Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 6 CITY VIEWS July 25, 2025 Pranavam School Of Dance Inaugurates New Studio In Princeton Junction P ranavam School of Dance proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new studio located at Unit 1101, 43 Princeton Hightstown Road, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550. The milestone event brought together students, families, and prominent com- munity members in a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity, and community spirit. The grand opening featured lively student dance performances, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and guided studio tours. The energy and enthusiasm at the event reflected the school’s growing presence in the region and its commitment to promoting Indian classical and Bol- lywood dance among children and adults alike. “This studio is not just a place to teach dance—it’s a space for joy, discipline, and lifelong learning,” said Pranaya Akula, Founder and Artistic Director of Prana- vam School of Dance. “We are thrilled to finally have a space that reflects our vision, and we are grateful to the community for their continued support.” The celebration was graced by the presence of several esteemed guests including Dr. Hemant Marathe, Mayor ofWestWindsor Township, NJ; Andrea Sue, Council Presi- dent ofWestWindsor; Upendra Chivukula, former New Jersey Assemblyman and former Commissioner on the NJ Board of Public Utilities; Srujal Parikh, Secretary and Past President of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA NY-NJ-CT-NE); Saurin Parikh, 2025 President of FIA and Chief of Collection Systems Investigation at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection; Sridhar Chill- ara, Chairman of South Asians for Governor Jack and CEO of TV5 International and Mana TV; and Srihari Mandadi, President of the North America Telugu Society (NATS). The new studio is designed to serve as a hub for both education and cultural engagement. It will offer weekly structured classes in Bharatanatyam, Bollywood, and semi-classical dance forms for students of all ages. In addition to regular classes, the space will be used to host workshops, cultural events, birthday parties, and private gatherings, adding versatility to its cultural mission. By a StaffWriter Global Organization Of People Of Indian Origin Hosts Webinar On Immigration T he Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) inaugurated its new international webinar series on July 12, 2025, with a session titled “Indian Diaspora and Immigration Upheavals – Path Forward.” Immigration attorneys, policymakers, and community leaders participated. Webinar Series Chair Sunil Vuppala, who is also GO- PIO’s Associate Secretary welcomed everyone including the Chief Guest Lord Bhikhu Parekh, a member of the House of Lords in London, a press release from GOPIO said. Moderated Dr. Maya Chadda, Professor Emeritus atWilliam Paterson University and a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the webinar tackled pressing issues faced by Indian students and immigrants— ranging from visa backlogs and restrictive reforms to evolving international student work policies in the USA, Canada and UK. “Our goal is to create a global platform that not only informs but equips the Indian diaspora to navigate complex immigration landscapes with clarity and purpose,” Thomas Abraham, founder and chairman of GOPIO said. GOPIO President Prakash Shah called the series “vital” for the community in North America and other countries, adding, “we want to galvanize the Indian Diaspora for a greater contribution to reshape the future of global migration.” Lord Parekh reflected on the Indian diaspora’s resilience historically; David Nachman, Esq., a New Jersey-based immigration attorney covered what the Big Beautiful Bill meant for immigration which needed to be considered by the present and future diaspora members planning to immigrate to US not only from India but also from Australia, UK, Europe to rejoin their extended family. Chicago-based Parikh Law Group Immigra- tion attorney Stephanie Dy, addressed changes in high- skilled visas, explained stricter H-1B and L-1 vetting protocols. Other speakers included London-based solici- tor and advocate Shaima Ammal; Dr. Sudhir Shah, Mumbai-based immigration specialist; Gaga- njot Kaur, Toronto-based immigration expert, discussed ripple effects of U.S. border security measures on Canadian student policy. A tribute was paid to well-known immigration attorney Michael Phulwani. Some initiatives were adopted such as encouraging HR teams to imple- ment visa tracking systems and sponsor risk poli- cies; requesting immigration lawyers to provide timely guidance on new regulations and higher denial trends; counselling international students to comply with work hour limits and timely OPT applications. The next webinar on AI and Technology is set for August 9, 2025, the press release said. Several other events are also planned. By a StaffWriter GOPIO Immigration Issues Webinar Organizers, Chief Guest, Moderator and Panellists: First Row: Prakash Shah, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Gaganjot Mundra; Second Row: Prof. Maya Chadda, Dr. Sudhir Shah, David Nachman; Thord Row: Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Sid Jain, Shaima Ammal; Fourth Row: Stephanie Dy, Raj Punjabi and Kumu Gupta. PHOTO:CourtesyGOPIO Pranaya Akula , Founder and Artistic Director of Pranavam School of Dance, joins community leaders and young performers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of the school’s new studio in Princeton Junction, NJ. PHOTO:Courtesyof Pranavam School of Dance