Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 6 CITY VIEWS June 12, 2026 UN Honors Indian Peacekeeper Abhilasha Barak U nited Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres honored an Indian Peacekeeper June 5, 2026, for her work in the field of gender equity. “Congratulations to our @UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year, Major Abh- ilasha Barak of India, who is #ServingFor- Peace with @UNPeacekeepingin Lebanon,” Guterres posted on X.com . “Her work shows the critical role that @ UNIFIL_ plays & how its presence is trans- forming the lives of women & girls, even under the most challenging circumstances. Major Barak, you are a role model to those you serve & those you serve with. Thank you for your service,” Guterrez added. r Advocate of the Year “in recognition of her outstanding leadership in promot- ing gender-responsive peacekeeping and advancing theWomen, Peace and Security agenda during her deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since June 2025,” the Indian govern- ment UN site said (india.un.org ). The award was presented by Guterres at the UN during a ceremony marking the International Day of United Na- tions Peacekeepers. Major Barak has been serving with UNIFIL since June 2025 as Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point with the Indian Battalion in Sector East, southern Lebanon. In that role, she has worked to integrate gender perspectives into military operations, patrols and civil- military activities, helping ensure that the needs and concerns of women and vulnerable groups are reflected in operational planning and community engagement, the india.un.org site noted. She has led extensive outreach efforts reaching more than 5,000 women and girls through education, health- care and vocational training programs aimed at supporting empowerment and post-conflict recovery. Within six months, she conducted 539 gender- focused field activities, the highest number recorded within the mission, while also leading all-women patrols during periods of heightened ten- sions. Major Barak also introduced an artificial intelligence-driven plat- form known as the Lebanon Gender Initiative, designed to strengthen protection mechanisms for women and children. The platform enables confidential reporting of gender- based violence and provides access to helpline services, grievance tracking, self-defense resources and educa- tional materials. Her efforts also helped 75 Lebanese women from communities across southern Lebanon secure fully funded scholarships under India’s Indian Technical and Econom- ic Cooperation (ITEC) program. The scholarships provide professional training in areas such as renewable energy, agri-entrepreneurship and finance. The United Nations said her sustained engagement with local communities has helped build trust, create safe spaces for dialogue and strengthen early warning networks, contributing to both civilian protection and mission effectiveness. By a StaffWriter PHOTO: INDIA.UN.ORG PHOTO X.COM @ANTONIOGUTERRES UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres presenting the Military Gender Advocate of the Year award to Major Abhilasha Barak June 5, 2026, in a ceremony at UN headquarters in New York. Major Abhilasha Barak. Padma Shri Recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh Inducted As Trustee Of Association Of Indians In America T he Association of Indians in America (AIA), considered the oldest Indian American organiza- tion in the US, with chapters around the country, recently announced it has selected Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh of New Jersey, to be on its Board of Trustees. The announcement was made by Ravishankar Bhooplapur, chairman of the national AIA. f the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), an organization that seeks to represent more than 1.4 million physicians in 60 countries around the world. He is also Chairman of his Center for Asthma & Al- lergy. Known also in the media world, Dr. Parikh is the Chairman of ParikhWorldwide Media, and ITV Gold. A philanthropist throughout his life, Dr. Parikh is also chairman of Life Global, and serves as Senior Advisor & Patron Trustee of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Charitable Foundation, as well as senior advisor to the Federation of Indian Associations. Among his other awards are the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman recognition in 2006; the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2005; and the Knights of Malta in 2012. Dr. Parikh is also among the founding members of the Indian American Center For Political Awareness, a national non-profit organization dedicated to increas- ing the participation of the Indian American com- munity in public policy and the political process. Over the decades, he has been driven by his commitment to strengthening the US-India relationship, including lobbying for the formation of the India Caucus in the US Congress and for the US-India civil nuclear coopera- tion deal. “I am pleased to inform you that Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a highly respected physician and philanthropist, has joined our Board as a Trustee, effective immediately,” said Bhooplapur. “On behalf of AIA and all fellow Trust- ees, I extend a warm welcome to Dr. Parikh. With his extensive experience and distinguished contributions, I am confident that AIA will greatly benefit from his guidance and leadership in the years ahead.” Bhooplapur went on to add, “I look forward to work- ing closely with him and all of you as we continue to advance our mission.” “It is my pleasure and privilege to be appointed as a Trustee of AIA as it is the oldest community organiza- tion. The AIA has been showcasing our culture and heritage and was the first attempt to bring the diaspora together to lobby both socially and politically,” Dr. Parikh said. “I would be happy to use my expertise and connections to further AIA’s goals.” The Association of Indians in America (AIA) is the oldest national association of Asian Indians in America. It was founded on August 20, 1967 after the United States Congress passed the 1965-66 Immigration Act, repealing the Asian Exclusion Act of 1917. The constitution of the AIA was adopted in 1970 and it was incorporated in 1971. The AIA obtained the IRS tax exempt status in 1973. A grassroots national organization of Asian immi- grants in United States, the AIA has chapters & mem- bership spread across the US and seeks to represent the hopes & aspirations of those immigrants “who are united by their common bond of Indian Heritage & American Commitment,” the organization says on its website. PHOTO:COURTESY GAPIO President of GAPIO Dr. Sudhir Parikh, addressing the 16th Annual Conference held in Indore, Feb. 14-15, 2026. By a StaffWriter