiercely for fewer jobs. Across

Indo-American News • Friday, april 25, 2025 • www.indoamerican-news

the U.S., the number of oil-andgas jobs has dropped almost 15% since mid-2019 to about 123,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Connor Cabaniss, a senior petroleum engineering student at the University of Texas, said he and some of his classmates have expanded their job searches across the oil-and-gas value chain because postelection uncertainty has led many oil-and-gas companies to slow their hiring.

Cabaniss, who is graduating in May, has had multiple interviews, but isn’t receiving as many calls in recent months. He is hopeful the cyclical business will turn around soon.

Even postelection, they still really don’t know what the market’s going to be like,” Cabaniss said.

Since Trump launched his tariff blitz in early April, U.S. oil prices have tumbled 12% to near $63 a barrel, a level that is expected to prompt some soul-searching in the industry. If prices remain near those levels for long, frackers will have to re-evaluate their spending levels. -- WSJ

ENTERTAINMENT

April 25, 2025

‘Kesari Chapter 2’: Story of Jallianwala Bagh

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

By Dhaval Roy Story: The courtroom drama explores the aftermath of the tragic 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, as lawyer C Sankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) takes on the powerful British Empire, fighting to expose the truth and hold them accountable for genocide.

Review: The conflict shifts from the battleground of Saragarhi in Kesari (2019) to the courtroom in director Karan Singh Tyagi’s historical drama. Inspired by The Case That Shook the Empire by C. Sankaran Nair’s grandson Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, writers Tyagi and Amritpal Bindra evoke pathos, anger, and thrill in equal measure through their narrative.

The recreation of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre tugs at your heartstrings, the injustice fuels your anger, and the legal battle keeps you hooked.

While the pacing is initially uneven—particularly during the sequence of Sankaran helping convict revolutionary Kirpal Singh (Jaipreet Singh) and the pre-trial against General Reginald Dyer (Simon Paisley Day)—the engagement peaks once he faces a fierce nemesis in Anglo-Indian lawyer Neville McKinley (R Madhavan).

Production designer Rita Ghosh authentically recreates the preIndependence era, while Debojeet Ray’s cinematography, along with Tyagi’s direction and treatment, keeps you invested throughout.

Shashwat Sachdev’s composition O Shera and Azeem Dayani’s background score elevate the narrative to a rousing level.

The story also portrays corruption within the British Empire, its disdain for Indians, and the growing revolutionary sentiment— without slipping into overdramatisation. However, Sankaran’s transition from Crown loyalist to nationalist feels slightly rushed.

The tight narrative is anchored

by Akshay Kumar, who shines as the brilliant and courageous Sankaran. R Madhavan is equally formidable, delivering a controlled yet intense performance.

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Ananya Panday, as Sankaran’s co-counsel Dilreet Gill and a catalyst in the legal battle, is impactful. Her portrayal blends realism with nervousness as she takes on

the mighty Empire—transforming from a hesitant first-timer in court to a fiery cross-examiner in

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