Indian PM reveals his philosopher king side to US podcaster

Last updated on: April 10, 2025 at 1:59 pm By Parveen Chopra

President Trump has been so dominating the world stage that little else breaks out about leaders or leadership. But this story did. Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a riveting 3-hour conversation with MIT scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman. In a world captivated by political rhetoric and media spectacles, the podcast was a rare glimpse into the inner world of a leader – his spiritual foundation, his discipline, his journey beyond the offices held. The interview became a... Read more

Global Leaders Urge Meditation for Peace and Well-Being

Last updated on: March 6, 2025 at 1:07 am By Parveen Chopra

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Global meet in India Advocates Meditation for Public Good Two weeks ago I had the good fortune to attend a major conference in New Delhi, India, advocating for the incorporation of meditation in governance, leadership, education, and healthcare. Having been a long-term meditator, I was encouraged to see meditation getting the attention it deserves and note that it is spreading fast the world over just like yoga has in recent years. The high-profile Global Conference of Meditation Leaders (GCML) was... Read more

Chandrika Tandon wins a Grammy for Vedic chants album

Last updated on: February 5, 2025 at 2:30 pm By Parveen Chopra

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Indian American music maker, businesswoman, and philanthropist Chandrika Tandon have won a Grammy in the ‘Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant’ category for her new soulful album, ‘Triveni’. The coveted award not only highlights her musical prowess but also underscores her dedication to creating soulful art that transcends boundaries. Chandrika is a trailblazer in merging Sanskrit chants with Western musical traditions. ‘Triveni’ is a Sanskrit term meaning the confluence of three rivers. Her two collaborators on the album are Wouter... Read more

New York Sikhs make sentimental pilgrimage to Pak gurdwaras

Last updated on: January 23, 2025 at 10:12 am By Parveen Chopra

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Every time followers of Sikhism pray, they beseech God to let them freely visit their gurdwaras in Pakistan. For 77 years, they have been separated from their most revered shrines left behind after India’s partition. The relentless animosity between the two neighbors made it almost impossible for Sikh pilgrims to pay homage even at the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of their faith. The barriers are coming down slowly, as found by a group of 135 pilgrims,... Read more

400 million Hindus to throng Maha Kumbh Mela in India

Last updated on: January 15, 2025 at 8:44 pm By Parveen Chopra

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A massive global religious event is unfolding with astonishing numbers Four hundred million pilgrims are expected to take a holy dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers in Prayagraj, north India, during the six weeks of the Maha Kumbh Mela, which began on January 13. Kumbh melas go back in antiquity and occur every three years by rotation in four cities – Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. They are the largest gathering of humanity anywhere in the... Read more

Pope tells Jains all faiths should address humanity’s woes

Last updated on: December 12, 2024 at 11:57 am By Parveen Chopra

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Pope Francis recently addressed an international delegation of Jains, highlighting the urgent need to tackle global issues such as caring for vulnerable populations and environmental stewardship as a shared responsibility of all faiths. In his prepared remarks to the delegation that visited the Vatican as part of a decades-old Jain-Christian dialogue, Pope Francis said, “I thank you for your efforts to seek together ways of caring for the earth, the poor, and the most vulnerable in society. These areas of... Read more

The Purpose Of Life Is To Serve Others!

Last updated on: December 4, 2024 at 2:55 pm By Parveen Chopra

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“What is the purpose of life?” I once asked an Indian spiritual guru. I expected him to say: Enlightenment, moksha! But no. I was surprised when he replied, “The purpose of life is to serve others.” I am reminded of that simple but profound line on the eve of Giving Tuesday, which follows Thanksgiving. Yes, we express gratitude for gifts we have received. The best of them is the gift of life – just being alive and kicking. And then... Read more

Guru Nanak’s message of oneness is for all humanity

Last updated on: November 14, 2024 at 4:13 pm By Parveen Chopra

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America is the first nation in the modern world whose Constitution espouses the democratic values of freedom and equality, ideas which came to the fore during the French Revolution. But much before that, Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), the founder of Sikhism, made a fervent appeal for equality, including gender equality. Guru Nanak, whose 555th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year on November 15, said, ‘Awwal Allah noor upaaya, kudrat ke sab bande…’ First God created light, then by his... Read more

On Diwali, seeking light on its spirit and Hinduism

Last updated on: November 4, 2024 at 2:39 pm By Parveen Chopra

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The White House celebrated Diwali on October 28, as in previous years. Pennsylvania announced Diwali as a public holiday. New York City schools have declared November 1 as a holiday to mark the Indian festival for the first time. I also notice an ever-increasing number of Diwali melas (fairs) and public functions organized by the growing and successful Indian community in America. The festivities have a cultural tinge and assertion of Hindu and Indian identity. Chhavi Arya Bhargava, a... Read more

How Kamala’s Indian heritage may infuse her worldview

Last updated on: November 4, 2024 at 12:42 pm By Parveen Chopra

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At the CNN Presidential Town Hall on October 23, Vice President Kamala Harris said she prays every day. Yes, we know she was raised Baptist – the faith of her father, Jamaican American economist Donald J. Harris. But her mother was Shyamala Gopalan, a Hindu immigrant from India, belonging to the highest Brahmin caste – Iyengar. In a Christian-majority country, where Hindus or Indians account for just 1% of the voting population, Kamala Harris finds it prudent to not highlight... Read more