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Ramesh Verma honored by the Indian community
Posted:
9:17 AM on Mar 07
Tags:
Community Roundup
HONORING RAMESH VERMA ON FEB 28,2010
The Michigan Indo- American Democratic Caucus and Indian community honored Ramesh Verma, Treasurer Michigan Democratic Party and former chairman of MIADC ( 2005-2008). In attendance at the event were U S Congressman Gary Peters, Senator Hansen Clarke, State Representatives Dian Slavens and Lesia Liss, many judges, councilmen.
Mark Brewer Chairman of the Mich Democratic Party introduced Ramesh Verma and spoke about Ramesh's achievements as Captain in the Indian Army, Director of Design Construction at University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, and as a democrat in Michigan. Ramesh helped in many fund raisings which include Governor Granholm, Senator Clarke, Senator Kerry for President, Senator Obama for President, ...and many other legislatures. Ramesh is highly regarded by the community who helped in the Visas, immigration problems. During 2007-2008, Ramesh worked with legislatures, Governor's office and Department of Energy, labor and Economic Growth,concerning placing cremated human remains in the form of ashes into the waters of Michigan state. Governor of Michigan signed it on Nov 2008.
Ramesh is retired and has volunteered his services to democratic party and the Indian community. He has been appointed by Governor of Michigan as Commissioner, Office of Services to the Aging and Commissioner of Asian Pacific for American Affairs. The Novi City mayor appointed Ramesh in the Library Board of Trustees, for which he is now the Vice President. Ramesh is only one in the Asian American community in USA, got elected as a Treasurer of Mich Democratic party in 2009.
Ramesh was presented a plaque by MDP Chair Mark Brewer which says “ for his leadership, commitment,and dedication to the Indian American Community and in advancing the principles of Michigan Democratic Party”. Ramesh accepted the award and said that he was honored and humbled to receive that recognition which has given him more responsibilities to perform more for the community. Further, he said that he could not have done alone without the help of dedicated and loyal members of the board. He thanked his wife Usha for her help at the home front. One can perform better if he/she has support from home as well as outside.
Compact Power CEO Prabhakar Patil featured in Detroit Free Press
Posted:
9:14 AM on Mar 07
Tags:
Community Roundup
"It's a good time to be in the battery business because for the first time, I see line of sight on when it becomes a self-sustaining business," CEO Prabhakar Patil said from Compact's Troy offices, which opened in 2005.
The challenge for Compact and other battery companies is making batteries more affordable for use in electric cars. The battery can make up 5% to 30% of an electric vehicle's cost.
Patil said his company has an internal target of cutting the battery cost by at least a factor of two and perhaps as much as a factor of four over the next five to 10 years.
At that point, "it will become a self-sustaining business and the market will really take off," he said.
LG Chem is providing battery cells to GM for the Volt and Compact provided the battery packs for early development versions of the Volt. GM has since opened its own plant in Brownstown Township to assemble the battery packs.
Patil is mum on future possibilities with other companies, including speculation about Ford.
"We're talking to them," he said. "Those kinds of things we leave for the customer," he added.
Compact and LG Chem plan to break ground in Michigan later this year on a factory to make battery cells, beginning in 2013.
The $300-million investment is expected to create 400 jobs and be capable of producing 15 million to 20 million battery cells annually, which would be enough to support 15,000 to 250,000 vehicles, depending upon the size of the battery pack.
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Read article
Anuja Rajendra choreographs Indian-themed dance at Winter Olympics
Posted:
7:37 AM on Feb 21
Tags:
Community Roundup
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- When ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White strike their opening pose for their Indian-themed original dance tonight at the Olympics, the choreographer who gave the program its authenticity will be sitting on the edge of her seat at the Pacific Coliseum.
Anuja Rajendra of Ann Arbor is traveling to Vancouver today to see the two-time U.S. champions perform the dance live for the first time.
The trip was made possible by anonymous donor -- a "wonderful-hearted person," Rajendra, 37, said Saturday.
Davis and White, who train at the Arctic Figure Skating Club in Canton, placed third in Friday's compulsory dance and trail the leaders, Russian world champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, by 2.29.
Davis and White's original dance has been highly acclaimed and has become a YouTube hit.
If the original dance had been slated for Saturday instead of today, Rajendra, who once performed professionally, wouldn't have been able to make it because of a family commitment. On Saturday, she held a party celebrating the birthdays of her mother and two sons -- Chakor, 5, and Kabir, who turned 3 1/2 .
"You know Meryl and Charlie -- they are the nicest people in the world," Rajendra said. "I can't wait to see them compete. I was just a small sliver of ice in the process."
Detroit Free Press Read more
Shivratri celebrations in Metro Detroit
Posted:
10:30 PM on Feb 14
Tags:
Community Roundup
Hindus across metro Detroit gathered in temples this weekend to mark Shivratri, one of their holiest times of the year.
At the Bharatiya Temple in Troy, about 500 gathered today for special prayers and services followed by lunch. Similar services were held at temples over the past three days in Canton, Detroit, and Pontiac, among other cities.
Some stayed up late inside temples to maintain a vigil for Shivratri, which means Shiva's night.
"Shanti, Shanti, Shanti," worshippers recited today inside the Bharatiya Temple, which means in Sanskrit "Peace, Peace, Peace."
The services started at 9 a.m. today and continued until 1 p.m. Early Saturday, devotees stayed up until 2 a.m. at the center.
Afterwards, worshippers ate consecrated food known as prasad, and smudged ashes on their foreheads in a sign of devotion. Hindus believe Shivratri is a time to focus on God and start anew.
Padma Kuppa, head of outreach for the temple, said that more than 1,000 attended the temple over the past three days.
Shivratri is about celebrating "the transformative power of God in the form of Shiva," Kuppa said.
The holiday also brings together different parts of the Hindu community in metro Detroit, she said.
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Read the Detroit Free Press write up by Niraj Warikoo
Prashant Ranade to lead Syntel
Posted:
7:10 AM on Feb 09
Tags:
Community Roundup
Troy-based Syntel Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNT) has named board member Prashant Ranade as CEO and president. He succeeds Syntel's former President and CEO, Keshav Murugesh, who resigned from the company to pursue other opportunities, Syntel said in a release.
Read full article in Crains
Sandy Baruah to lead Detroit Regional Chamber
Posted:
8:07 AM on Feb 02
Tags:
Community Roundup
The Detroit Regional Chamber has hired former U.S. Small Business Administration Acting Administrator Sandy Baruah as its incoming president and CEO, according to a statement released today by the chamber.
Baruah, who was appointed acting head of the SBA by former President George W. Bush, will officially take the post March 15. As head of the SBA, Baruah made multiple visits to Detroit.
“Baruah's leadership experience in economic development, competitiveness, and addressing governance issues will further drive the Detroit region to innovate and diversify," said Sandra Pierce, president and CEO, Charter One, Michigan and chairman of the board of directors of the chamber, in a statement.
Read more
Lotus Bank ranked number 30 in Michigan
Posted:
10:10 PM on Jan 30
Tags:
Community Roundup
Lotus Bank located in Novi was ranked as the 30th largest Bank in Michigan by Crain's Detroit business magazine. Lotus Bank was founded in 2006. The Board of Directors include a number of Michigan Indian community members including its President and CEO Satish Jasti.
Dr. Haren Gandhi passes away
Posted:
9:38 PM on Jan 28
Tags:
Community Roundup
Award winning scientist and Michigan Indian community member Dr. Haren S. Gandhi passed away on Saturday January 23rd 2010.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 30th at the Jain Temple, 29250 W 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills between 4-6pm.
miindia.com deeply regrets the loss of a truly
inspirational Michigan Indian.
Here is the press release from Ford Motor Co.:
Ford researcher Dr. Haren Gandhi
By John Fossen
DEARBORN -- Ford researcher Dr. Haren Gandhi, the only member of the auto industry to win the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, died Jan. 23 at the age of 68.
Dr. Gandhi joined Ford in 1967 where he distinguished himself in leading-edge research, development and implementation of automotive exhaust catalysts at the company's Research and Innovation Center.
Among Dr. Gandhi's many scientific contributions is the development of the monolithic three-way catalyst, a discovery that has revolutionized the way the automotive industry approaches emissions control.
His work has resulted in more than 70 technical publications and 53 U.S. patents in automotive exhaust catalysis and related areas, with many more patents in other countries.
In 2003, President George W. Bush presented Dr Gandhi the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in a ceremony at the White House.
"Haren was a visionary leader. Through his unique blend of technical depth, experience and openness to new ideas, he was able to translate science and research into product-related innovation," said Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Ford chief technical officer and vice president of Research and Advanced Engineering. "His combination of scientific excellence and strong people skills made him a true model for ONE Ford values."
Last year, Dr. Gandhi was appointed to the National Medal of Technology and Innovation nomination committee. He was one of four current employees to earn the title of Henry Ford Technical Fellow, the highest technical position for a scientist or engineer in the company.
Haren is survived by his wife Yellow, daughter Sangeeta and son Anand.