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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 02, 2024 | The Indian Eye 28

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

VED NANDA TARA SREEKRISHNAN

US Congress honors the life and Democrat announces run for

legacy of columnist California State Assembly

ara Sreekrishnan, a 30-year-
old Democrat and community
Tleader of Indian origin, has
garnered significant endorsements
for her bid in the California State As-
sembly race for District 26. Serving
previously as a legislative director and
deputy Chief of Staff in the California
State Senate.
Tara officially launched her cam-
paign last month. Her focus is on cru-
cial issues like housing affordability,
climate change, and challenges within
the education system.
Announcing these endorsements
on the social media platform X, Tara expressed her delight at receiving support
from the local firefighters.
onoring the life of Indian-American columnist Ved Nanda, who was “I’m delighted to announce that my campaign for California State Assembly
the recipient of the Gandhi-King-Ikeda Award for Community Peace District 26 has received the endorsement of our dedicated firefighters in Santa
HBuilding in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2018, the US Congress Clara - the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 1171,” she
this week described him as a prominent figure and a bridge between the US said.
and India. In addition to the firefighters’ endorsement, Tara secured support from no-
A well-known columnist for the Denver Post, who taught at the Univer- table figures such as California Assembly majority leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry,
sity of Denver for 50 years, Prof Nanda breathed his last early this month, at Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg, and the
the age of 89. California Labor Federation.
“For over 5 decades, Professor Nanda uplifted the students of DU and the Tara emphasised her commitment to addressing key priorities, including
Indian diaspora community, becoming a prominent figure and a bridge be- making neighbourhoods safe, supporting older adults, tackling housing afford-
tween our two nations. He also served in several illustrious positions, includ- ability, addressing climate change, alleviating traffic congestion, and reforming
ing Chairman of the Board of the Hindu University of America and Vice Pres- the education system.
ident of the American Society of International Law,” Congresswoman Diana On her campaign website, she stressed the importance of utilising tax dol-
DeGette said on the floor of the US House of Representatives this week. lars efficiently and effectively to meet these challenges, stating, “Addressing
Ved P Nanda was a Distinguished University Professor and formerly these challenges – and spending tax dollars efficiently and effectively – is why
Thompson G Marsh Professor of Law at the University of Denver, where I’m running for State Assembly.”
he founded the International Legal Studies Program in 1972. He also direct- Inspired by her immigrant parents, Tara highlighted the values of education
ed the Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law since its and community involvement instilled in her upbringing.
inception in 2006. The Center was established in his honor by alumni and
friends, who also endowed a professorship in his name. He received Honor- SHILPA SAXENA
ary Doctorates of Law from Soka University, Tokyo, Japan, and Bundelkhand
University, Jhansi, India, and has taught and lectured at several universities CMO named among the Top 50
in the US and abroad. He was also an honorary Professor of Law at the Uni-
versity of Delhi, India. Women Leaders of Tampa
Professor Nanda held many leadership positions in the global interna-
tional law community. He served as the US delegate to the World Federation hilpa Saxena serves as the Medical Director of Forum Health’s Tampa lo-
of the United Nations Associations in Geneva and on the governing council cation as well as the Chief Medical Officer for Forum Health. Dr Saxena is
of the United Nations Association of the USA. He was an officer and board Sinternationally known for her contributions to the development and insti-
member in several international and national NGOs and also served as Chair tution of the lifestyle-based group medical appointment model with her Group
of the Uberoi Foundation for Religious Studies. Visit Toolkits and has been awarded for her work with her online patient educa-
He received numerous national and international awards, authored or
co-authored 24 books and over 225 chapters and law review articles in inter- tion platform, Living Wellness University.
Dr. Saxena graduated from the University of Florida College of Medicine
national and comparative law, wrote a column for the Denver Post, and was a
regular commentator in both the electronic and print media. Continued on next page... >>

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