Mahesh Reshamwala, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and community leader, passed away on August 23 at the age of 80, succumbing to cancer. He peacefully left this world with a sound mind and was surrounded by his dear wife, Ketki, and cherished sons, Nilesh and Chetak.

Mahesh arrived in America in 1968 to complete his education in Electrical Engineering. He married Ketki in 1972, soon after which they made Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, their home. Mahesh was an engineer for several leading technology companies, including Data General, Stratus Technologies, and Artesyn Technologies, specializing in computer hardware design and quality control.

Mahesh was a pillar to many communities. Both Nilesh and Chetak grew up in Shrewsbury and were products of its public school system before pursuing their own passions at MIT. Mahesh was actively involved in continuously improving Shrewsbury’s school system and infrastructure, volunteering with Ketki to promote and advance Indian language-learning and culture, and helping out with his sons’ many extracurricular activities.

Upon retiring, Mahesh devoted his time and empathy to senior members in the local community. He leveraged his meticulous understanding of our tax and health care systems to prepare others for a worry-free retirement. His service to Shrewsbury’s Senior Center and Council on Aging was among many reasons why he earned the distinction of the Spirit of Shrewsbury’s Grand Marshal in 2015.

Mahesh also positively impacted many other lives at the India Society of Worcester, his second home and “happy place,” where he most recently shared a love for Bridge, dhol, and young-at-heart seniors.

Mahesh is survived by his wife Ketki, brother Dipak, sons Nilesh and Chetak, daughter-in-law Amy, and grandchildren Sejal and Nikhil. We will remember Mahesh for his devotion to his family, his passion for education and development, his love for food and sharing it with others, and his joy of playing cards.

If you are able, please join us for a celebration of his life before we usher him into the next phase of his soul’s journey.

Memorial Service

Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Time: 9:45 am – 11:30 am

Location: India Center, 152 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA

Private cremation services will follow for family members.

In lieu of flowers, the Reshamwala family requests that donations be made in memory of Mahesh to one of these great organizations:

• India Society of Worcester
• Indian Circle for Caring USA
• Cancer Research Institute

On Friday Sep 13, 6:30 pm, a unique historical musical of The Jallianwala Bagh Story (Khooni Vaisakhi) by Indian Arts Boston will be presented at Merriam Elementary School in Acton.

Please buy your tickets for the Khooni Vaisakhi event on September 13 at indianartsboston.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Harmeet Singh 978.621.7711
Pravin Misra 978.726.4095
Chitro Neogy 508.740.7847

Indian Arts Boston is a 501 (c)(3) certified charitable organization promoting South Asian arts in North America.

Nanak Singh’s “Khooni Vaisakhi” is a poignant and powerful ballad that captures the horror and tragedy of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. Singh, who was present during the massacre, survived and later penned this poem to commemorate the event and its victims.

The book is a scathing critique of the British colonial government, vividly describing the brutality of the massacre where hundreds of unarmed civilians were killed by British troops under General Dyer’s command. Singh’s verses convey the despair, pain, and helplessness of the victims, as well as the broader impact on the Indian independence movement.

Initially banned by the British authorities due to its critical content, “Khooni Vaisakhi” was later rediscovered 70 years later and translated into English by Singh’s grandson, Ambassador Navdeep Singh. The poem remains a significant literary work, reflecting the resilience and spirit of those who fought for India’s freedom.

Harpreet’s musical interpretation of “Khooni Vaisakhi” will surely bring a new dimension to Nanak Singh’s powerful words. It’s wonderful to see such artistic expressions keeping the memory and significance of historical events alive. The songs are in soulful Punjabi and all narration will be in English. Afterwards, there will be a Q&A with Ambassador Suri. The show has been performed in India and Europe, and will be staged for the first time in North America to rekindle conversations and emotions that must never be forgotten.

जिन्हें नाज़ है हिन्द पर वो कहां हैं 

By Dr Kirti Nagpal

India our motherland  has been in the world news for all the wrong reasons The most recent incident of violence against women has highlighted the broken social and legal framework that plagues the nation.

The most recent data From National Crime reports Bureau in India disclosed a shocking 4,45,256 cases of crime against women in 2022, which means approximately 51 FIRs every hour. The worst part is that this staggering number is just the tip of the iceberg. Of all the violent crimes against women India only about 30% are reported.

On 9 August 2024, Moumita Debnath, a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, was violated and brutally strangled to death . The investigation is still under way . 

ThIs incident has amplified debate about the safety of women in India, and has sparked significant outrage and nationwide protests

Despite progress in many areas of gender equality, these crimes continue to impact women worldwide, leaving devastating physical, emotional, and psychological scars. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that combines awareness, education, legal reforms, and community support.

We as a society owe it to our children and future generations to stand up in solidarity and come together to fight for justice. We have to make amends and punish the perpetrators. Justice has to prevail.

Legal system has to strengthened. There has to be some accountability.

We have to unite together and work towards a better society . The men and boys are crucial allies in this fight. Engaging them in discussions about gender equality and respectful behavior can help challenge and change harmful attitudes. Initiatives that involve men and boys in promoting positive masculinity and respect for women can contribute to a cultural shift away from violence.

The registration process for our next cohort, which will launch on September 12, 2024, is open. We have 7 applicants and space for 7 more.

Please  apply before the September 3rd, 2024 deadline. For more information please contact Andy Goldberg at (617)-953-0954 or andrewgoldberg@elevasian.org 

--submitted by Ashish Cowlagi, member of New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill,  Community Advisory Committee.  Visit nebg.org for details

Gnomevember due August 9, 2024 Stipend $350

Horticultural Heroes, due August 23, 2024 Stipend $600

Vison-Aid presents "The Dancer's Pledge" a Broadway style musical on Sunday July 21st 2024 at 4 PM at Littleton High School, Littleton, MA

Vision-Aid Early Bird Tickets at www.VisionAid.org/event

Free Baseball clinics at Polar Park

The July 13 Youth Clinic will be a special clinic for members of the WooCrew presented by Shaw's, our youth fan club for fans 17 and under. Click the button below to sign up for the WooCrew and to reserve your spot at the July 13, August 3, & 17  clinic!

Sign up for the WooCrew!

The Worcester Red Sox and The Hanover Insurance Group have teamed up to provide five youth clinics throughout the summer of 2024. Young fans between the ages of 7-14 will have the opportunity to participate in multiple drills on the field at Polar Park during each Youth Clinic. Registration for each date will open up a couple of weeks prior to each Youth Clinic date.

2024 Youth Clinic Dates:
July 13
August 3
August 17

Rules & Regulations: Each clinic will start promptly at 10am. Fans will need to enter the ballpark via the DCU Plaza. Gate D will open at 9:40am. Check-in will take place in the DCU Plaza. Parents will be asked to watch the clinic from Section 1 or the University Dental Group Berm. Fans up to the age of fifteen can register to participate in the Youth Clinics. Fans are encouraged to bring a glove. Cleats cannot be worn on the field. Water will be provided. We ask fans to leave any other food and beverage in the stands.

Join the Youth Council (High School Students )

$15 per hour, 12 hours per month

Applications for the 2024-2025 Youth Council are currently being accepted with a deadline of July 5, 2024. To apply please fill out this application form, which includes answering a few questions and uploading a resume. If you have questions, please feel free to email our Youth Coordinator at youth.coordinator@aapicommission.org.

This past Saturday on June 8th, the Project Eagle team organized their fundraising walk in Dean park to raise funds for the non-profit organization called "Snehawan". Around 40+ registered participants enjoyed the great weather, good company and delectable snacks after the refreshing walk. It was a morning well spent for good health and good cause. The event was a grand success and raised over $1000 for Snehwan.

The Project Eagle is a group of few volunteers from Shrewsbury MA USA who support Snehwan through various fundraising initiatives for the past 10 years. Through the Project Eagle fundraising efforts, Snehawan gets a steady stream of small funds every month for tutors fees. Apart from that Project Eagle has also donated  school supply kits & other equipment such as cameras for Snehwan students in the past. https://www.snehwan.in/about-snehwan/ (https://www.snehwan.in/about-snehwan/) Snehawan is a  non-profit organization founded by Ashok Deshmane in December 2015. It is based near Alandi, Pune. Their aim is to create a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for the less fortunate children of farmers and poor families.

 .  .The Project Eagle Team has  been consistently working on many interesting fundraising  initiatives to help raise funds not only for Snehawan but also other non-profits back home in India as well as here locally in Massachusetts. Few years ago, the Project Eagle team had organized a Marathi Musical Program called 'Sur-Kavita as a fundraiser which was very well received by the local community.Other initiatives include bake sales during holidays of specialty cookies and brownies. Cake and bakery products are sold throughout the year on the need basis for various occasions with 100% sale proceeds going to non-profits. Team also makes and sells art items like greeting cards and paintings at various art festivals or again on a need basis. They have also held paint nights and fundraising walks like this past week. Most of the funds also get a matching donation from the employers of the volunteers, like Intel Corporation, Dell, BCBS etc. 

Thanks to all Snehwan supporters & donors from Shrewsbury area for their continued support.

Project Eagle Team - Priya Vaidya, Manjiri Patil, Atul and Sarita Deshpande

Asian Festival, 2024 June 22, 2024 Noon to 5 pm at Worcester State University

For more info visited https://www.seacma.org/

send email to 

Thuy Ngo <thuyngo@seacma.org>
Nathan Chiem <nchiem@seacma.org>

Its hosted by  SOUTHEAST ASIAN COALITION OF CENTRAL MA 

SEACMA support Southeast Asian immigrants, refugees and long-term residents to meet their basic needs, overcome language and cultural barriers, successfully integrate into mainstream society, and become self sustainable contributors in economic, social, and civic life.