Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 6 CITY VIEWS April 11, 2025 Geet & Ghazal Evening Casts A Spell At ITV Gold Auditorium A pril 5, 2025 | Edison, NJ —The Geet & Ghazal Evening held at the ITV Gold Auditorium turned into a mesmerizing night of music and emotion, celebrating the timeless beauty of Indian melodies and poetry. Spanning nearly three hours, the event paid rich tribute to legendary voices such as Jagjit Singh, Ghulam Ali, Pankaj Udhas, Talat Mahmood, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosale, and more — through passionate live performances and expert instrumen- tation. The musical magic was brought to life by lead vocalists Suman Laskar and Rupali Venugopal, whose soulful renditions of beloved geets and ghazals captivated the audience. Their voices struck a deep chord, prompting the audience to sing along and clap in rhythm— creating an atmosphere of warmth and nostalgia. Instrumental brilliance came from an exceptional team of musicians: Madhu- kar on bansuri (flute), Arindam on tabla, Janak on keyboard, and Sudipto on guitar. Their coordinated performances and expressive musicianship added powerful layers to every song. The evening was beautifully anchored by Shiva Mathur, whose thoughtful poetry, lively commentary, and smooth transi- tions brought elegance and energy to the event, making her an audience favorite. Noted community figure Dr. Ashok Choudhary of New Jersey was among the attendees and praised the talent and dedi- cation of the artists. Ilayas Quraishi of ITV Gold also addressed the gathering, urging everyone to support local talent and ap- preciate the home-grown artists who are preserving and promoting the essence of Indian music. The event was proudly supported by ParikhWorldwide Media, in collaboration with ITV Gold and the artists, whose com- bined passion and commitment created a night to remember. Special thanks go to the sponsors whose generous support helped make the evening possible: Satish Mullick, Pinakin Pathak Ohm- kara Group, Crishna Murthy, Rajan Sharma (RK Entertainments), Rajagopal Puttaparti, Neeta Ramrekar, and Pundit Jagannath Ji. The Geet & Ghazal Evening was more than a musical concert — it was a heart- felt journey into the soul of Indian music, uniting generations through melodies that continue to inspire and uplift. By a StaffWriter India’s Consul General In New York Urges Unity, Diaspora Support, And Community Empowerment At BAPS Temple Event In New Jersey C onsul General of India in NewYork, Ambassador Binaya Pradhan, emphasized that the India-U.S. relationship has reached a pivotal moment, describing ongoing issues like tariffs and im- migration as minor elements of a broader, and stronger partnership. Speaking at the “Harmony in Unity – Progress for All” event, hosted by the Consulate General of India in NewYork in collaboration with the BAPS Swaminarayan AkshardhamTemple in New Jersey, Ambassador Pradhan likened the bilateral relationship to “a large bouquet of flowers where one will find a few thorns.”While acknowl- edging some challenges, he underscored that the overall relationship stands on a firm foundation. “There are issues where the two governments are working together to resolve to find amicable solutions,” Ambassador Pradhan noted. He also outlined three key concerns that the Consulate seeks to address with the community’s support. The first involves challenges faced by the diaspora, particularly the exploitation by unscrupulous agents charging exorbitant fees or providing fraudulent NRI certificates and pass- ports. He acknowledged that the Consulate itself has fallen short at times in meeting the expectations of the diaspo- ra. To improve service, the Consulate has been operating 365 days a year since May and is even open on national holidays from 2 to 4 p.m. Ambassador Pradhan also highlighted the growing issue of phone scams, where fraudsters impersonate Consulate officials to solicit personal details, including passport information. He urged community members to remain vigilant and refrain from sharing sensitive information. Addressing socioeconomic disparities within the diaspora, he pointed out that approximately 6 per cent – about 330,000 individuals – live below the poverty line. “They require our support. Rather than sending money to India, please divert your resources to the people who need it here that would be worth because it would uplift those who are in need.” He noted that many of these individuals are women in- volved in ongoing legal battles. The Ambassador encour- aged the community – particularly lawyers, doctors, and philanthropic organizations – to volunteer their time and expertise to support them. Ambassador Pradhan also called for greater com- munity involvement in supporting Indian students in the United States, many of whom struggle with cultural adaptation, legal complexities, drug abuse, and cyber- security threats. He warned that a growing number of students are receiving notices of self-deportation and visa revocations. While the government continues its efforts, he stressed the importance of community-led counseling and support systems. Praising the architecture of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple, he called it the largest functional Hindu temple in the world and a symbol of the evolving “diverse and strategic,” India-U.S. relationship. He noted that the Indian American diaspora, now 5.4 million strong, plays a vital role in the U.S. and is widely celebrated in India. He cited a report by the Bos- ton Consulting Group and Indiaspora’s Impact Report titled “Small Community, Big Contributions, Boundless Horizons,” published last year emphasizing their con- tributions in various sectors. Notably, there are 32,000 permanent faculty members of Indian origin in American universities, he said. -(Used under special arrangementwith South Asian Herald) By T.Vishnudatta Jayaraman, South Asian Herald PHOTO:T.VISHNUDATTA JAYARAMAN,SAH Consul General of India in New York, Ambassador Binaya Pradhan addressing the gathering on April 5, 2025, at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Jersey. PHOTO: ITV GOLD PHOTO:Ali A.Z