A total of eight Indians have featured in TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024′.

Olympian Sakshi Malik, Indian-origin actor Dev Patel, actor Alia Bhatt, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and World Bank President Ajay Banga were among the eight Indians named in the prestigious TIME’s list of 100 most influential people in the world, which was released on Wednesday.

TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2024′ also included US Department of Energy’s Loan Programmes Office director Jigar Shah, Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics at Yale University Priyamvada Natarajan and Indian-origin restaurateur Asma Khan.

Director, producer and writer Tom Harper described Alia as a ‘formidable talent’. “Not only one of the world’s leading actors, admired for her work in the Indian film industry for over a decade — she is also a businesswoman and a philanthropist who leads with integrity,” he said.

“Alia’s superpower is her ability to mix movie-star magnetism with authenticity and sensitivity. As an actor she is luminous, and as a person she brings the grounded assurance and creativity that make a truly international star,” Harper, who directed Bhatt in his movie Heart of Stone, said.

On Dev Patel’s artistic work, Oscar-nominee actor Daniel Kaluuya wrote, “Dev radiates goodness. His humanity shines through every time he graces the screen, leaving you no choice but to root for him even when his character is doing something foul; his presence makes you understand where he’s coming from. With a career that always elevates, his latest performance in Monkey Man is my favourite. Giving us a fierce, soulful empathy, a channelled rage, shades of him we have yet to see—knowing he was so into martial arts during Skins, he’s brought it all together. Monkey Man is his moment, and an incredible directorial debut.”

Talking about Microsft’s CEO Nadella, TIME said he was “profoundly influential in shaping our future.” “Microsoft’s significant investment in OpenAI and partnership with Mistral AI puts him at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution. A technologist with heart, Satya sees AI as a tool that will empower humans. Still, there’s rightful concern about unintended consequences and misuse. That’s why it’s so reassuring that Satya is one of AI’s stewards. His thoughtfulness and humility should make us safer,” the magazine said in a section on Nadella’s profile.

“What began as a small, targeted protest to demand decisive government action in favour of the wrestlers ballooned instead into a yearlong battle unprecedented in Indian sport, drawing support from across the country and attention from across the world,” wrote Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Pahuja on Olympian Sakshi Malik. She described Malik as India’s “most celebrated wrestler” who protested for the immediate arrest and resignation of the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India Brij Bhushan Singh, accused of sexually harassing female athletes.

Speaking about former Mastercard CEO Banga, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “It’s not easy to find a leader with the skill and drive to take on the monumental task of transforming an essential institution, but since becoming World Bank president last June, Ajay Banga has done just that.”  “Ajay comes to the World Bank after leading a global organization through which he brought millions of unbanked people into the digital economy. At the World Bank, Ajay set forth a new vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet and moved boldly to make good on it—from pioneering innovative financial tools to reimagining partnerships across the multilateral development banks and with the private sector,” Yellen added.

Virgin co-founder and British businessman Richard Branson said US government official Jigar Shah has “dedicated his life to unlocking the entrepreneurial opportunity that lies in a clean-energy transition.”

Terming Asma Khan as “Top Chef”, Indian-American writer and model Padma Lakshmi said, “Asma is not only interested in doing the right thing, she’s a shrewd businesswoman too. South Asian aunties know the cuisine best. Many Indian restaurants in the West have menus where everything kind of tastes the same. But Asma’s food is surprising. It doesn’t taste like restaurant food—and that is the highest compliment.”

On Priyamvada Natarajan, American astrophysicist Shep Doeleman said she “brought us closer to under­standing a basic mystery in astron­omy: How do the supermassive black holes that lurk at the centres of most galaxies form? She had speculated that they might have gotten a jump start in the very early universe if clouds of gas collapsed to form massive black-hole “seeds” that then grew within their host galaxies over billions of years. It took the piercing gaze of the James Webb Space Telescope to finally observe a galaxy so far back in cosmic time, and with a central black hole so massive, that what scientists saw could be explained naturally by Priya’s theory.”

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

Seventy-three years and 60 days of practice as lawyer is a Guinness World Record. The 97-year-old has knocked out Gibraltar government lawyer Louis Triay’s Guinness record of 70 years and 311 days.

Seventy-three years and 60 days of practice as a lawyer is a Guinness World Record. Palakkad’s veteran civil lawyer P.B. Menon has brought that world record to India by knocking out Gibraltar government lawyer Louis Triay’s Guinness record of 70 years and 311 days. Louis died in February this year at 94.

Mr. Menon is 97 and still attends the courts with the vivacious zest of a beginner. “He is a phenomenon, a legal institution from which today’s practitioners have many lessons to learn,” said Deputy Director of Prosecution P. Premnath.

The world’s longest serving lawyer had entered the India Book of Records a few months ago. At 97, his memory remains intact. Rather he loves falling back on nostalgic moments of the beginning days of his career in early 1950s.

He studied the law from Madras Law College (currently known as Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai) after graduating from Government Victoria College, Palakkad, in 1947. He shifted his practice to Palakkad after spending two years at Madras High Court.

It was a veteran judge at a sub-court in Kochi who advised Mr. Menon to focus on civil law when he won a criminal case as a junior lawyer. “That was a turning point in my career and life. I begin my days by remembering that senior judge,” said Mr. Menon, sharing his early experiences.

Approachable, affable

Rose Land, Mr. Menon’s house at Puthur in Palakkad town, remains open to everyone irrespective of lawyer or client. He is approachable and affable to lawyers of all age. He is a textbook for the beginners.

For Mr. Menon, there is no such case as minor or insignificant. “He approaches all cases with utmost seriousness. Ensuring justice for his client is his motto,” said his daughter Subhadra Muraleedharan.

During a chat with the media here on Tuesday, Mr. Menon insisted that there would be no point in arguing too much in courts. “My plaint, cross-examination and arguments are always short. When you prepare a case, you should bear in mind what the respondent would say tomorrow.”

For Mr. Menon, there is nothing more self-gratifying than listening to the following words from a client: “You are a dependable lawyer. You give us honest opinion”.

Perhaps it was this self-gratification that made Mr. Menon stick to his practice as a civil lawyer even when many of his friends and colleagues chose to become judges.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

As an attempt to preserve India’s rich spiritual heritage, Bhakti Marga has a museum preserving and reviving forgotten teachings of the saints of India.

‘Saints of India’ Museum in Shree Peetha Nilaya, Germany

India, renowned for its spiritual wealth and profound cultural heritage, has long been a haven for those seeking wisdom, enlightenment, and a deeper connection with the divine. With a tradition that dates back thousands of years, India’s cultural tapestry has been woven with the teachings of saints who, through the ages, have passed on their sacred wisdom to new generations and the masses at large.

Paramahamsa Vishwananda has always been passionate about spreading Sanatana Dharma, the teachings and life stories of the saints. Many people will never have the opportunity to come to India and receive the blessing of the saints physically and be amongst their Divine vibrations. It has been one of the missions of Paramahamsa Vishwananda to make these true Gems of Humanity more accessible to everyday people.

Nestled in the heart of Germany, in Springen, there is a Hindu ashram named ‘Shree Peetha Nilaya’: a remarkable spiritual haven working to reignite the recognition and appreciation of these revered saints. The establishment boasts an impressive collection of relics, information, and artifacts dedicated to India’s saints and the invaluable contributions they have made to society.

The Saints of India Museum is more than just a repository of relics and information; it is a tribute to the spiritual legacy that India’s saints have left behind. Exploring over 1,300 meticulously preserved relics, sacred texts, and interactive displays, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the profound teachings, sacrifices, and selfless service offered by these luminaries. These relics, that include Shaligramas from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and many others are not just preserved but are lovingly worshiped by resident pujaris and pujarinis of the ashram.

The museum offers a glimpse into the lives of these saints, the wisdom they imparted, and their profound impact on the spiritual landscape of India. It serves as a bridge connecting the ancient traditions of India with the modern world, fostering an appreciation for the timeless wisdom that continues to inspire seekers on their spiritual journeys.

Shree Peetha Nilaya is the headquarters of the Vaishnava Bhakti Marga movement. Central to the Bhakti Marga movement is the idea of harnessing various Hindu traditions and practices to cultivate a loving relationship with the Divine.This mission has seen the establishment of numerous temples and ashrams globally, with Bhakti Marga groups now present in over 77 countries, including the Shree Giridhar Dham ashram in Vrindavan.

The founder of the movement, Paramhamsa Vishwananda, is the acharya of the Hari Bhakta Sampradaya tradition and a master of Kriya Yoga in the tradition of Mahavatar Babaji. His mission is succinctly encapsulated in his statement: “My Mission is to open the hearts of mankind.” This mission is not just a philosophical ideal but is actively pursued through the establishment of the Bhakti Marga community in 2005. He is renowned for his deep spiritual insights and transformative teachings and is eager to share these extraordinary souls with the world. His goal is for everyone to know and appreciate the lives of these saints by giving them a place to be seen and honored. Vishwananda promotes Sanatana-dharma, ‘the eternal way,’ and this impressive collection offers beautiful examples of this path through the lives of these saints.

source/content: etnownews.com / ET NOW (headline edited)

The flight date is yet to be announced, the aerospace company said. This mission will be the seventh human flight for the New Shepard programme and the 25th in its history.

Gopi Thotakura, an entrepreneur and a pilot, is set to become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission.

Thotakura was selected as one of the six crew members for the mission, making him the first Indian space tourist and the second Indian to venture into space after the Indian Army’s Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984.

The flight date is yet to be announced, the aerospace company said.

This mission will be the seventh human flight for the New Shepard programme and the 25th in its history.

To date, the programme has flown 31 humans above the Karman line, the proposed conventional boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.

New Shepard is a fully reusable sub-orbital launch vehicle developed for space tourism by Blue Origin.

According to Blue Origin, “Gopi is a pilot and aviator who learned how to fly before he could drive.”

He is the co-founder of Preserve Life Corp, a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

In addition to flying jets commercially, he pilots bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes, as well as gliders and hot air balloons, and has served as an international medical jet pilot.

A lifelong traveller, his most recent adventure took him to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Andhra Pradesh-born Thotakura is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Other crew members of the flight include Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L.

Hess, Carol Schaller, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by President John F Kennedy in 1961 as the nation’s first Black astronaut candidate but was never granted the opportunity to fly to space.

During the flight, each astronaut will carry a postcard to space on behalf of Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future.

This programme gives students access to space on Blue Origin’s rockets, including an all-digital method to create and send postcards.

The Club’s mission is to inspire and mobilise future generations to pursue careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) for the benefit of Earth.

From an environmental standpoint, nearly 99 per cent of New Shepard’s dry mass is reused, including the booster, capsule, engine, landing gear, and parachutes.

New Shepard’s engine is fuelled by highly efficient liquid oxygen and hydrogen.

During the flight, the only byproduct is water vapour with no carbon emissions, the company said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)