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Jayanth Reddy killed in a motorcycle accident

June 17, 2010 at 7:22 am 1 comment

Jayanth Reddy (30) a software engineer who worked here in the Detroit area for a while, tragically died in a motor cycle accident near Washington DC on Saturday, June 12th. Quoting from Times of India

According to family members, Jayanth met with an accident while riding a motorcycle near Washington DC at 5 pm (US time) on Saturday. At about 10.30 pm (IST) on Saturday, Jayanth called his father and told him that he was going out with friends for a weekend get together. However, the family was informed about the tragic news at 7 am on Sunday by Jayanth’s friends.
“We were informed that he rammed into a road divider while he was returning to his flat from his friend’s place after watching a soccer match,” Pavan Kumar Reddy, a family member, told TOI.

Jayanth, originally from Hyderabad, India completed his BCA degree from AV college in Hyderabad after which he joined Computech. After working couple of months in Hyderabad, Computech sent Jayant to their US office.

As a memorial to Jayanth, his friends have set up a Facebook Group Page where Jayanth’s friends are uploading pictures and sharing memories of Jayanth.

Indian Americans ,

The Hindu Temple, Canton – New Mandir Pravesh Celebration

June 13, 2010 at 2:23 pm No comments

The New Mandir Pravesh Celebration at the Hindu Temple located at 44955 Cherry Hill Road, Canton, MI 48188, will be held on Saturday June 19th and Sunday June 20th. The Event starts with Ganesh Pooja on Saturday June 19th and ends with aarti at noon on Sunday June 20th. For more details visit the Hindu Temple Website.

The Temple is looking for volunteers for the Grand Opening Ceremony. The volunteer work could vary from help in the parking lot, driving shuttle vans, crowd control, food distribution etc. If interested in volunteering please contact:

Sunil Ji: 734-262-5731
Vasu Gokaraju (temple contact): 734 272 2151

Culture, Religious ,

Sam Rizvi from Bangalore, India in “Race Across America” #samrizvi

June 10, 2010 at 12:30 am No comments

Sam Rizvi (45) an extreme athlete from Bangalore, India is participating in a grueling bicycle race event “Race Across America“. The race starts off from Oceanside California and ends in Maryland. The race got under way few hours ago. As of this writing Sam Rizvi is passing thru Brawley, California and has already bicycled 141.94 miles at a average speed of 19.01 (2863 miles to go).  The race will take approximately 12 days. Follow Sam’s progress in this animated race map (shown below).

From Kamla Show Blog

In 2007 Sam became the first Indian athlete to run from Bangalore to Mumbai averaging 50 miles a day. “It was like a marathon everyday,” he says. It took him 22 days to complete the race. Flushed with success Sam discovered and decided to participate in his next extreme sports and honed in on Race Across America. Established 29 years ago Race Across America is a often described as an ultra-endurance sport.

Good Luck Sam!!

India , , ,

Indian-American science teacher wins prestigious White House award

June 9, 2010 at 5:46 pm No comments

Radhika Plakkot, a science teacher at Huntingtown High School in Calvert County, Maryland has been named by President Barack Obama as one of the 103 mathematics and science teachers for the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Radhika who teaches biology at Huntingtown High School is the only Indian American in the group. The awards will be presented later in the year and the winners will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation.

Congratulations to Radhika Plakkot from the Michigan Indian Community.

For more info visit TheBayNet.com.

Education, Indian Americans ,

Raaj Shinde – A Hobby Photographer

June 3, 2010 at 9:59 pm No comments

Meet Raaj Shinde from our Michigan Indian Community. Raaj is a gear-head at heart who loves gadgets and gizmos, but that is no match for his passion for photography. Raaj recently launched his very own photography site (chiaroscurostudio.com) where he has compiled photographs which he has captured using a variety of Photographic Equipment which he describes as follows:

Currently I shoot mainly with the Nikon D3, the Leica M8.2 Digital Cameras and a variety of 35mm film bodies including Nikon SLRs and Konica Range Finders. I have recently gotten interested again in Medium Format film work and use Pentax 645 and 6×7 format cameras, shooting mostly B&W film that I process myself. I also shoot with the excellent Ricoh GXR and the Leica DLux4 digital compacts.

Here is one of the photographs from Raaj’s site:

Adventure, Photography

Minesh Baxi publishes “You Will Overcome”

May 31, 2010 at 2:09 pm No comments

Minesh Baxi a well known publisher and movtivational speaker from our Michigan Indian community has recently published a book titled “You Will Overcome”. The book “You will Overcome” is a collection of 52 inspirational entrepreneurial stories. Most of the stories in this book are from Michigan. One such story is of  Mida Giragosian.  Mida shares parts of her inspirational story where she recounts the days when she was diagnosed with Lupus (1986) which changed her life forever. She was in and out of the hospital for 4 years which caused tremendous despair in her and which ended up breaking her marriage and even drove her to commit suicide. Lupus had attacked her kidneys, which caused her to start dialysis, three times per week. In spite  of all the challenges Mida faced she is a huge success story. Mida discusses tips to happiness in this book. Some  of her tips to happiness are

  • Always Dress up as if you are going to a party
  • If you have to cry, do it and get it over with
  • Write things down that make you happy

Note: Minesh Baxi has also published – Stop Hiring Losers, Network Your Way To $100,000 And Beyond and 30 Day Total Business Makeover.

Publishing ,

From Sa Re Ga Ma Pa to Pennsylvania Army National Guard

May 25, 2010 at 9:32 pm No comments

Darshana Menon who studied here in Michigan (now living in Pennsylvania) is a very…very accomplished singer. She won the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa USA (2008) singing competion. Ever since, she has been performing live shows all over US. Recently, she did some playback recording for a Hindi Movie to be released this year and she is also working on an album set to release in 2011. Now she is enlisting with Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Her journey starts on June 1st, 2010. So why the switch?. This is what she said to me.

Growing up, my mom always encouraged us to excel at whatever we do. I still apply that in everything I pursue. But I am the kind of person that needs to be doing a lot of different things at once to do well at all of them. So, while my career in the music industry is still very much at the forefront, I wanted to step back a little so I can gain a better perspective. When I was younger, I fantasized about being in the military, but gave up on it as I got older. However, I started looking into it again last year and the idea grew stronger until I finally decided to enlist in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. I am very grateful to my mom for all her support and encouragement in this matter.

Darshana leaves on June 1st starting a journey towards her newest adventure. She says she is terrified because she is not physically strong, but is sincerely hoping that her mental strength and desire to excel will help her sail through military bootcamp.

She will be at Ft. Leonard Wood (MO) for Basic Combat Training (for approx. 10 weeks) … and then she leaves for Ft. Sam Houston (TX) for Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Her chosen MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) is Healthcare Specialist, and she will return from all this rigorous training on or around Dec. 6th, 2010. Once she is back, her commitment to the Armed Forces is limited to 39 days a year unless she is chosen for deployment.

Darshana will still be singing at shows,  and finishing up recording for the album and shooting music videos, etc., once she gets back.

Congratulations Darshana!! May all your dreams come true.

Darshana has a Facebook Fan Page where you can leave messages/communicate with her and wish her the Best!!

Adventure, Bollywood none

“May I… Have this Dance” – Bollywood Dance Charity Event

May 24, 2010 at 7:14 am No comments

BollyFit Creator, Anuja Rajendra, accomplished dancer and innovative “choreographer for the masses”, will lead couples and friends through an evening of fun and carefree Bollywood-style dancing. No prior dance experience is required.

The event – “May I…Have this Dance?” Couples Night Event will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 7.00 pm – 10.00 pm at Mind Body & Spirit Academe, Dakota Building, 1785 West Stadium Blvd (South of Pauline), Ann Arbor, MI 48103. The cost for this event is $70 per couple which includes dancing led by Anuja Rajendra, magical memento scarf, hearty hors d’oeuvres.

Proceeds from this event will be donated to Ann Arbor Active Against ALS (www.a2a3.org), a local not-for-profit organization that supports finding a cure for ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Contact Anuja Rajendra at (734) 657-6680 or email info@BollyFit.com for more details.

Ann Arbor Events, Bollywood, charity, Culture none

Six Indian Americans in the race for US Congress

May 23, 2010 at 10:16 am No comments

This is great news. Six Indian Americans are in the race for US House of Representatives. According to Express Buzz, so far there has been just 2 Indian Americans who have made it to US House of Representatives. The 1st one was Dalip Singh Saund in the 1950′s and recently Bobby Jindal from Lousiana.

The six Indian Americans who are getting ready for the November elections are:

  • Raj Goyle, a two term State lawmaker from Kansas
  • Ami Bera, a physician from California
  • Surya Yalamanchili, a former Procter&Gamble marketing executive from Ohio
  • Manan Trivedi (35), a physician and Iraq War veteran from Pennsylvania who pulled off an upset defeating 60-year old Dough Pike, a former editorial writer with the Philadelphia Inquirer. Trivedi won by a margin of just 672 seats
  • Ravi Sangisetty, a Princeton University alumnus and attorney based in Louisiana
  • Reshma Saujani, a New Yorker

(via Express Buzz)

Politics

Seminar on Energy Audit and Incentives

May 18, 2010 at 11:20 pm No comments

Michigan Indian Community member Anand Pappuri, owner of Spark Building Energy Solutions is organizing a FREE seminar on Energy Audit and Incentives. This Seminar will be held on Saturday May 22nd from 10.30 AM – 11.30 AM at 32401 8 Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48152.

Anand Pappuri who is a Certified Energy Auditor will be the featured speaker at this seminar where you will learn about:

  • Energy audit
  • Utility Rebates
  • New Home construction rebates
  • Energy Star homes and HERS ratings
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Federal Tax Credits
  • Energy Efficient Mortgages for energy improvements
  • Solar power and incentives

For more details call 734-335-0430 or visit Sparks Building Energy Solutions website.

energy, environment none
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