Submitted by: Rajoo Ananth

Shantha Rangaswamy, a pioneering figure in Indian women's cricket was hosted by ISW on June 23, 2024 with help from Sharat Amin and women’s cricket coach Meera Subramanian. It was a fantastic open-hearted meeting with a humble, yet very significant cricket trailblazing and inspiring captain of the Indian cricket with so many awards and titles. It left us all in awe and wonder if we can try to inspire our US women’s teams towards world class performances with our community supports.

Shantha Rangaswamy became the first captain of the Indian women's cricket team in 1976 and led India to its first Test victory against the West Indies in the same year. She was the first Indian woman cricketer to score a Test century, achieving this milestone against New Zealand in 1977. As an all-rounder, Rangaswamy played 16 Test matches, scoring 750 runs at an average of 32.60 and taking 21 wickets. She also played 19 ODIs, scoring 287 runs and taking 12 wickets. She was the first woman cricketer to receive the Arjuna Award in 1976. In 2017, she became the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Women by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). After her playing career, Rangaswamy continued to contribute to cricket as a coach, selector, and commentator. She also became the first Indian female cricketer to represent the Indian Cricketers’ Association and the BCCI Apex Council in 2019.

Q and A with audience was very interactive and entertaining with inside stories from her life experiences. She stated that her secret to success was her passion for the game and full support from her family. She assured the audience that she will continue to offer all her expertise to enhance women’s cricket all over the world including our coach Meera Subramanian’s local cricket team Chikaddees in Massachusetts.

In Boston's Faneuil Hall, Indian music's tale,

ISW's rhythms and melodies set sail.

Dhol-Tasha-Lezim, percussion's beat,

ISW's Vocal group, a mesmerizing feat.

The nice sunny afternoon of Saturday June 15 dazzled the audience with energetic drumming and synchronized movements of more than 40 ISW Symphony Performers. The folks dressed in colorful traditional attire added to the festive atmosphere. Their lively beats echoed through the marketplace, capturing the essence of Indian celebrations and festivals. Adding to the cadenced delight, the ISW Vocal group showcased their talent with energetic renditions contemporary Indian Film songs by A.R Rahaman. Their harmonious voices filled the air, complementing the rhythmic beats of the Dhol-Tasha-Lezim ensemble.

The event drew a diverse crowd of locals and tourists, all eager to experience the cultural richness of India right in the heart of Boston. Spectators were seen tapping their feet and swaying along to the infectious rhythms, creating a joyful and inclusive atmosphere. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, with its historic significance as a hub of cultural exchange, provided a perfect backdrop for this celebration of Indian heritage. The performance not only entertained but also highlighted the contributions of the Indian American community in Worcester to Massachusetts' cultural landscape.

As the sun set on the marketplace, the echoes of applause resonated, reflecting the audience's appreciation for the captivating performance by the ISW. The event served as a reminder of the power of music to unite people across cultures and create memorable experiences.

The Faneuil Market Place, originally constructed as a town government building and public hall for concerts and ceremonies, was alive with music, melody, rhythm, colors, and vibrant energy courtesy of the enthusiastic volunteers from the ISW (India Society of Worcester) Symphony/Vocal group. Spectators were captivated by the performance, joining in by dancing, waving flags, playing handheld jingling cymbals, singing along to familiar songs, and becoming part of the ISW troupe.

Jai Ho!

Please see the pictures and videos taken by  Shruti Sivashankar, Atul Deshpande

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10Qgmh8Om85woX4iYdUl4xzS-mn_S6HG6?usp=drive_link 

submitted by Snehalata Kadam

The “Women Who Win” book launch on Saturday was a success! After a lovely dance celebrating what it means to be a woman, the panel discussion began. The panel featured the three authors of the book — Dr. Manju Sheth, Dr. Deepa Jhaveri, and Shaleen Sheth, the two guests of honor, Navjot and Nithya Singh, and was moderated by Dr. Kathryn Moncrief and myself.

“Women Who Win,” written during the pandemic, is a collection of inspirational stories from a variety of women across the globe, from all kinds of fields and backgrounds. What makes this book so special is the fact that the women featured in this book are women you would encounter in your everyday life — a friend, a neighbor, a teacher, someone in your town — but their passions, perseverance, and resilience still leap off the page. During the panel, we discussed those themes, the stories that really resonated with us, the process of researching and putting together a book from start to finish, and the importance of DEI and women’s empowerment in today’s world — particularly in the healthcare industry. The event ended with a confidence walk, and an ice cream and snacks social.

Thank you to all who attended, and please stay tuned for the next Women Empowering Women event — A power packed ramp walk of Confidence on August 24, 2024!

Recap: We all met at Polar Park on Friday evening, kids were excited.  ISW School sang the Indian National Anthem beautifully, and Dr Passey, Ushaji and Tanvi Gahlot were recognized for their volunteer work.  On arrival, we were greeted by DJ Raunak music at the Plaza, and delicious  desi food by Peppers, Northboro. Flag bearers Sharat & Shiamin, and  singers Diya, Carter & Ishan  all contributed to the festivites. Jagan shared info about ISW in a radio interview.  As part of  pregame performance, Ekta Dance Academy danced to fun bollywood beats. Woo Sox promoted the awesome work done by ISW on screen.  It was a proud moment for Indian Heritage night

For pictures,  do click here

For Details on ISW School National Anthem, click here and here  (ask for access

Pregame info:

ISW  will be recognized as Heart of Worcester  Woo Sox Recognizes a non-profit for their work in the community

Tickets at https://iswonline.org/event-5666636

Dr Passey  honored as Hometown Hero CFP Honors an individual for service to their town, city, community
Usha Verma  celebrated for Specialty Recognition Celebrates a special individual on the field
Tanvi Gahlot Ceremonial First Pitch
ISW School will sing National Anthem and High Five Tunnel
Ekta Dance Academy performs  field performance
Food by Peppers, Northboro
DJ Raunak  Desi music Polar Park DCU Plaza Performance/DJ

Hometown Hero CFP, Honors an individual for service to their town, city, community

Dr Sahdev Passey, MD, is a graduate of Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, India. He arrived in the U.S. in 1973 and has spent his whole professional medical career in the Worcester. He has been in private practice of pediatrics in Worcester since 1978. Dr. Passey is, or has been, an active volunteer with numerous professional, Political and social organizations, including: Director of Free Health Stop in Shrewsbury, since 2005; President of the India Society of Worcester; President of the Indo- American Forum for Political Education; President of the Indian Medical Association of New England, President of the Worcester District Medical Society, He has also served as Trustee of Massachusetts Medical Society, he is a one of the founding Directors of the South-East Asian Coalition of Central Mass and a Community Trustee of the United Way of Central MA, He has received the Community Physician of the Year and Senior Physician Volunteer of the year Awards from the Mass Medical Society and the Worcester District Society, a key to the City of Worcester, a Governor's Citation for his Community Service in Massachusetts and a Life time Achievement Award for his volunteer services from President Biden (PVSA). He attributes his accomplishment to his wife Carolyn and their children (Michael, Katelyn and Sean) and grandchildren for their sacrifices, support and help.

Specialty Recognition: Celebrates a special individual on the field

Usha Verma, M.A., LSW, is a sitarist, volunteer and advocate for elders living in Auburn, Massachusetts. Usha graduated with distinction from Punjab University in Chandigarh, India with a Masters of Liberal Arts specializing in Music. In 1982, Usha immigrated to the United States and raised her family. She continued to give sitar performances at various venues in Massachusetts as well as other nearby states. Ms. Verma served as a teacher, teaching the language and devotional songs, lyrics and their meanings using Indian Semi-Classical Music at the India Society of Worcester Cultural School for students of all ages.

Ms Verma is a licensed social worker, working several years to serve the elders in the local community and assisting adults with special needs. She has been an active member of the India Society of Worcester where she has served as the Chairperson for the Crisis Center for more than 15 years. Usha maintained her spirit of helping others by supporting victims of domestic violence through Saheli, a Massachusetts based organization for South Asian women.

Usha currently is employed as an outreach coordinator, a social worker at Auburn Senior Center and has been a volunteer for Sewa International for the last 5 years. She credits her mother Shyam Kanta Sood and father Mohinder Nath Sood for instilling a passion in her for helping those in need of support

Ceremonial First Pitch

Tanvi Gahlot has graduated from Westboro High School She exemplifies qualities of a youngster who stands out amongst her peers, as a Student teacher, and President and Vice President of the Indian Youth Group at ISW

----submitted by Kirti Nagpal

We had a very relaxing yoga session on 5/25/24 under the guidance of one of the prominent Yoga instructors in our community Mrs. Alka Yadav Mehta.

We started the session with Anulom Vilom and Uijayi breathing exercises followed by gentle stretching exercises while seated on the chair .After that Alka ji guided us through a very innovative and creative way of practicing Surya Namaskar using chair as a support .Throughout the session the emphasis was on mindfulness and being present in the moment. The session ended with a guided meditation and body scan leaving us all very refreshed and rejuvenated. Alka ji also highlighted all the positive and long-term effects of daily yoga practice in controlling high blood pressure , diabetes and even chronic pain .Regular yoga can boost energy levels by improving circulation and stimulating the nervous system. It helps improve focus and enhance mental clarity.

After the calming and relaxing Yoga session we dived into Manoranjan- the Karaoke session for our emotional wellbeing. We all came together to sing and dance and enjoy music. The finale was a short group dance video we recorded on a very popular song from yester years!!

It was a very exciting and fun filled event on the whole.

submitted by Snehal Kadam

Pictures speak louder than words’ – here is a sneak peek to a beautiful evening celebrating Mother’s Day with ISW’s Women Empowering Women platform!!

Thank you to each and everyone of you who attended the event and made it a grand success! Your presence brought immense joy and warmth to the occasion, making it truly memorable!

A heartfelt appreciation to the entire WEW team for their tireless efforts in planning and executing an event of this scale!

Shrihan Nair 5th grade at Sherwood Middle school

I enjoyed my experience with 3D printing because it was a great opportunity to meet new friends, learn something new, and have fun! One of my favorite parts of the class was the ability to create anything, from a gift to a car. Some of the projects I made included an Enderman, a Birthday gift for my mom, a car, and a bolt. The people helping out were very kind and helpful. Dhruv and Rohan, wonderful student helpers from Saint John's High School, taught me what to do while the print was running and how to remove the print from the plate. Bala uncle was also very kind and answered all my questions, sharing tips and tricks about 3D printing. Ashish uncle taught me everything about 3D printing and introduced me to Tinkercad, where I could design my own prints, and Thingiverse, a website where you can find items made by others to print.

Tanvi Yarasani: , I heard about 3D printing before but never knew how they do it, it was a great experience learning, to do and get hands-on experience. I never knew how things are printed but learning how to create and print something was a great experience. I want to learn and looking forward for next year and to learn about laser cutting. I want to thank all the teachers who helped me to learn this. Tanvi Yarasani.

Aarna Chug, 6th grader from Sherwood Middle School, truly enjoyed 3D and Laser printing classes. This was the first experience for her and she is thrilled. It was amazing for her to draw art on the computer and in a few minutes, she could touch and feel the drawn object. This class has expanded her creativity and exposed her to the art of possibilities. Thank you.

We congratulate Pranav and are proud of this accomplishment. We hope that more youth are inspired to take an active interest in civic engagement !!

Pranav Cowlagi has been elected to become one of Shrewsbury's youngest town meeting members in the recently concluded town election. "My family, my school and volunteering with the India Society of Worcester (and IYG in particular) have always instilled the value of community service in me" says Pranav. " I am eager to get a closer understanding of the inner workings of our town government and advocate for issues that are important to me and my community."

A recent Indian Youth Group member, Pranav is  pursuing majors  in Environmental Science and Sustainable Business and Policy at UMass, Amherst. 

---submitted by Kelly Mittal

ISW PEN in collaboration with Asian Business Empowerment Council hosted an incredibly insightful session with representatives from MA Supplier Diversity Office & Small Business Administration (SBA) presenting on minority certification and federal contracting. It was a huge success and drew participants from as far as NH, Boston, and Lowell. Federal government spends about $700 billion with vendors and more than 23% of it is intended for small businesses and women/minority owned enterprises. The comprehensive discussions and networking opportunities provided attendees with the tools and knowledge to expand their business understanding and leverage benefits of diversity certifications for growth. 

ISW-Women Empowering Women – “Let’s Celebrate Her” May 10, 2024

Team: Snehalata Kadam, Neha Kaushal Mishra, Puja Harkut Rathi, Kajal Kaushik Dixit and Swara Gurav.

ISW- Women Empowering Women organized one of its flagships Mother’s Day celebratory events on May 10 th , 2024, at India Center. The event theme was to celebrate yourself royally with pearl elegance and lavender love. Over 150 ladies attended the event in vibrant lavender shades, dressed in confidence, The evening full of fun, laughter, and enjoyment!!! Every single attendee was involved in the team games with winning spirit. Many women came to the stage area to showcase their courage in impromptu dance moves. Some of them enjoyed Mother’s Day sale shopping for their near and dear ones. Some of them got involved in making reels with their friends. Most of the women were very much in the moment of taking solo pictures and group pictures to capture their memories to treasure for life. The three different categories of sponsors, one education, another fitness and the third financial literacy oriented one were a coessential part of the event. Special mention to the home décor, reuse beverage bottles and selfcare sponsors who made the winning even more attractive.

The event was a grand success with enormous amount of planning and hard work of six months by WEW team. The IYG volunteers Ayan Mishra, Prisha Rathi and Dhruv Jagan along with community volunteer Aadi Dixit were very helpful from registration to cleanup to photography. Special thank you to Sahith Madadi for capturing the memories for us through his photography, Ankush Rathi for his music management and Sharat Amin for traffic control support.