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Indian Americans increasingly occupy liminal space between self-identities
Archis Mohan New Delhi
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Numbering more than 5.2 million, Indian Americans now comprise the second-largest immigrant group in the United States (US) by country of origin, second only to Mexican Americans. Between 2010 and 2020, it grew by nearly 55 per cent. The community is also growing at a rapid clip - 70 per cent of all Indian immigrants residing in the US arrived in the last quarter-century. And as the Indian-American community throws up leaders beyond the usual healthcare and technology sectors into more public and political roles, it has drawn more attention to its achievements and achievers.
A recent study attempts to
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
CSIR UGC NET admit card 2025 for July session released at csirnet.nta.ac.in: Check direct link to download hall ticket here
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the admit cards for the CSIR UGC NET July 2025 exam. Students who are appearing for the exam can now download their hall tickets from the official website, Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This exam is held to decide who is eligible for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or to become an Assistant Professor in science subjects across Indian universities and colleges. The exam is scheduled to be conducted on July 28, 2025 for all the subjects. Students must carry their admit card to the exam center. It contains important details like your exam center, time, and personal information. So, make sure to download it early and check everything carefully to avoid any issues later. How to download CSIR NET admit card Candidates who are registered to appear for the CSIR UGC NET exam can download their hall tickets by following these steps: Go to Click on the link for 'CSIR UGC NET July 2025 Admit Card' Enter your application number, date of birth, and the security pin Submit your details Your admit card will appear on the screen — download and print it Direct link to download CSIR NET admit card 2025 . What's on the admit card? After downloading the CSIR NET admit card, candidates are advised to check all the details mentioned in it carefully. The following details will be mentioned in the admit card: Your name and photo Roll number Exam date and time Exam center and address Instructions for exam day In case of any discrepancy in the CSIR NET admit card, candidates must report it to the NTA authorities immediately. What to carry on exam day On the day of the Joint CSIR UGC NET examination, students are advised to carry the following list of items along with them: Printed copy of your admit card One valid photo ID (like Aadhaar, PAN card, Voter ID, Passport) A passport-size photo (same as uploaded in the form) Basic stationery (pens, pencils) Students must remember that no mobile phones, smartwatches, or electronic items are allowed inside the examination hall. For more details about CSIR NET exam 2025, candidates are advised to visit the official website. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us .
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
The dark side of flying: fear of grounding deters pilots from seeking help for mental health concerns
A day after the world saw live visuals of Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft turn into a massive fire ball 32 seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad for London on June 12, a pilot commanding the Air India Delhi- Frankfurt flight suffered a panic attack as he lined up the aircraft on the runway. The pilot, who was operating the same type of aircraft involved in the crash, a Boeing 787, promptly returned it to the boarding gate after informing the air traffic control that a crew onboard had fallen ill. A few days later, a young First Officer, also on Air India's Boeing 787 aircraft, reported sick for his flight as he couldn't sleep before his duty as his mind kept replaying the different scenarios that may have occurred inside the cockpit moments before the worst air accident in the country in three decades in which 260 people were charred to death. 'I was on a downward spiral,' the young pilot told The Hindu on condition of anonymity. The last message he had exchanged with the First Officer on the AI flight, Clive Kundar, the social media feed and the relentless television coverage 'weighed a little heavy on me,' he said. He and a few friends 'cried it out' as an exercise in collective purging to cope with the tragedy that had struck their close colleagues. In the days following the crash, many First Officers and cabin crew would report sick as they battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Heightened safety concerns prompted many passengers too to cancel their Air India bookings.. This along with a combination of other factors that included additional checks ordered by the DGCA forced Air India to take a 'safety pause' and reduce international flights by 15% for a few weeks. The airline also reached out to pilots and cabin crew offering them peer support, as well as an in-house psychologist in case of mental health concerns. The trauma among the crew post the crash and suggestions of deliberate pilot action resulting in a crash have once again brought under focus the mental health of Indian pilots who are known to be under tremendous stress because of a multitude of factors which include occupational challenges as well as systemic failures that excessively penalise the cockpit crew. But one of the dark secrets of the industry remains the reluctance among pilots to access medical help for mental health concerns because of a perception that they may either be grounded leading to loss of pay, or their licence will be cancelled. 'Some airlines provide pilots with relatively stable rosters, but in many others, unpredictable schedules and inadequate notice of changes disrupt personal routines, making it difficult to plan family or social time,' says Captain Subhashish Majumdar, a former airline executive and senior commander with long-haul international flying experience. 'In many organisations even casual leave requires prior sanction or has to be justified with documentary evidence , and calling in sick at the last moment can lead to administrative scrutiny. Additionally, time-zone changes, graveyard shifts and night flying can leave a pilot's body clock out of sync for days.' Majumdar acknowledges that he personally benefited from a stable schedule during much of his career. But many others -- especially those flying high-frequency domestic sectors across the industry -- face relentless rosters and consecutive layovers that leave little room for rest or meaningful family engagement. 'Pilots across airlines speak of strained relationships, missed birthdays and school events, and the emotional fatigue of being physically present but emotionally distant.' Over time, the cumulative toll of such schedules can strain personal bonds and foster a sense of isolation. Within aviation circles, this phenomenon is informally referred to as Aviation-Induced Divorce Syndrome. Another challenge is the growing reliance on digital crew management systems. While efficient for record-keeping and cost control, these often lack the human touch. 'Raising tickets on apps or sending emails that go unanswered only increases frustration,' Majumdar explains. 'There's a big difference between being able to lift the phone and speak to someone empathetic, versus dealing with a faceless interface that offers no timely resolution. The absence of human engagement adds to the anxiety.' He acknowledges, however, the pressure airline managements face. 'This is a cost-sensitive industry, with wafer-thin margins, volatile input costs, and fierce competition. Managements walk a tightrope between viability and crew welfare. But passengers must also realise that improving pilot working conditions, safety buffers, and quality of life may ultimately require a willingness to absorb higher airfares.' Despite growing awareness of mental health issues post-pandemic, many pilots remain reluctant to seek help for anxiety, depression, or burnout—not just due to social stigma, but out of fear that disclosure could affect their medical clearance and earning capacity. 'The concern is real,' says Majumdar. 'Even if stigma is easing, the consequences of seeking help are uncertain. In a profession where medical fitness determines livelihood, that becomes a serious deterrent.' Indeed, a study in 2022 by William Hoffman, a US-based neurologist with interest in pilot health care behaviour found that 56.1% of the 3,765 U.S. pilots who participated in a survey reported a 'history of healthcare avoidance behaviour' due to a 'fear of losing their aeromedical certificate'. Indian pilots too speak of complicated, lengthy and inefficient regulatory processes that in some cases have led to year-long groundings for misdiagnoses deterring pilots from reporting medical concerns. The situation is likely to worsen for mental health concerns, exacerbated by stigma and a lack of clear guidance from regulators. In February 2023, the DGCA issued a circular on 'mental health promotion' for flight crew and air traffic controllers, mandating airlines, charter operators, and flying schools to establish non-punitive peer-support programmes to encourage self-reporting. DGCA-empanelled doctors, who conduct pilots' annual medical exams, were directed to use a 29-question questionnaire to assess cognitive functions and alertness. Pilots with a poor score have to be referred to the DGCA's Medical Directorate. On July 22, 2025, the DGCA reminded empanelled doctors to use the questionnaire. 'Some of us have since enquired the DGCA on how we are to grade pilots and whether it is to be done on a scale of 1 to 10 or alphabetically. We also need to know what is the protocol to be followed if and when we find a concern,' says Sangeeta Kujur, a DGCA-empanelled examiner and former Chief Medical Officer at Air India Express where she set up the peer support programme for the airline. But the medical circular provides no details to pilots about what this scrutiny may entail, and for which conditions. Since the Germanwings crash of March 2015, deliberately caused by the first officer Andreas Lubitz who had been previously treated for suicidal tendencies and declared unfit to work by his doctor ,which he kept from his employer, regulators around the world have overhauled their policies. Europe introduced a pilot medical database, random health checks, and peer support programmes. The FAA clarified that mental health issues rarely disqualify pilots (0.1% rejection rate), listing conditions like psychosis and bipolar disorder that do. The FAA's 2016 Pilot Fitness Aviation Rulemaking Committee recommended peer support, enhanced training for medical examiners, approved new medications that can be taken during active flying, and public campaigns to reduce mental health stigma, alongside maintaining a safe medication list for pilots. MESAFE, an EASA-funded project under the EU's Horizon Europe, recognises pilots' reluctance to self-report mental health issues due to systemic shortcomings. It advocates Peer Support Programs that extend beyond medical interventions, and foster a mental well-being culture within a just-culture work environment. The project emphasises reporting and mitigating organisational stressors impacting the mental health of safety-critical aviation personnel. ( Mental health helplines across the country can be accessed here)
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Rainfall triggers serpent infiltration, 85 rescued so far this month
Gurugram: Gurugram has logged a surge in snake sightings this monsoon, with 85 snakes rescued across the city so far in July, wildlife officials said on Thursday. With a week still left for the month to get over, this is the highest number of snake rescues reported in a single month this year, they added. Gurugram has logged a surge in snake sightings this monsoon, with 85 snakes rescued across the city so far in July. (HT PHOTO.) The spike, according to wildlife experts, is linked to heavy rainfall and unplanned construction, which is driving snakes out of their natural habitats into homes, residential sectors and even government institutions. Anil Gandas, a city-based wildlife rescuer who has conducted thousands of rescues since 2011, said this has been his most intense month in recent years. 'The majority of the calls are from the Dwarka Expressway stretch, especially sectors 107, 108, 84, 112, 110A, 99A, 101, 102, and 106. These areas were once agricultural land but are now under heavy construction. I have already rescued 85 snakes this month and expect the numbers to rise further till October.' According to Gandas, snake rescue numbers this year have risen steadily: 13 in January, 8 in February, 7 in March, 16 in April, 29 in May, 38 in June, and 85 so far in July. The trend, he warned, is expected to continue till the end of the monsoon season. Snake rescues have also been reported from government institutions. At the Government Senior Secondary School in Dhankot, a common kukri and an Indian rock python were safely removed earlier this month. In one particularly striking rescue at Surya Vihar in Dhanwapur village, 13 kraits—including 11 hatchlings and two adults—were found inside a dried-up water tank in a house, he said. 'This was a rare and risky case. The presence of a snake family inside a home could have turned dangerous had it not been reported in time,' he added. In another case, Deepak Ahlawat, a resident of Sector 109, had a scary experience when a common krait, one of India's most venomous snakes, was found curled up inside his kitchen cabinet. 'It was late evening, and I had just walked into the kitchen when I noticed something moving. I froze. It was a snake—just inches from where I keep my utensils. I immediately called for help,' he said. 'Had I not seen it in time, it could have been fatal. It was a narrow escape.' In Daulatabad, Kavita Sharma found a snake inside her bedroom, hidden near the bed. 'I was about to lie down when I saw a movement from the corner of my eye. When I turned on the light, I couldn't believe what I saw—a snake right next to the bed. I screamed and rushed out,' she said. 'We always hear about these incidents, but when it happens in your own home, it's terrifying.' Among the species rescued this month are spectacled cobras, common kraits, Indian rock pythons, rat snakes, Indian sand boas, red sand boas, wolf snakes, and common kukri snakes. Forest officials have confirmed that over 100 snakes have been rescued from the Dwarka Expressway zone alone this year and have been released into the Aravalli Forest. Divisional forest officer (DFO) Ram Kumar Jangra said a coordinated response mechanism is in place. 'We have created a network of volunteers, officials, and NGOs who respond to alerts. Anil Gandas leads most rescue operations and is familiar with all the vulnerable areas. Our team's contact numbers are available with residents, and we are on standby,' he said. Last year, Gandas carried out more than 1,200 snake rescues in Gurugram. This year, if the current pace continues, that record may be broken. Officials have urged residents to avoid handling or provoking snakes and to immediately contact professional rescuers in case of a sighting. Wildlife experts say the spike is a clear signal of ecological imbalance and a need for better habitat planning in developing areas. Gurugram residents have been advised to seal water tanks, inspect storage areas, and call professionals in case of sightings instead of attempting to remove the reptiles themselves.
