Latest news with #Indian-American
Time of India
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Zohran Mamdani: NYC mayoral candidate's family and education
Image credits: Getty Images Z ohran Mamdani is a New York State Assembly member from Queens and a democratic socialist who is currently one of the 12 candidates running to become the next mayor of New York City. Recently, Mamdani has been all over the news due to Trump ally and far-right political activist Laura Loomer, targeting him with a post warning, "Get ready for another 9/11." — LauraLoomer (@LauraLoomer) Loomer, who is known for her incendiary voice on social media posted on the social media platform X that "A pro HAMAS Muslim socialist is about to be the next Mayor of NYC" referring to Mamdani and his alignment towards Palestine. Ever since Mamdani and everything about him has been trending on the internet. While much is known about his political endeavours, here's all you need to know about his family life and education. Zohran Mamdani: Family life Image credits: Getty Images, X/@emmagf Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991 in Kampala, Uganda to parents Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani. Zohran's mom Mira Nair, is a popular Indian-American filmmaker known for her works such as 'Salaam Bombay!' and 'Monsoon Wedding'. His father is an Indian-born Ugandan academic who currently serves as a professor at Columbia University and also as a chancellor of Kampala International University in Uganda. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Mamdani was provided his middle name 'Kwame' in honour of the Ghanaian politician Kwame Nkrumah. The 33-year-old recently got hitched to his wife, Rama Duwaji, a Syrian artist based in Brooklyn whose illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post and more. Zohran Mamdani: Education Image credits: Getty Images At five, Mamdani and his family moved to Cape Town, South Africa where he attended the St. George's Grammar School. At seven, the Mamdanis moved to New York where he graduated from the Bank Street School of Children and Bronx High School of Science. He completed his bachelor's in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in 2014. Zohran Mamdani: Next mayor of New York? Image credits: Getty Images Mamdani has been involved in organizations and politics ever since he was in college. During his time at Bowdoin, he co-founded the Students for Justice in Palestine. In 2017, he volunteered for the campaign of New York City Council candidate Khader El-Yateem, was the campaign manager for Ross Barkan's bid for New York State Senate and worked as a field organizer for democratic socialist Tiffany Caban's campaign for Queens District Attorney. He has been a member of the New York State Assembly since 2019 when he first announced a campaign in the 36th district which encompasses Astoria and Long Island City, in Queens. He is a practising Muslim, who follows the Shia branch of Islam. For his campaign as the candidate for the mayoral election in New York, Mamdani has been quite successful. His first fundraising cycle brought in more money than any other candidate. Additionally, he is aiming to freeze the rent, make buses and child care free, launch a Department of Community Safety and create city-owned grocery stores among other things. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Megha Vemuri: MIT student Megha Vemuri torches Israel ties in viral grad speech: 'Won't tolerate genocide...' - The Economic Times Video
Indian-American student Megha Vemuri was barred from attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) commencement ceremony on Friday after a speech in support of Palestine was delivered from the stage during an earlier event. Vemuri, who was scheduled to serve as the marshal for the graduation, was informed of the decision by MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles on the morning of the ceremony, according to a report by the Boston Globe. 'Participation in Commencement activities is a privilege,' Nobles wrote in an email to Vemuri. 'You deliberately and repeatedly misled Commencement organisers. While we acknowledge your right to free expression, your decision to lead a protest from the stage, disrupting an important institute ceremony, was a violation of MIT's time, place and manner rules for campus expression.' The Boston Globe reported that Vemuri and her family were not allowed on campus for most of the day. Vemuri responded to the email, stating that her speech was indeed a protest but described the response by MIT as 'an overreach.'
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Indian-origin MIT class president barred from graduation commencement after pro-Palestine speech
Other social media users suggested deportation proceedings, calling her speech, an attempt to grab attention, and calling her remarks 'unacceptable.' Some users distanced her views from the broader Indian-American community, describing her as part of the 'woke' movement. MIT's response MIT clarified that Vemuri's delivered speech differed from the one previously submitted to the university. According to NBC News, MIT banned her from participating in the ceremony due to her actions. "While that individual had a scheduled role at today's Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today's events," said university spokesperson Kimberly Allen. Allen added that MIT supports free expression, but the act was misleading the organisers of the commencement, and disrupting an important ceremony. (This story was originally published in EdexLive)
News18
5 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Indian-American Megha Vemuri's Pro-Palestine Speech Sparks Vile Comments: ‘B*tch...Deport Her To Gaza'
Last Updated: Following the backlash she faced for her pro-Palestine speech, Megha Vemuri deactivated her LinkedIn profile. Megha Vemuri, an Indian-American student and president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Class of 2025, made headlines after she delivered a speech to condemn Israel's actions in Gaza. She also criticised MIT for its research ties with the Israeli military. Wearing a red keffiyeh, a well-known symbol of Palestinian support, Megha said, 'The Israeli occupation forces are the only foreign military that MIT has research ties with." She further praised students who have been protesting on campus for months and said, 'You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine." Megha also claimed that protesters had faced 'threats, intimidation, and suppression" from the MIT administration. During her speech, Megha made a comparison between the celebration in Cambridge and the harsh reality in Gaza, saying, 'Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza." Soon after her speech, a flood of negative comments poured in online. The backlash was so intense that Megha decided to take down her LinkedIn profile. One user on X (formerly Twitter), named Ouriel, posted screenshots of Megha's deactivated LinkedIn profile and wrote, 'Make that b*tch famous. May she never find any career path and be humiliated for what she just did and did before that. PS: Megha if you really want to sound cool, work on your 'rrrrrhaazzzza" accent." Another person said, 'They should have pulled her off the stage and begun deportation proceedings on the spot." 'She should buy a one-way ticket to Gaza right away and go work on the ground!!" someone else commented. 'If MIT graduates can be so easily swayed by one-sided narratives, what hope is there for the average person? This is a failure of critical thinking at its core," read another comment. 'She is an example of how to hit your feet on an axe just to show the world how brave she is!" an individual remarked. Another sharp comment read, 'She not only wasted his parents' money to put her through top school, she also embarrassed her whole family by pulling such a stunt. What a shame!" Megha, who was supposed to serve as the marshal at the commencement ceremony, was informed by MIT's chancellor, Melissa Nobles, that she would not be allowed to participate. The Boston Globe reported that Nobles sent an email to Megha stating that both she and her family were banned from campus for most of the day following her speech. 'Participation in Commencement activities is a privilege. You deliberately and repeatedly misled Commencement organisers," Nobles wrote, as per the outlet. 'While we acknowledge your right to free expression, your decision to lead a protest from the stage, disrupting an important institute ceremony, was a violation of MIT's time, place and manner rules for campus expression," she added. According to MIT's leadership released a statement saying they fully support the disciplinary action taken against Megha. The statement read, 'MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organisers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony." An MIT spokesperson also mentioned that the speech Megha actually delivered was different from the version she had submitted to university officials before the event. First Published:
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
British entrepreneur pens emotional farewell after 12 years for ‘motherland' India
Jasper Reid, Founder and CEO of International Market Management (IMM), has announced his move back to England after spending over a decade living and working in India. In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, accompanied by a photo of his family, Reid reflected on his 12-year journey, describing India as a place that taught him 'patience, resilience, hard work and hospitality'. 'What is twelve years?' he wrote. 'More than the three years we planned and just about enough to know how India works.' Reid and his family, whose ties to India span four generations, played a key role in the country's food and hospitality scene. 'We brought PizzaExpress to India then built Wendy's and Jamie's from scratch across 15 cities and 75 sites,' he shared. 'We employed several thousand who supported many thousands more.' Their efforts extended beyond business. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Reid's team helped feed and transport thousands of migrant workers. 'During lockdown we fed and helped a million people and bused thousands of migrant workers home,' he wrote. The entrepreneur highlighted the complexities of working in India, describing it as 'essentially two countries'—one mirroring mature markets and another still developing. 'India was always like this, may always will be,' he noted. 'But if GDP were measured in soul, India wins.' Reid also had a message for Indian business leaders: 'Set your people free. It's the best thing you will ever do.' Also read: Prince William caught off guard by cheeky question on Duchy of Cornwall tour. What was he asked? Though his daughters have graduated from school in New Delhi and are heading to university in the UK, Reid says the move is not a departure from India. 'Our motherland is India,' he writes. 'Now we have two parental homes and are not really leaving India but moving to the other side of a great, glorious, magic circle.' Many took to the comments section to react. A user wrote, 'Wow what a feat! I've been working the India market for 20 years but always traveling back and forth. So hats off to you and your family!!' Another added, 'Lovely note. Great insights' Also read: Indian-American Megha Vemuri faces vicious trolling after pro-Palestine MIT speech, deactivates LinkedIn profile
