George Joseph, For Rediff.Com

Stories by George Joseph, For Rediff.Com

'Mumbai attacks, crime against humanity'

'Mumbai attacks, crime against humanity'

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2008

'There may be elements in New Delhi, Islamabad and Kashmir, who want to create trouble between both countries. But peace is the best thing for all,' Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai said.

New York remembers Mumbai victims

New York remembers Mumbai victims

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2008

In a rare gesture of solidarity with the Indian Americans, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and a few other officials came to the Ganesh Temple in Flushing, Queens to participate in a memorial service for the victims of terror attacks in Mumbai.

2 Indians killed in US church shootout

2 Indians killed in US church shootout

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2008

Reshma (25), a nurse from Kaduthuruthy in Kerala, and Dennis John Mallusseril (23) succumbed to their wounds in the hospital. Reshma was shot in the head. The third victim -- Silvy Perincheril -- is in serious condition at the St Joseph's Hospital in Paterson.

Gita study to be mandatory at Seton Hall Univ

Gita study to be mandatory at Seton Hall Univ

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2008

The study of the Bhagvad Gita has become mandatory for every student joining Seton Hall University in New Jersey from this year. Seton Hall is an independent, Catholic university under the Archdiocese of Newark founded in 1856.

Post-9/11 racism prompts Swaranjit Singh into poli

Post-9/11 racism prompts Swaranjit Singh into poli

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2008

Singh, 55, is a graduate of Delhi University class of 1976. He is a motivational speaker, chairs a committee at Queens Borough Community College Holocaust Center, and is a member of Community Board 13. He also serves as the third chair of Queen's Hospital Center board, and works as a director for Red Cross's Queens chapter.

Yoga teacher Mary Dunn passes away

Yoga teacher Mary Dunn passes away

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2008

Mary Dunn, a pioneering yoga teacher and founder of the Iyengar yoga institutes in San Francisco, San Diego and New York, died recently in Scarsdale, New York. She was guru to thousands of people all over the United States.

Sri Ramakrishna temple moves to Chicago suburb

Sri Ramakrishna temple moves to Chicago suburb

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2008

The Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple has relocated to the Chicago suburb of Homer Glen, honouring the memory of the historic speech made by Swami Vivekananda in the city, 115 years ago.

'NRIs deserting their wives skyrocketing'

'NRIs deserting their wives skyrocketing'

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2008

Don't marry Indians in America, including Canada,' Vayalar Ravi, India's minister for Overseas Indian Affairs often tells people back home.

'Am I better off than eight years ago? No!'

'Am I better off than eight years ago? No!'

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2008

Theresa Thanjan, the New York Coordinator of South Asians for Obama, says she joined the campaign out of conviction and support for all that Obama stands for. She plans to return to the media world once the elections are over, and says she did not join the campaign expecting to springboard into political office later.

US: Sister named after Sister Alphonsa

US: Sister named after Sister Alphonsa

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2008

Three churches in the United States were named after Sister Alphonsa before she would be declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 12 in Vatican.

Stars favour Obama, says US astrologer

Stars favour Obama, says US astrologer

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2008

The stars are with Barack Obama, says an Indian astrologer in the United States. "Whatever the polls may convey, the cosmic timetable and the karmic events all seem to point in favor of Barack Obama to occupy the Presidential seat in January 2009," Malini Parthasarathy, a former senior management specialist at the World Bank, and an astrologer, says.

Community could cast deciding vote in US poll

Community could cast deciding vote in US poll

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2008

The Indian-American community, always considered numerically significant to impact a national election, could this year finally have its defining moment. "This year's Presidential election is likely to be determined by small margins in a handful of states with significant enough Indian-American populations -- states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio," points out Toby Chaudhury, communications director for Campaign for America's Future.

Seshadri Ramkumar recognised for textile research

Seshadri Ramkumar recognised for textile research

Rediff.com   30 Sep 2008

The International Conference on Performance Wear and Functional Textiles presented the Technical Textiles Accomplishment Award to Professor Seshadri Ramkumar of Texas Tech University.

Setting the WTC conspiracy theories to rest

Setting the WTC conspiracy theories to rest

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2008

A 'new phenomenon' known as thermal expansion caused World Trade Centre 7 to collapse September 11, 2001. This is the conclusion of a report released by an investigative team headed by Dr Sivaraj Shyam Sunder, director of Buildings and Fire Research Laboratory at the Nationals Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Indian American whizkid behind Google Chrome

Indian American whizkid behind Google Chrome

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2008

Sundar Pichai, a technology whiz-kid and an IIT-ian, was responsible for the development of the Google browser as the company's vice president of product development.

Toilet proves short cut to jail for Indian doctor

Toilet proves short cut to jail for Indian doctor

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2008

Dr Sivaprasad D Madduri of Missouri, who landed in jail when he attempted to use the toilet during a flight, has initiated legal action against Southwest Airlines.

US: Family indicted in 'slavery' case of Indian

US: Family indicted in 'slavery' case of Indian

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2008

In yet another 'slavery' case, an Indian woman, her husband who is deputy sheriff in Forsyth County, Georgia, and her fatherin-law, a former Fulton County magistrate judge, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on human trafficking charges.The indictment alleges that in January 2003, the three defendants conspired to bring an Indian woman, identified only as 'RS', to the United States to serve as a nanny for Malika's children.

'Indians in America don't fight for community'

'Indians in America don't fight for community'

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2008

While America celebrated Independence Day, Parikh is living in a little village in Gujarat, attempting to recover from the scars of his months in an American prison, and musing on the events of July 4, two years ago.

With Mars behind him, Prasun Desai aims moon now

With Mars behind him, Prasun Desai aims moon now

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2008

As the Phoenix Mars Lander safely landed on Mars on May 25, Dr Prasun Desai and his colleagues released the breath they had been holding in, in a long exhalation of relief. "After months of work and days of high anxiety, now I feel relaxed," Dr Desai, senior engineer and Entry, Descent and Landing lead engineer at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, said.

Zutshi Foundation to fight OTC drugs

Zutshi Foundation to fight OTC drugs

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2008

A personal tragedy for Jeevan Zutshi, founder of the Indo-American Community Federation, turned into a talking point for the Unity Dinner '08 held at the Newark Fremont Hilton in California.