FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 1 INDIA THIS WEEK A Weekly Newspaper Featuring News and Trends from the Indian Sub-Continent Published From the US Capital Web Site: WWW.Indiathisweek.us Volume 36 No. 39 Washington DC. Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800; 301-445-1868 E-Mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Friday September 25, 2026 Asian Games: Women’s cricket delivers first gold medal; Harmanpreet praises team for unbeaten run, says everyone executed vision with confidence Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], September 22 (ANI): India Women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the team’s gold medal triumph at the Asian Games 2026, describing it as a “fantastic feeling” and praising the players for maintaining high standards, delivering consistently and staying unbeaten throughout the tournament. The Indian women’s team continued their sensational run at the continental level, winning their second successive Asian Games gold medal after fireworks from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, as the spinners bowled Women in Blue to a massive 147-run win in the title clash against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. In reply to India’s massive 216/3, Sri Lanka folded for 69 in 15.4 overs. With this win, India secured their first Asian Games gold of this edition, having already secured four silvers and two bronze medals. This is India’s seventh medal at the ongoing Asian Games. After the win, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur said she was delighted with India’s unbeaten gold medal-winning campaign, praising the team for maintaining high standards, a positive mindset and consistently strong performances throughout the tournament. Notably, India reached the finals after defeating Japan by 8 wickets and Bangladesh by 114 runs. Before their Asian Games, the Women in Blue had a sensational run in the Asia Cup, where they stayed unbeaten and defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to clinch the title.“(On remaining unbeaten and maintaining team standards) It’s a fantastic feeling. Before the tournament, we talked a lot about staying unbeaten, but more importantly, about playing to the high standards we set for ourselves. It’s so satisfying to see everyone approach every game with such a positive mindset. Every single player who got an opportunity stepped up and delivered solid performances. As a captain and as a collective, that’s exactly what we were looking for, maintaining an unbeaten run while consistently putting in this quality of performance is said attacks on commercial shipping in neighbouring countries had highlighted the need to shift the region’s energy infrastructure.”...Iran’s terrorist attacks on commercial shipping in neighboring countries have shown the need to shift Middle East energy infrastructure away from the Iranian checkpoints. That’s why my administration strongly supports the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and other places in the form of getting oil out, whether it’s pipelines or anything else,” Trump said. He said the region was close to overcoming longstanding challenges.”Together, we’re on the verge of overcoming challenges that have plagued this region for decades...” he said. Trump also described the leaders attending the meeting as some of the United States’ closest allies and partners and said their efforts were aimed at making the Middle East safer and more prosper- ous.”It’s an honor to be here with some of America’s greatest and closest friends, allies, and partners to continue our effort toward a safer and more prosperous Middle East,” he said. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), unveiled in 2023, comprises an Eastern Corridor connecting India to the Gulf region and a Northern Corridor connecting the Gulf region to Europe. It will include a railway and ship-rail transit network, as well as road what we expected of ourselves, and it’s great to see everyone execute that vision with confidence,” Harmanpreet Kaur said after their Asian Games gold medal win. Harmanpreet credited India’s bowling unit for its strong performance, praising young bowlers Kranti Gaud and Nandini Kashyap for handling responsibility well, while highlighting the consistency of experienced spinners Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma. She said the blend of youth and experience was well balanced and the team delivered when it mattered. Notably, after India scored 216/3, their bowlers dismantled the Sri Lankan batting line-up, dismissing them for 69 in 15.4 overs. Deepti Sharma led the attack with figures of 3/6, while Shafali Verma and Shreyanka Patil WOMEN’S CRICKET SEE PAGE 3 Trump backs India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, says need to shift energy infrastructure away from Iranian checkpoints New York [US], September 23 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said his administration strongly supports the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, saying there is a need shift Middle East energy infrastructure away from Iranian checkpoints amid multiple strikes on West Asian countries during the war. Addressing a meeting with GCC and Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump Remember: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr. transport routes. Further, echoing his earlier remarks at the UN General Assembly, the US President once again warned Iran of annihilation.“We’ve isolated Iran financially and hopefully they’ll do the right thing fast… There will be a time when it’s too late, and we won’t have the chance of letting them survive as a nation. I would like to see that, and I can tell you that people around this table would like to see it,” he added. (ANI)
INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 Six Indian-American Students Earn Prestigious Davidson Fellowships By Geeta Goindi September 19, 2026 – Six Indian-American students are among the recipients of the 2026 Davidson Fellows Scholarship, earning awards of up to $100,000 for ambitious scientific work addressing challenges ranging from aviation safety and crop disease to nuclear energy, malaria prevention and drug discovery. Aditya Sengupta, 18, of Bellevue, Washington, received the program’s top honor – a $100,000 Davidson Fellow Laureate scholarship – for developing a system designed to improve predictions of clear air turbulence. Four other Indian-origin students earned $50,000 scholarships: Tanishka Aglave of Valrico, Florida; Hitaishi Chillara of Leander, Texas; Praadhyumn Indaana of Montvale, New Jersey; and Rajarshi Mandal of Lexington, Massachusetts. Pavan Subramani of Morgantown, West Virginia, was awarded a $25,000 scholarship. The Davidson Institute awards $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 scholarships to students 18 and younger for significant work in fields ranging from science, technology and mathematics to literature, music and philosophy. For Sengupta, the inspiration came from something familiar to millions of air travelers: unexpectedly rough skies. After experiencing sudden and frightening turbulence on flights, he began wondering why the phenomenon – which can occur without visible clouds or storms – remains so difficult to predict. His answer was ForeCAT, a machine-learning system that combines atmospheric physics with computing to predict the likelihood and severi- ty of clear air turbulence. Sengupta said his results showed significant improvements over existing forecasting approaches used in aviation. “Being named a Davidson Fellow is an incredible honor because it gives me the opportunity to join a community of young people who are curious, ambitious, and passionate about using their ideas to improve lives,” he said. Sengupta is also involved in robotics and STEM outreach. His VEX Robotics team placed first in the United States and second at the World Championship, and he has earned recognition at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. In college, he plans to study computing and the sciences. For 17-year-old Tanishka Aglave, the scientific problem she set out to solve was much closer to home. The daughter of a Florida citrus grower, Aglave watched citrus greening disease damage trees and threaten farming families across the state. The experience sparked her interest in plant pathology and led her to search for an environmentally friendly way to combat the devastating disease. Her approach combines a bactericide derived from curry leaf extract, localized thermal therapy to help plants absorb the treatment and a computer-vision application that allows growers to assess disease severity from photographs of leaves. Aglave spent more than 300 hours refining the treatment and its delivery system. When conventional trunk-injection syringes leaked and injured young trees, she designed and tested 3D-printed prototypes until she developed Immigration Lawyer Law Office of Ryan Morgan Knight Email or call for free consultation ryan@immigrationknight.com 1 (888) 735-0560 Ryan Knight Licensed to practice immigration law Nationwide; Licensed to practice art law in Maryland Six Indian-American students have earned prestigious 2026 Davidson Fellowships for innovative scientific research. Clockwise from top left: Aditya Sengupta, Tanishka Aglave, Hitaishi Chillara, Pavan Subramani, Rajarshi Mandal and Praadhyumn Indaana. Photo courtesy of the Davidson Institute a smaller infusion system. “I hope my work gives citrus growers hope and can help support the rejuvenation of citrus farming in Florida,” she said. A senior at Strawberry Crest High School IB in Tampa, Aglave has received top honors at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, and her findings have been published in the American Phytopathological Society’s Plant Disease journal. While Aglave looked to Florida’s citrus groves, Hitaishi Chillara, 17, turned his attention billions of miles outward – to the relationship between galaxies and the supermassive black holes at their centers. Chillara, a student at the Texas Academy of Mathematics & Science, developed a computational framework combining cosmological simulations, telescope observations and machine learning to investigate whether the colors and brightness of galaxies can offer clues about the mass of these celestial objects. His work could help scientists make greater use of the enormous quantities of imaging data produced by sky surveys, including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Chillara’s interest in artificial intelligence began unexpectedly with a toy robot dog. Curious about how it remained balanced while walking, he began exploring inverse kinematics and robot learning. He now hopes to study astrophysics and electrical engineering and pursue work connecting AI, astronomy and ro- botics. “I am grateful to be named a Davidson Fellow,” Chillara said, adding that he hopes to encourage other young people to develop the same habit of careful questioning that guides his scientific pursuits. Praadhyumn Indaana applied a different intersection of physics and computing to the challenge of nuclear energy safety. Indaana, 17, developed a physics-guided neural network to improve predictions of critical heat flux — a dangerous threshold in nuclear reactors at which heat transfer can suddenly deteriorate. Working independently over eight months, the Stanford Online High School student trained the system using data from more than 10,000 experiments. It reduced average prediction error from a 63 percent baseline for conventional physics formulas to 5.5 percent. Indaana’s interests span materials science, quantum physics, computing and nuclear fusion. He was invited to the USA Physics Team camp as a top-20 participant in the U.S. Physics Olympiad and has achieved Gold level in the USA Computing Olympiad. He intends to major in physics. Sixteen-year-old Rajarshi Mandal applied mathematics to another global challenge: preventing malaria. A rising junior at Lexington High School, Mandal developed a modeling approach aimed at determining how limited supplies of insecticide-treated mosquito nets can be distributed for maximum impact. Rather than allocating nets primarily according to population, his model incorporates changing factors such as insecticide resistance, climate-driven fluctuations in malaria transmission and the deterioration of nets over time. In testing, Mandal’s approach prevented twice as many infections using the same number of nets, according to information accompanying his fellowship. Mandal has pursued advanced mathematics and computing beyond his high school curriculum, with a particular interest in applying those skills to problems in health and biology. Away from academics, he is an accomplished pianist who has performed twice at Carnegie Hall and holds a black belt in karate. Pavan Subramani, 17, turned to computational science in search of a faster route to potential new medicines. Subramani became interested in drug discovery as a sophomore after reading about a promising pharmaceutical treatment targeting a protein involved in inflammatory conditions that ultimately failed in clinical trials. Wanting to understand why, he taught himself Python and began modeling and screening therapeutic compounds on his laptop. His work focuses on the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End products, or RAGE, a target associated with inflammatory diseases. Subramani developed an approach combining generative diffusion models with molecular dynamics simulations to speed the process of identifying potential drug candidates. Using deep neural networks, his framework filtered a database of 883 million compounds and identified small-molecule candidates predicted to have stronger affinity for RAGE and better safety profiles than existing alternatives. The project earned Subramani a third-place Grand Award in chemistry at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. A senior at Morgantown High School, he is interested in computational chemistry and biophysics and plans to major in chemistry or applied physics. Beyond academics, Subramani founded The Substance Safety Project, a nonprofit focused on substance-abuse advocacy that has raised more than $10,000, distributed 750 drug-disposal packets and conducted educational workshops reaching more than 1,500 people. The Davidson Institute, a national nonprofit supporting profoundly gifted young people, established the Davidson Fellows Scholarship to recognize students who have completed significant work with the potential to benefit society. The program has awarded more than $10 million in scholarships. Taken together, the six young scientists are drawing on fields ranging from artificial intelligence and physics to biology and mathematics to pursue questions with implications far beyond the classroom.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 3 M A K E YO U R R E TI R EM E NT E V E N MO R E Extraordinary Discover premier senior living at an Erickson Senior Living®-managed community. • Gain time and freedom from house maintenance. • Enjoy stylish residences and on-site amenities. • Benefit from a safety net of on-site support. Call 1-800-691-2034 or visit EricksonSeniorLiving.com for your free brochure. • Riderwood® Silver Spring, MD • Greenspring® Springfield, VA • The GrandviewSM Bethesda, MD • Woodleigh Chase® Fairfax, VA 2816250 • Ashby Ponds® Ashburn, VA Asian Games: Women’s cricket delivers first gold medal; Harmanpreet praises team for unbeaten run, says everyone executed vision with confidence WOMEN’S CRICKET FROM PAGE 1 claimed two wickets each. Shree Charani also picked up two wickets.(On the blend of youth and experience in the squad) Our bowling unit deserves special credit because we put a tremendous amount of work into it. Young bowlers like Kranti (Gaud) and Nandini (Kashyap) took on massive responsibilities, and the way they responded, especially with their spell in the power-play was outstanding. That was something our bowling coach and the staff had been working very closely with them on. Beyond the youngsters, our spin attack remains our core strength, bowlers like Shreyanka (Patil) and Deepti (Sharma) are consistent match-winners and always among the leading wicket-takers. Overall, the balance between experience and fresh talent was spot on, and everyone delivered when it mattered,” she said.Before bowling Sri Lanka out for 69, In- dia posted a formidable 216/3 after being asked to bat. Smriti Mandhana topscored with 79 off 45 balls, while Shafali Verma made a brisk 48 off 29 deliveries. Richa Ghosh provided the late impetus with an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls. Mandhana’s innings included five fours and seven sixes, while her half-century was her 37th in T20 internationals. She also became the first woman cricketer to reach 11,000 runs in international cricket.The 147-run victory secured India’s second consecutive Asian Games gold in women’s cricket, following their title at Hangzhou in 2023. After the win, India women’s cricket team head coach Amol Muzumdar described the team’s Asian Games gold medal triumph as a “surreal feeling”, saying the victory could set the ball rolling for India at the continental event. Speaking to ANI, Amol Muzumdar described the Asian Games gold medal win as a “surreal feeling”, praising the team’s high skill level and saying that playing to their potential could make such success the norm.“Surreal feeling. It’s a very good feeling to win the gold here at the Asian Games and set the ball rolling for India. Nothing better than that. I think it is terrific to be on the winning side. The skill level of this team is very high. So, I think if we put our best foot forward and play to our potential, this is going to be the norm,” he said. Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh also expressed her happiness after India won the gold medal. She said the team entered the tournament with the clear objective of winning gold and was delighted to see that goal achieved. Ghosh also praised the team’s collective effort and said she personally felt very happy with the result. “I am feeling very happy because everyone has been playing with the goal of winning the gold medal. When we started the tournament, our only aim was to win gold. So, I think we are all very happy with the result, and personally, I am feeling really good,” Ghosh told ANI after the match. Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who claimed three wickets in the match, said the team was delighted to win the gold medal and retain their Asian Games title. She added that securing India’s first gold medal of the 2026 Games made the achievement even more special.“We are very happy, and winning the gold medal has brought double the joy because we have always been playing for trophies, and last time too we won the gold medal in the Asian Games, and this year as well. The biggest thing is that this is the first gold medal of 2026, so what could be a greater joy than this? So we are enjoying this,” she told reporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the Indian women’s cricket team, describing their triumph as a “splendid” achievement for Indian cricket.” A splendid tri- umph for Indian cricket! Heartiest congratulations to our Women’s Cricket Team on winning the Gold medal at the Asian Games. It was a commanding performance at the Games, marked by confidence, skill and wonderful teamwork. This victory also brings India its first Gold of this edition of the Games. The team has made the nation proud and will inspire countless young cricketers across the country. Best wishes to the entire squad: PM @ narendramodi” the official X handle of PMO India, wrote on X. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha also expressed happiness over the women’s cricket team’s gold medal triumph. Usha said she had been confident about the Indian women’s team’s prospects and recalled her role in getting cricket included in the Asian Games programme.”We have just started. For the last two days, our shooters did good, though we could have won the gold one, but little bit disappointment, but I am having a lot of confidence on shooters. They will bring a gold medal, no doubt. But I’m happy that our cricketers won the gold medal. I was on the Coordination Committee of Japan organising this meet. So I only requested them to add cricket here, men and women. So I just want to see their winning gold medal. I’m so happy to see a gold medal,” Usha told ANI. Meanwhile, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar highlighted the contributions of different players in India’s comprehensive victory and praised the team’s allround effort.”That’s the beauty of a team game. Different players, different moments, one big result. Shafali and Smriti’s 99-run partnership at the top gave India the platform, Richa Ghosh’s late blitz took the total to a massive 216, and then Shafali, Deepti, Shreyanka and Shree Charani kept finding the wickets. A terrific effort from the Indian women’s team. Congratulations on the Gold!” Tendulkar wrote on X. (ANI)
INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 Karandeep Anand Makes History as Disney’s First Chief Technology Officer September 21, 2026 – The Walt Disney Company has named Indian-American Sikh executive Karandeep Anand as its first company-wide Chief Technology Officer (CTO), placing a Silicon Valley leader in charge of the digital future of one of the world’s most storied entertainment companies. Anand will join Disney as senior executive vice president and CTO on October 2, reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Josh D’Amaro. The newly created position marks the first time the company has appointed a technology head with responsibility across all its businesses. In the sweeping role, Anand will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, product and engineering. He will work across Disney’s businesses to modernize its systems and capabilities. The appointment comes as D’Amaro seeks to make technology a stronger driver of growth and create a more connected experience for consumers, with Disney+ serving as a digital centerpiece. “Karandeep brings a rare mix of experience across infrastructure, consumer technology and AI,” D’Amaro said in announcing the appointment, describing him as an expert builder and strategist who understands what audiences want. Anand brings more than two decades of experience spanning cloud computing, consumer products and financial technology. He joins Disney from Character.AI, where he served as CEO and led the generative AI company through a period of rapid growth, building what Disney describes as one of the world’s most engaged consumer-AI audiences. Before Character. AI, Anand was president and chief product officer at Brex. Earlier, he spent six years at Meta, where he held several leadership positions, ultimately serving as vice president of Business Products. His longest professional chapter was at Microsoft, where he spent 15 years in senior product and engineering roles and was part of the team that built Azure, the company’s cloud computing platform. Anand’s path to the upper ranks of Amer- ican technology began in India. He earned a B.Tech (Honors) in Computer Science and Engineering from the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H), one of India’s leading research-focused institutions. He later pursued studies in marketing and strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. For the Sikh-American community, his visibility carries additional significance. Anand, whose full name is Karandeep Singh Anand but who professionally uses Karandeep Anand, is a Punjabi Sikh. His ascent to Disney’s senior leadership ranks places a visible Sikh executive in an influential position at a company whose films, television networks, streaming services, sports properties and theme parks are woven into American popular culture and reach audiences around the world. Sikhs have been part of the American story for generations, yet misconceptions about their faith and identity persist. Anand’s appointment offers a powerful image of Sikh achievement in corporate America and greater visibility for a community that remains widely misunderstood in the United States. For Anand, the opportunity brings together technology and storytelling.“I’ve admired Disney my entire life for how it blends unforgettable storytelling with the latest technology to constantly push the boundaries of what entertainment can be,” Anand said. He added that he is honored to join Disney’s creative team and looks forward to building on its capabilities to find new ways of connecting fans around the world with the company’s stories and characters. His move to Disney comes with an intriguing history. In September 2025, Disney sent Character.AI a cease-and-desist letter over user-generated chatbots based on Disney-owned characters, alleging infringement of its intellectual property. Character.AI subsequently removed the characters. A year later, Disney has chosen the executive who led Character.AI to help shape its digital future. Members of Character.AI’s technical team are also expected to join him. The move illustrates the rapidly disappearing boundaries between Silicon Valley and Hollywood, as artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, data and digital products become increasingly central to how entertainment companies create, distribute and connect audiences with content. Anand’s appointment also adds another chapter to the growing influence of Indian-origin executives in corporate America. Satya Nadella leads Microsoft, Sundar Pichai heads Alphabet and Google, Arvind Krishna is chairman and CEO of IBM, and Neal Mohan leads YouTube. But Anand’s appointment is distinctive in another way. Rather than taking the helm of a traditional Silicon Valley technology company, an Indian-educated engineer is assuming responsibility for technology across one of America’s most iconic entertainment institutions. Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], September 23 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has said that technology that reduces a farmer’s input costs, lowers the need for manual labour and increases returns from crops is the real innovation for farmers. The true success of any technology should be reflected in the farmer’s account book. He said that technology is useful for farmers only when it is affordable, easy to use and can also be repaired locally in or around villages. The Chief Minister was addressing the closing session of the fifth ‘Innovative Farmers’ Meet’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Ladwa, Kurukshetra, on Wednesday. On the occasion, he inaugurated and visited an exhibition of agricultural machinery and interacted with progressive farmers. He said the distinctive feature of the Innovative Farmers Meet was that discussions were not confined to big cities or conference halls, but were being taken directly to farmers. According to a release, the Chief Minister said that agriculture today faces serious challenges such as weather uncertainties, increasing water scarcity and deteriorating soil health. Therefore, there is a need to move towards farming practices that can withstand changing conditions while increasing farmers’ income. He said paddy and wheat cultivation has particular significance in the region. Measures such as direct seeding of rice, crop-spe- cific micro-irrigation and land levelling can prove useful. He urged farmers to get their soil tested and use fertilisers according to the requirements of their land. He also emphasised maintaining soil fertility through crop diversification, organic matter and scientific advice. The Chief Minister said that small farmers cannot afford to purchase every expensive machine individually. Therefore, farmer groups, cooperative societies and centres providing machinery on rent have an important role to play. The benefits of one machine should reach multiple farms. He said village youth should be trained to operate and repair farm machinery and provide agriculture-related services. This would help reduce farmers’ costs while also creating new employment opportunities in villages. Saini also called for greater focus on crop diversification. He said that wherever conditions are suitable, possibilities for cultivating pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits and other appropriate crops should be explored. He urged industries to support farmers by providing training on quality and food safety standards and helping them connect with better markets. The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, farmers’ welfare is a priority of the government. The government is committed to increasing farmers’ income, expanding irrigation facilities, promoting natural farming, encouraging crop diversification and integrating agriculture with technology. He said that around 2 lakh farmers have registered 3 lakh acres of land on the portal launched to promote natural farming. Of these, verification of 23,930 farmers for adopting natural farming on 44,000 acres has been completed. During 2025-26, natural farming was undertaken on 20,727 acres in the state. The Chief Minister said that under the PM-KUSUM scheme, farmers are provided a 75 per cent subsidy for installing solar pumps, and 1.95 lakh solar pumps have been installed so far. He said an incentive of Rs 1,200 per acre has been provided for proper management and baling of paddy stubble. So far, Rs 907 crore has been provided as subsidy to 10 lakh farmers. (ANI) By Geeta Goindi Technology that reduces farmers’ costs and increases income is real innovation: Haryana CM
India This Week 5
India This Week Friday, September 25, 2026 EC defends its decision-making process as opposition parties seek CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s ouster; BJP says SIR decision unanimous New Delhi [India], September 23 (ANI): A political row erupted on Wednesday after an Indian Express report claimed that two Election Commissioners had raised objections multiple times over decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and electoral roll procedures, with Opposition leaders demanding action against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, while the BJP defended the Election Commission of India (ECI), saying internal deliberations were part of democratic functioning.According to the report, “Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected at least 14 times over the last 10 months to decisions taken and orders issued without their knowledge.” Responding to the Indian Express report, the Election Commission, in a statement, said that all orders by the body carry full legal sanction and any queries raised by members at the stage of drafting procedures were standard practice. The ECI said, “The ECI is a constitutional body that functions under the strict mandate of Article 324 of the Constitution, stat- The Poetic Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- September 25, 2026 If you wield power...Beware! By Rajan George If you think you are all-powerful, never realizing That your sway is limited by time and term, And use your fleeting power to hunt your offenders, You may forge the very tools that others wield To hunt you down when you have left the throne. If you have unjustly tormented another, Igniting the wrath of those you have wronged, They may relentlessly pursue you Long after your days of power are gone. He may sell all he owns to seek your downfall, While you may find no army strong enough To shield you from those seeking justice. And those who stood beside you in your glory May join the throng when fortune turns away; They may abandon you when power fades And watch as you are brought to judgment. The one you wounded may never rest Until his purpose has been fulfilled— To see you humbled, bound, and locked away, Even if the law should seal your fate. Power, limited by term, is but a rented tool; To abuse it for selfish ends is folly— A road that leads from pride to misery, From triumph’s height to sorrow’s deepest pit. It brings no lasting reward, No peace, no joy, no tranquil rest, But only anguish, suffering, and pain. Those who abuse their power while they possess it To torment others in pursuit of revenge May never regain the honor they once held When the robes of office have been cast aside. Their deeds may follow them into the shadows, Haunting their conscience through the years, And those they once victimized May become the voices they cannot silence. A wise man sees his office not as a throne, Nor power as a license to oppress, But as a trust entrusted to his care. With humility, he serves his fellow men, Victimizing neither others nor himself. He does not use his reign to settle scores Or turn authority into an instrument of spite; Instead, he honors the trust placed in his hands, Discharges his duties with integrity, And leaves behind a name worthy of praise. utory rules and established institutional conventions. The Commission operates as a multi-member constitutional body. Written notes, observations, technical suggestions and internal checks-and-balances are standard, ongoing practices designed to ensure complete transparency, legal compliance and operational rigour. All actions of ECI have been in accordance with laws and instructions of the Commission. All official orders, decisions and administrative directions issued by the Commission carry full legal sanctions and follow established statutory procedures.” The Commission further stated that operational queries or inputs raised by members during draft stages were part of standard administrative practice aimed at safeguarding voter rights.”Any operational queries or inputs raised by Commission members during draft stages are part of standard administrative practice aimed at safeguarding voter rights. The suggestions given by the Commissioners were for further improving the electoral processes,” the ECI said, adding that differing views and observations were a normal part of deliberation in any institution. Reacting to the report, BJP National Spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra defended the functioning of the poll body and said discussions among Election Commissioners reflected democratic functioning.” Look at the situation: if the three Election Commissioners do not communicate with each other, if there is no exchange of views or consultation, and they simply agree to everything, then the opposition parties claim it is a dictatorship. They say this government appointed these three commissioners; they just say yes. Now, there have been 14 instances of correspondence among the three of them, official deliberations, as far as we gather from the media. It is not as if the Bharatiya Janata Party goes and reads these letters; rather, reports in the media indicate that official deliberations took place among the three, which is a sign of a healthy democracy,” he added.Patra further said, “I would say that today, all the opposition parties have INDIA THIS WEEK Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. Publisher: Dr. Babu Stephen Chief Editor: Rajan George Contributing Editors: Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online fallen into a trap, the trap of claiming that the Election Commission and the government were acting dictatorially. On the contrary, I would say this is pure democracy. Deliberations are taking place, and the Election Commission has stated very clearly in the very first paragraph of its document that, following all official democratic deliberations, the final outcome, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), was achieved with unanimity.” ”In other words, all three Commissioners were unanimous; there was no difference of opinion or dissent among them,” he said.” They were all on the same page. In short, the situation today is that neither the Election Commission of India nor any constitutional body in India is under dictatorial rule; they are functioning democratically and, indeed, upholding the country’s democracy. By operating democratically, these constitutional institutions are safeguarding democracy,” Patra added. However, Opposition parties continued their attack on the Election Commission and the CEC. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, “Vote chori is a crime against the Indian people and a direct attack on our constitution. The BJP, RSS and EC who organised it have committed an act of treason. Justice will be served.”In a video message, Gandhi said, “I am clearly telling the Election Commission and election officers: What you are doing is wrong. This is treason, it is against the nation. Do not forget this. The time will come! We will catch you! You will not be spared.” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also targeted the Election Commission, saying Opposition parties had raised concerns about the poll body’s functioning for years.”For several years now, the Congress Party and many opposition parties have been raising questions about the fairness of elections in the country. We continuously found the role of the Election Commission suspicious. Remember: When we raised questions, they were dismissed as a joke. The doors of the Commission were shut,” Kharge said in a post on X.”Today, the same issue has come to light from within the Election Commission itself. Two out of three Election Commissioners objected in writing 14 times. Misuse of Form 6, misuse of software, tampering with voter lists, decisions without transparency—these are all now in front of the country. Then what did CEC Gyanesh Kumar do about these objections?” he asked.Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also said that any irregularity in elections would be a serious issue for democracy.”This is an extremely serious issue for our democracy. If there are no elections, then where is democracy? If elections are unfair and rigged in any manner, then the Election Commission is assisting in that. If the Election Commissioner is not only aware of it but also allowing it to happen, then it is a very serious assault on democracy. It is an act of treason,” she said.Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi alleged that the BJP and the Election Commission were functioning through parallel mechanisms.” The BJP has opened an office for the murder of democracy; on one side, they have positioned the CEC, and on the other, the Home Ministry. Many years ago, that is in 1995, the Supreme Court made it clear that the EC is a majoritarian institution. You might remember, during the time of honourable Seshan Sahab, this legal question arose: whether the CEC is supreme. Do the ECs of the Election Commission not have equal rights, jurisdiction, rights, or constitutional status? And this was clearly answered that all the ECs are equal. The CEC is not above the ECs, just ‘first among equals’,” Singhvi said.Congress leader P Chidambaram said the report, if correct, raised questions about both decisions taken by the poll body and the decision-making process.” “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.…
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INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 Scientist Sethuraman Panchanathan Becomes First Indian-American to Receive NAE’s Bueche Award By Geeta Goindi September 16, 2026 – Computer scientist and engineer Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan has been named the recipient of the 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award, becoming the first Indian-American to receive the prestigious National Academy of Engineering (NAE) honor in its more than four-decade history. The Academy is honoring Panchanathan “for leadership in promoting fundamental science, technology, and policy that advances translational research and expands opportunities nationwide.” He will receive the award on October 4 at the NAE Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The recognition is particularly significant as the Bueche Award is not centered on a single scientific discovery or technological invention. Established in 1983, it recognizes an engineer’s contributions to U.S. science and technology policy, technological development, and efforts to strengthen relationships among industry, government and universities. Those criteria closely mirror a career that has taken him from scientific research and university leadership to the highest levels of American science policy. Panchanathan served as the 15th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) from June 2020 to April 2025, after being nominated by President Donald Trump in 2019 and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June 2020. During his tenure, NSF established the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), its first new directorate in more than 30 years. TIP was designed to help move discoveries beyond the laboratory by accelerating use-inspired and translational research, fostering regional inno- vation ecosystems and strengthening the nation’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce. Under Panchanathan, NSF also advanced investments and partnerships in areas including artificial intelligence, quantum science, semiconductors and other emerging technologies. That emphasis on connecting fundamental research with real-world impact is at the heart of the Bueche Award. “Panch is one of the most remarkable systems thinkers we have in this country,” Arizona State University (ASU) President Michael Crow said of Panchanathan in a news release, adding that the award recognizes his ability to address complex problems at a national scale. Panchanathan’s path to the upper reaches of American science began thousands of miles away. Growing up in Chennai, India, he was eight years old when his father took him to the American Center in 1969 to see lunar rocks brought back by the Apollo 11 astronauts. Panchanathan has recalled being fascinated less by the rocks themselves than by the human ingenuity and scientific achievement required to bring them back from the Moon. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Madras in 1981, a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru in 1984, and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 1986. He received his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Ottawa in 1989. As a researcher, Panchanathan has worked in human-centered multimedia computing, machine learning and technologies designed to improve the lives of people with disa- EAM Jaishankar calls for stronger ties with Latin American, Caribbean states, says trade crosses USD 50 billion New York [U.S.], September 23 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday (local time) called for stronger economic and development partnerships between India and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), saying India-CELAC trade has crossed USD 50 billion annually. “We are glad to note that India-CELAC trade has now crossed over USD 50 billion annually, yet there is much more room to grow,” he said. Addressing the India-CELAC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Jaishankar said India had emerged as one of the world’s major economies over the past decade, with its GDP more than doubling and growth remaining robust. “Our GDP has more than doubled, growth has remained robust, and India today combines a large and increasingly skilled human resource base with increasing capabilities, growing market, strong digital infrastructure and expanding technology capacities,” Jais- hankar said. He said India’s engagement with the Global South went beyond its national interest and reflected its commitment to shared prosperity. “India’s engagement with the Global South goes beyond its national interest and reflects our solidarity and commitment to shared prosperity,” he said. Highlighting India’s development cooperation with the region, Jaishankar said, “Whether through projects supporting livelihoods in the Caribbean, responding to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the military hospitals that we sent to Venezuela after the earthquake, or the medicines that were shipped to various Latin American countries, India has sought to place its capabilities at the service of those in need.” Jaishankar said India and CELAC had complementary strengths, with India bringing technology, pharmaceuticals, skilled resources and digital capabilities, while the region offered opportuni- ties in critical minerals, sustainable energy, agriculture and food resources. “Our own growing middle class makes us a natural partner for each other,” he said. “We need to work towards diversified trade, investment and business partnerships with stronger business-to-business linkages, improved connectivity and more predictable market access,” he added. He also said India and CELAC should consider upgrading the Annual Business Summit from next year. “India is trying to forge robust and balanced economic partnerships with the region through the proposed CEPA with Chile, an FTA with Peru, and the expansion of the PTA with MERCOSUR,” Jaishankar said. “Our objective is to create frameworks that are mutually beneficial. We seek swift progress, while remaining mindful of each other’s sensitivities and priorities,” he added. Calling India’s development record an important strength in its international partnerships, Jaishankar said there was a need to explore new areas of cooperation. “Let us look at human resources as a bridge for development and partnership. Let us explore opportunities in digital space, in AI, and in innovation generally together,” he said. He added, “India sees CELAC not just as a regional grouping, but as a very important partner in shaping a more representative, balanced and inclusive global order. We have much to learn from each other. We have much to offer each other. And, above all, we have a shared interest in ensuring that the Global South has a stronger voice in determining the future of the international system.” (ANI) bilities. He founded ASU’s Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing, which has developed assistive technologies, and has published more than 485 scholarly papers. He has also mentored more than 150 graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research engineers and scientists. But it was his ability to build institutions and connect research, technology and public policy that increasingly defined his career. Before leading NSF, Panchanathan spent more than two decades at ASU, including serving as executive vice president of its Knowledge Enterprise and chief research and innovation officer. He has since returned to ASU as Professor of Technology and Innovation, with current work spanning artificial intelligence, quantum computing and the future of higher education. He is also the first person from Arizona to receive the Bueche Award. Panchanathan’s career also represents a notable bridge between the scientific establishments of the United States and India. During his NSF tenure, he championed bilateral research collaborations with India, including partnerships with the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. NSF-backed collaborations connected American and Indian researchers in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, advanced wireless technologies and other emerging fields. In 2014, President Barack Obama appointed Panchanathan to the U.S. National Science Board, making him the first Indian-American to serve on the body which helps shape national science and engineering policy. His contributions have now been recognized by both countries he has served through science. In 2025, the Government of India honored Panchanathan with the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian awards, for his contributions to science and engineering. The official citation highlighted a career spanning research, higher education, innovation and government leadership, as well as his work advancing technologies to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. A year later, the Arthur M. Bueche Award highlights another dimension of that career: his role in helping shape the institutions and partnerships through which scientific ideas become technologies, industries and opportunities. “I’m honored and humbled by this recognition,” Panchanathan said in an ASU news release. “Awards like this are never only about the individual. They are about the scores of people that have contributed to the outcomes recognized.” From an eightyear-old boy in Chennai marveling at the scientific achievement behind Apollo 11 to leading one of America’s premier scientific agencies, Panchanathan’s career has been built around a recurring idea: scientific discovery reaches its greatest potential when institutions, people and partnerships are created to carry it forward. The Arthur M. Bueche Award recognizes precisely that kind of impact.
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