New York City's Indian American mayor ushers in new era for Asian Americans

Zohran Mandani was sworn in as New York City's mayor in a subway station.

As the confetti settles over City Hall, Asian Americans across New York’s five boroughs are waking up to a reality that felt like a distant dream just a few years ago. 

Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor of New York City, symbolically held his private swearing-in ceremony at the historic, decommissioned City Hall subway station just after midnight on New Year's Day 2026, aligning with his campaign promises for public transit and accessibility. 

He then took the subway to his first day in office, rubbing elbows with surprised commuters, further emphasizing his commitment to public transport and representing everyday New Yorkers, making it a significant visual moment for his new administration.

As the 112th Mayor of New York City, the US's largest city and the country's financial and business center, Mamdani's installation marked a seismic shift in the American political landscape.

For the Asian American community, Mamdani’s rise isn't just another win—it’s a definitive "arrival." 

Here is the social significance of Mayor Mamdani’s historic moment for Asian Americans:

Breaking the ultimate Ggass ceiling

For decades, New York’s Asian American community — the fastest-growing demographic in the city — has been described as a "sleeping giant." With Mamdani, the giant hasn't just woken up; it’s taken the driver's seat.

Mamdani is the city’s first Asian American, first South Asian, and first Muslim mayor. For a community often relegated to the "model minority" sideline, seeing a South Asian man sworn in on the steps of City Hall—using a Quran from the Schomburg Center—shatters the trope of the "perpetual foreigner."

Mamdani didn't win by appealing to elite donors; he won by organizing the taxi drivers of Richmond Hill, the street vendors of Jackson Heights, and the delivery workers of Sunset Park.

His victory signals that Asian American political identity is shifting toward working-class solidarity. By focusing on rent freezes and transit equity, he proved that the "Asian vote" is driven by the same economic anxieties as any other New Yorker.

Early data shows a massive spike in turnout among South Asian and Indo-Caribbean voters, proving that when the community sees one of their own fighting for their specific needs, they show up at the ballot box.

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani surprised fellow subway riders.

Representation matters

Representation is a hollow word without power, and Mamdani is already filling his administration with faces that reflect the city’s diversity.

One of his first major moves was appointing Ali Najmi, a champion for civil rights and the South Asian community, to lead the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. This isn't just optics; it’s a structural change meant to ensure the city’s legal system finally understands the nuances of the immigrant experience.

As we often discuss here at Views From the Edge, the Asian American community is not a monolith. Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform has sparked intense debate within the diaspora.

Mamdani’s mayoralty represents a new chapter of belonging. For the kid in Flushing or the family in Kensington, for the Filipino American nurses, the South Asian taxi drivers to Asian American small business owners, the Mayor of the greatest city in the world finally looks like them, speaks like them, and understands the struggle of the hustle.

While younger voters are energized by his progressive stance, some older, more conservative segments of the Chinese and Indian communities remain skeptical of his fiscal policies. This tension is actually a sign of political maturity — it shows a community that is no longer just "happy to be here," but is actively debating the future of the city.

His victory signals that Asian American political identity is shifting toward working-class solidarity. By focusing on rent freezes and transit equity, he proved that the "Asian vote" is driven by the same economic anxieties as any other New Yorker.

Early data shows a massive spike in turnout among South Asian and Indo-Caribbean voters, proving that when the community sees one of their own fighting for their specific needs, they show up at the ballot box.

Mamdani's socialist principles ran counter to establishment politics and his governance is seen as a test case for whether the left can successfully implement large-scale socialist policies in a major American city.

His ambitious platform catering to the working class includes free public transit, universal childcare, rent freezes, and increased minimum wage, funded by higher taxes on corporations and the rich.

The "sleeping giant" is officially in charge. Now, the real work begins.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

California makes Diwali a state holiday

During the Diwali celebration, people light rows of clay oil lamps (diyas) to celebrate the inner light and
guard against spiritual darkness. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom just signed a bill, AB 268, making Diwali a statewide holiday. The bill got signed on Oct. 6 and it goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. This is a big deal, folks.

For years, many members the Indian American and broader South Asian community have been celebrating Diwali as best they could. Family and friends gathered together for a party, light some diyas, and make some rangoli, but it was all done after work or on the weekend. It was a cultural and spiritual celebration that was isolated from the rest of their lives at school or work. But not anymore.

Indian American Assemblymembers Ash Kalra (San Jose) and Dr. Darshana Patel (San Diego) co-authored this bill, and it’s a testament to the fact thatSouth Asian voices matter and that they're a recognized part of California's vibrant tapestry.

"Diwali brings communities together with the message of goodwill, peace, and shared sense of renewal. California should embrace Diwali and its diversity, not keep it hidden in darkness," said Kaira.

California is the third state to declare Diwali a state holiday, following Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Some other states, like New York and New Jersey, have specific school districts that observe Diwali as a holiday, and Texas also recognizes it.

While Diwali is a major Hindu festival, the legislation acknowledges that it is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.

According to a 2025 Pew survey, 960,000 out of the nation's Indian population of 4.9 million — or 20% — live in California.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Light, will be celebrated Oct. 20 this year.

Next year, state employees have the option to get a paid day off, and public schools and community colleges can choose to close down. Think about that for a second. For the next generation, South Asian American kids won't have to choose between going to school and celebrating with their families. They can proudly share their traditions with everyone, and that's a beautiful thing.

This isn't just about a day off; it's a statement about our community's place in the Golden State, from Silicon Valley to Sacramento. This is about inclusivity, about recognizing hope over despair, and light over darkness. It's a win for all of us.

Lobbying for the bill was L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose supervisorial istrict includes Artesia, home to the “Little India” and also includes the city of Norwalk where Radha Krishna temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples west of the Mississippi River, is located.

“Diwali is significant for thousands of families across L.A. County, and I think it’s important for government to recognize that. I’m proud to have led our County in doing that for our Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities,” Hahn said in a press release. “And now more than ever, we can find comfort and hope in the defining message of Diwali: Light will triumph over darkness and good will triumph over evil.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

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2020 US Census: Asian Indians now the largest Asian-alone group in US

Ongoing immigration from Asian countries, which outpaces immigration from Latin America, is continuing to change the United States in so many ways -- culturally, sociologically, economically and racially -- and reshaping the popular image of what an American looks like.

One of the surprising findings of the US Census is that the Asian Indian alone population has surpassed all other Asian groups. 

It makes sense because immigration from India is a relatively recent phenomenon compared to the older Asian communities which experienced surges in the late 20th century. As a largely first-generation immigrant community, Asian Indians have had less time to integrate, or intermarry, into the wider American population.

The finding underlines the complex diversity within the Asian American communities  beyond the most popular East Asian image that most non-Asians have of Asians and the limitation and danger of lumping all the Asian ethnicities and nationalities under one group.

The Census released a report issued today (Sept. 21) highlights some of the bureau's findings based on the 2020 US Census. The press release follows:

The Asian Indian alone population became the nation’s largest Asian alone population group in 2020, growing by over 50% to 4,397,737 between 2010 and 2020.

The nation’s most populous Asian alone or in any combination group in 2020 was the Chinese, except Taiwanese population with 5.2 million, an increase of 37.2% since 2010.

2020 Census demographic characteristics on 41 detailed Asian groups released today show that the Nepalese population increased over 250% and was the fastest growing Asian alone and Asian alone or in any combination group among those with populations of 50,000 or more in 2010 (Table 1).

The Nepalese alone population increased 295.5% from 51,907 in 2010 to 205,297 in 2020. The Nepalese alone or in any combination population grew from 59,490 to 219,503, a 269.0% increase over the decade.

        FYI: For the complete US Census report on race and ethnicities, click here.

In this article, we present data from the race question on detailed race alone and race alone or in any combination populations.

The race alone population includes respondents who reported one response, such as Filipino. The race alone or in any combination population includes respondents who reported one response, such as Filipino, and it also includes respondents who reported more than one, such as Filipino and Asian Indian or Filipino and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. The race alone or in any combination population represents the maximum number of people who identified as that detailed group.

As our country becomes much more diverse and multiracial, this information is important to frame the discussion of racial and ethnic composition and help us understand our country’s changing demographics.

Largest Asian Alone Groups in 2020

The Asian Indian alone population increased 54.7% to 4,397,737 between 2010 and 2020 to become the most populous Asian alone group in the nation.

The next largest Asian alone groups and their population change from 2010 to 2020:

• Chinese, except Taiwanese alone, 4,128,718 (up 31.6%).
• Filipino alone, 3,076,108 (up 20.4%).
• Vietnamese alone, 1,951,746 (up 26.0%).
• Korean alone, 1,508,575 (up 6.0%).
• Japanese alone, 741,544 (down 3.2%)

The Asian Indian alone or in any combination population increased 49.8% to 4,768,846 and was the second largest group in 2020.

The next four largest Asian alone or in any combination groups and their population growth from 2010 to 2020:

• Filipino alone or in any combination, 4,436,992 (up 29.9%).
• Vietnamese alone or in any combination, 2,293,392 (up 32.0%).
• Korean alone or in any combination, 1,989,519 (up 16.6%).
• Japanese alone or in any combination, 1,586,652 (up 20.6%).

To learn more about the 2020 population size of all detailed Asian alone and Asian alone or in any combination groups for the nation, states, and counties, including less populous groups such as Laotian, Sikh, Hmong, Bhutanese, and more, explore the Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census data visualization.

States With Highest Shares of Largest Asian Groups

Of the six largest detailed Asian alone or in any combination groups, the largest share of each group (more than 18%) lived in California in 2020.

New York had the second largest proportions of the Chinese, except Taiwanese (15.9%) and Korean (8.1%) alone or in any combination populations in 2020.

Texas was the state with the second largest proportions of Asian Indian (10.6%) and Vietnamese (14.2%) alone or in any combination populations in 2020.

Hawaii had the second largest proportions of the Filipino (8.6%) and Japanese (19.7%) alone or in any combination populations in 2020.

Washington became an increasingly popular place of residence and is now in the top five home states for all but the Asian Indian alone or in any combination population. That’s a change from 2010 [PDF 2.6 MB] when Washington was in the top five only for the Filipino, Japanese and Vietnamese alone or in any combination populations.

Washington has now surpassed New Jersey to become the state with the fifth largest proportion of the Chinese, except Taiwanese alone or in any combination population and has surpassed Virginia as the state with the fifth largest proportion of the Korean alone or in any combination population.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the  blog Views From the Edge.

Celebration of Diwali is gaining support and recognition in US

THE WHITE HOUSE

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris host a Diwali celebration at the White House.

The White House celebrated Diwali, a South Asian celebration Monday. Kamala Harris, the nation's first Indian American Vice President, along with President Biden lit candles to celebrate the Festival of Light.

Vice President Harris recalled how her family celebrated Diwali as they were growing up in California. She said the holiday represents hope to her. “Diwali reminds us to see the light in our world, in each other and in ourselves.”

Celebrated across South Asia  by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists, the multi-day festival is gaining in popularity in the United states as the Festival of Light s gaining in popularity in the United States and observed  by Americans of all ethnicities. 

The celebration of Diwali by the President and Vice President along with 200 White House staff and South Asian celebrities and leaders is another step of America  being America, a nation of immigrants. President Obama was the first President to observe the festival in 2016 at the White House.

The South Asian festival will also become a new holiday for New York City public schools starting in 2023. New York State Assembly member Jenifer Rajkumar announced the news last week that New York City will be making Diwali a holiday for city schools. 

In Rajkuma's Instagram video, whe says, “Today, I am proud to say the time has come. The time has come to recognize over 200,000 New Yorkers of the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain faiths who celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights.”

The caption of her video read, “In a historic move, the New York City Mayor announced on Thursday that Diwali would be a public school holiday from next year. The Big Apple city is home to nearly two lakh South Asians and, for years, scores of them have been demanding Diwali to be declared a school holiday.”

Upon viewing the video, Indian American actress Priyanka Chopra reposted Rajkumar's video in which Chopra wrote on her own Instagram account, “After all these years! My teenage self living in Queens is crying tears of joy. #representationmatters.”

Chopra spent part of her teenage years in NYC before moving back to India after experiencing bullying in her Queens high school.

The dates of Diwali fluctuate, and this year, the 5-day festival started on Monday,  October 24.

Rajkumar, who sponsored the bill making the Indian celebration part of New York City's holiday schedule, represents the 38th District in Queens and also chairs the sub-committee on diversity in law. New York City.

According to New York State education laws, 180 days of school education are required in a year. However, in order to meet this criteria, no more school holidays could be declared.

Hence, Rajkumar brought forth the legislation for Diwali to replace 'Anniversary Day' as a public school holiday, calling the latter "an obscure and antiquated day" compared to the festival of lights.

Over the weekend South Indian markets and stores in Queens and California's Silicon Valley were packed with customers buying sweets and gifts for their family celebrations. In the weeks leading up Monday, South Asians observed Diwali with  outdoor celebrations. Celebrations are slated into November.

Diwali is good for business too as US merchants learn more about the celebration. With the food, greeting cards and gifts, the festival is attracting merchants who are discovering consumers who are a marketer's dream. The Indian American household income of $119,000  is the highest among all American ethnic groups, surpassing even White Americans.

South Asian celebrities, business leaders and influencers gathered in New York Oct. 23 in Manhattan adding fashion glitz and glamor to the holiday party hosted by Paramount Pictures and Vogue Magazine. Some of the guests to the formal event, included Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi, fashion designer Prabal  Gurung, Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones, actors Sarita Choudhury and Kal Penn.

Many of the New York City celebrities were guests at the White House celebration two days later to join Biden and Harris.

"As we celebrate this gathering of light, we know—as this community has experienced too often—that there is always darkness lurking," Biden said in a statement. 

"American history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh reality that that we have never fully lived up to it. By marking the victory of light over darkness, Diwali is a reminder that each of us has the power to bring light to the world, whether here in America or around the world."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Historic Cabinet pick would be the first woman, immigrant, or person of color to head science-technology post

SCREEN CAPTURE / STARTALK

Dr. Arati Prabhakar picked to lead Office of Science and Technology Policy

In an historic choice, President Biden is choosing Dr. Arati Prabhakar to serve as Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). 

The nomination announced by Biden today is historic, with Prabhakar being the first woman, immigrant, or person of color nominated to serve as Senate-confirmed director of OSTP.

“Dr. Prabhakar is a brilliant and highly-respected engineer and applied physicist and will lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy to leverage science, technology, and innovation to expand our possibilities, solve our toughest challenges, and make the impossible possible,” says President Biden. 

“I share Dr. Prabhakar’s belief that America has the most powerful innovation machine the world has ever seen. As the Senate considers her nomination, I am grateful that Dr. Alondra Nelson will continue to lead OSTP and Dr. Francis Collins will continue to serve as my acting Science Advisor.”

The OSTP is becoming one of the most critical and high-profile federal agencies in modern times having to deal with rapidly spreading viruses like COVID-19, spurring efforts to stem climate change, fighting the attempts by foreign countries and domestic terrorists from spreading misinformation on the internet and persuading Silicon Valley to put limits on individuals' and groups' attempts to spur violence and and hate. 

If confirmed to lead OSTP, Prabhakar would become the third Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander to serve in Biden’s Cabinet, joining Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

Once confirmed to this position, also as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. In this capacity, Dr. Prabhakar will be the President’s Chief Advisor for Science and Technology, a co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and a member of the President’s Cabinet.

The 63-year-old Prabhakar would take over the post held by Eric Lander, who resigned Feb. 7 after admitting to bullying his staff and creating a hostile work environment during his 9 months in office.

Although she will need Senate confirmation to become OSTP director—which could take months—Prabhakar can immediately take the science adviser post. That would give her a role in addressing several thorny science policy issues, including how best to position the United States to compete with China, implement workable rules for protecting U.S.-funded academic research from theft, and reduce inequality in the research community.

Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said she was "thrilled to see a South Asian American woman joining the President’s Cabinet."

"Dr. Prabhakar, a talented physicist and engineer, is well-equipped to help our nation solve current and emerging scientific challenges," says Chu. "When she is confirmed, she will be the first woman, immigrant and person of color to serve in this role, making this nomination not just a phenomenal choice, but one of historical significance as well.

"As the Chair of CAPAC, I look forward to continuing the caucus’ close work with OSTP under Dr. Prabhakar’s leadership on issues related to targeting of Asian American researchers, as well as ways to streamline the federal grant application process.," says Chu.

Prabhakar has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate before, to lead the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and was the first woman to hold that role. She later served as director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the birthplace of breakthrough technologies like stealth aircraft and the Internet.

Dr. Arati Prabhakar has led two different federal R&D agencies and worked with startups, large companies, universities, government labs, and nonprofits across a wide variety of sectors to create powerful new solutions for critical challenges. She is an engineer and applied physicist with extensive management and leadership credentials.

Prabhakar served as director of DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, from 2012 to 2017. At DARPA, she oversaw teams that prototyped a system for detecting nuclear and radiological materials before a terrorist can build a bomb, that developed tools to find human trafficking networks in the deep and dark web, and that enabled complex military systems to work together even when they were not originally designed to do so. 

She also established a new office to spur novel biotechnologies. Under her leadership, DARPA kick-started the development of a rapid-response mRNA vaccine platform, making possible the fastest safe and effective vaccine development in world history in response to COVID-19.

Prabhakar was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), taking the helm at age 34 as the first woman to lead the agency. At NIST, which she led from 1993 to 1997, she helped take from early seed stage to national scale the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to boost the competitiveness of small- and mid-size manufacturers, and the Advanced Technology Program to stimulate early-stage advanced technology development. She also reinforced NIST’s long-time mission in measurement science and technology that underpins commerce and high-quality manufacturing.

Between her Federal leadership roles, Prabhakar spent 15 years in Silicon Valley, helping bring R&D to deployment as a company executive and as a venture capitalist. Her work included components for consumer electronics and semiconductor process technology. In 2019, she founded Actuate, a non-profit organization bringing new actors to the table to develop solutions to the challenges of climate, health, trustworthy data and information technology, and opening access to opportunity for every person.

Prabhakar’s family immigrated from India to the United States when she was 3-years old – first to Chicago and then settling when she was age 10 in Lubbock, Texas, where she went on to get her electrical engineering degree from Texas Tech University. She was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology, where she also earned an M.S. in electrical engineering. 

She started her career in public service in the legislative branch as a Congressional Fellow at the Office of Technology Assessment.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Spelling Bee resorts to a lighting-quick 'spell-off' to determine this year's winner.

Harini Logan, right, wins this year's National Spelling Bee.

Seems like old times, an Indian American student won the Scripps National lSpelling Bee Tuesday. 

Fourteen-year old Harini Logan of San Antonio won the 2022 Spelling Bee on after a dramatic thrilling tie-breaking "spell-off."

Harini beat Vikram Raju, 12, of Denver after their extremely close competition required a "spell-off" to decide the winner, a first in the history of the Bee.

Harini takes home $50,000 from Scripps and Vikram wins $25,000.

It was the first time the spelling bee was held in-person for the first time since 2019. The pandemic cancelled the bee in 2020 and last year, it was a hybrid of a virtual and in-person competition.

It was also in 2021 when the winner was not a South Asian American. Zaila Avant-garde, a 14-year-old from Louisiana, broke the string of Bees won by South Asian Americans have won 21 of the past 23 champions.

Both Harini and Vikram had 90 seconds to spell as many words as they could, given to them from the same list and in the same order. Raju took to the podium first while Logan was sequestered, correctly spelling 15 of the words he attempted.

Nevertheless, Harini correctly spelled six more words, to secure the victory.

It is no surprise that the two finalists were South Asian Americans. It is not that South Asians are smarter than other ethnic groups. The difference, it appears, is persistence and that old axiom, "practice makes perfect." 

Of course the explanation is more complicated than that. There is the socio-economic environment the kids have been surrounded in. Most of the south Asian contestants are second generation immigrants and their parents are generally in the professions such as doctors and engineers.  

There is a high value placed on education in the South Asian American culture. Instead of driving their children to Little League or soccer practice, they are driving them to science and match competitions and spelling bees.

The Washington Post examined the phenomenon:

"First, there are the stories which seem to imply some sort of clear connection between 'Indian American' culture and spelling-bee performance. Maybe there's even a genetic propensity for the perseverance and focus required, or something that happens only in South Asian American homes. All that amounts to a line of thought that says Asian -- and in particular Indian American and Bangladeshi American -- homes and bodies are the keepers of a set of phonetic secrets, passed from generation to generation. But that is really a modern and deceptively flattering take on persistent notions about Asian secrecy, mysticism and world dominance. It's also what sociologists call a "positive stereotype" -- notions that while not inherently derogatory but prevent us from knowing or understanding others as individual human beings." ​

Colorlines has a good read examining the reaction to the success of South Asians:

"... the narrative of cultural exceptionalism is misleading and harmful. It’s safe to say that all families place an emphasis on education and want their children to succeed. However, not all families have access to resources and institutions that enable their children to do well. When we rely on culture as the reason for success, we ignore the structural realities that prevent many children of color or poor children from reaching their goals. We also end up placing the onus on families to ensure academic achievement, rather than compelling the public and private sectors to also provide valuable services and benefits that can help all children succeed."

Most of the eventual winners have been to the Scripps contest multiple times. This year's winner has been to the Bee four times. Getting so close the first few times gave them the motivation to study more and devote more time with the dictionary.

In the last two decades, spelling contests have become part of the culture in in the South Asian American community with regional contests to prime the kids for the bit Scripps bee. There is even a South Asian Spelling Bee with a cash prize. These preliminary contests like these serve as the "minor leagues" to prepare the youngsters for the pressure and intensity of the national contest.

“I think that the activity of spelling bees has grown in prestige among certain South Asian American communities,” said Northwestern University professor Shalini Shankar, who has been studying South Asian dominance of spelling bee culture.

“I would say that it’s not a uniform phenomenon among South Asian-American communities, but among those that do value this activity, they’ve really taken to it and they compete year round in different spelling bee circuits.”

It's no wonder that the best spellers come out of this incubator system.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

 

Scooby-doobie-doo! The new Velma will be a brown South Asian

Mindy Kaling, left, will provide the voice for the  cartoon charcter Velma Dinkley, right.

There's much to do about Velma Dinkley, the main character in Mindy Kaling's 2022 version of Scobby-Doo.

HBO Max's producer and writer Kaling's adult animated series Velma re-imagines the iconic Scooby-Doo character as South Asian -- and Kaling doesn't care if some people are upset with that.

"Getting to voice this iconic character in her first ever origin story is a dream come true, and not just because it requires literally zero time and hair and makeup," Kaling continued. "And also you've hopefully noticed by now my Velma is South Asian. And if people freak out about that, I don't care."

Velma, as the title suggests, will be the main character in the updated Scooby-Doo. In the original cartoon of the '70's Velma was the bookish sidekick.

"No one's imaginations ever had a problem with a talking dog solving mysteries. So a brown Velma is fine. I think we can all handle it. In any case, you won't want to miss this, coming to HBO Max."

In an interview with Seth Myers, producer Kaling admitted she was a bit puzzled about the blowback. “I just couldn’t understand how people couldn’t imagine a really smart, nerdy girl with terrible eyesight and who loved to solve mysteries, could be Indian. There are Indian nerds.”

Hayley Kyoko, left, played Velma in the short-lived live-action series in 2009-2010. The first
image from the new version , right, shows that it is not directed for young children. 

Kaling's updated cartoon won't be for kids. Velma is an adult animated comedy series telling the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the unsung and underappreciated brains of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. gang.

As the first image from the  new cartoon series indicates, there will be gore and semi-nudity in the Kaling version.

It also won't be the first time that Velma was depicted as a nonwhite character. In the 2009-2010 live-action series of Scooby-Doo, Velmas was played by Hayley Kyoko.

HBO-Max has not announced a debut date but it will likely be sometime this summer.

For all the fuss South Asian Velma has created, you can almost hear the series catchphrase when a major discovery has been made" "Scooby-doobie-doo!"

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Home invader leader sentenced to 40 years

A Texas man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his leadership role in an armed home invasion robbery crew that traveled the United States targeting South Asian and East Asian families.

Juan Olaya, 41, of Houston, Texas, was convicted by a federal jury of one count of racketeering conspiracy, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence on March 9, 2020. 

According to evidence presented during the trial, Olaya acted as the road boss for an enterprise that committed a string of armed home invasions in Michigan, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, and Texas from August through December of 2014. 

Olaya recruited other crew members and assigned roles to those members. Olaya and crew members then traveled to specific locations, conducted surveillance, and executed the robberies.

Olaya and three other members of his crew were arrested in December of 2014 after a series of home invasions in North Texas.

They knocked on the door of an Indian American family in Carrolton, Texas. Theiy  rushed in catching the family off-guard but before they could round up all six members of the family of six, one of the family members was able to call 911.

“Juan Olaya and his robbery crews committed a host of violent crimes that terrorized innocent victims across the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. 

“His crimes are made more disturbing because the victims were chosen based on their ethnicity or race. The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and hold accountable predators like Olaya who threaten the safety of our communities.”

The organizer of the crew, Chaka Castro, ran the enterprise from 2011 through 2014. Castro was convicted by a federal jury on June 4, 2019, and was sentenced to 37 years in prison on Oct. 28, 2019. Castro generated lists of robbery targets in various states around the county, specifically families whose last names were common to certain ethnicities and assigned crews to carry out armed robberies inside the families’ homes.

The crew utilized a particular modus operandi in each of the robberies. Members preferred to rob homes while the families were present so they could use their victims to point out valuable items. 

Members disguised their appearance with clothing and bandanas so that victims would have difficulty identifying them. They openly carried and brandished firearms to gain control of the victims and then immediately corralled the victims, including children, into one location in the home. 

At least one crew member then restrained the victims using duct tape and threats of violence, as one or more others ransacked the home in search of cash, jewelry, and electronics. The crew organized their trips to involve multiple home invasion robberies over a series of days.

The FBI’s Ann Arbor Office investigated the case with the assistance of federal agencies including U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Secret Service, and local law enforcement agencies.

Texas Bangladeshi family of six found dead in apparent murder-suicide

The Towhid family was found dead in their Texas home.

Police found Monday the bodies of an entire Bangladeshi American family inside their home in Allen, Texas. They were killed in an apparent murder-suicide pact made by two brothers.

Investigators say two brothers, Farhan Towhid, 19, and Tanvir Towhid, 21, killed their family before turning the gun on themselves.

The Allen Police Department identified the dead as father Towhidul Islam, 54; mother Iren Islam, 56; grandmother Altafun Nessa, 77; sister Farbin Towhid and the two brothers.

Based on the condition of the bodies, authorities believe the killings happened sometime Saturday.

A friend of one of the brothers expressed his concern to police Monday morning. Farhan Towhid left a suicide note on his Instagram account. In his rambling post, Farhan expressed that he had been battling depression since 9th grade.

In his note, he mentioned an agreement he had with his older brother. “If we can’t fix everything in a year, we’ll kill ourselves and our family,” he wrote.

He also wrote: "the only reason for existence is happiness," and that he shouldn’t live if he’s not happy.

According to Farhan's note, about his family, immigrants from Bangladesh, he said "they would spend the rest of their lives feeling guilt, despair...I could just do them a favor and take them with me."

The two boys were students at UT Austin. The sister had a full scholarship to NYU.

Farhan's last Instagram post indicates his older brother bought the gun used in the killings. Police say there were no previous records to indicate there was a problem within the family.

While it is a myth that the suicide rate among Asian Americans is higher that other Americans, among Asian Americans, suicide is the second leading cause of death for those 18-24 years old, according to the American Psychological Association.

Neera Tanden's spot on Biden's Cabinet as head of the OMB in trouble

SCREEN CAPTURE

Neera Tanden's nomination to head the Office of Management and Budget is in jeopardy.

Asian American activists and lawmakers rallied around Neera Tanden's nomination to head the Office of Management and Budget, which appears to be in trouble in the Senate.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, indicated Monday that they plan to vote against Tanden, citing her intemperate and now-deleted social media posts attacking GOP lawmakers.

Since the Senate is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, Vice President Harris could cast the deciding vote, however that requires that all Democrats vote for Tanden. However, her nomination may be in jeopardy after Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., announced his opposition to Tanden late last week.

“Neera Tanden was a key architect of the Affordable Care Act, which expanded healthcare to millions of American families, and has served as a senior policy advisor to Democratic Presidential campaigns and administrations…Ms. Tanden’s longstanding commitment to advancing policies that improve American lives makes her an ideal choice to serve as President Biden’s top budget advisor,” said Neha Dewan, national director of South Asians for Biden.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, already upset that an AAPI was not named to a Secretary position in Biden's Cabinet, sent a letter to all 100 senators indicating their support for Tanden.

“As a former senior advisor during the Clinton and Obama administrations, a former legislative director in the U.S. Senate, and in her role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for American Progress, Ms. Tanden is widely recognized as an expert in domestic, economic, and foreign policy. Not only is she a leading architect of bold policies designed to support working families, foster broad-based economic growth, and curb rampant inequality, but she is also a pragmatic policy maker who understands the importance of working across the aisle to find common ground on initiatives that will move our nation forward,” said the letter.

Although the OMB is not a Secretary-level post, the OMB director is part of the Cabinet. Hoping to find some Republican support, the letter continued: 

"Throughout her career, Ms. Tanden has worked with both Republicans and Democrats to advance critical bipartisan policy initiatives from expanding the Child Tax Credit to pushing for greater healthcare access to advocating for robust skills training and innovation in education. She has also advanced practical policy solutions by working with organizations like the American Enterprise Institute, the McCain Institute for International Leadership, and R Street Institute, and will continue to prioritize commonsense policy solutions over politics as OMB Director."

Biden’s allies are encouraging his advisors to prepare for the possibility that the Senate may not confirm Tanden, according to CNBC sources.

The White House, however, has stood fast with Tanden despite the criticism. “I think the fact that the president nominated her to…be running OMB reflects his view that she’s the right person to be in his cabinet,” said spokesperson Jen Psaki, adding that the White House believed “her qualifications, her history of working across the aisle with people from different groups who have different points of view is a reflection of how she would do that role.”

What appears to be the issue are the numerous tweets issued by Tanden lambasting some of the current Senators is coming back to haunt the Indian American nominee. Most of the tweets have been deleted but senators have long memories and thin skins, it appears.

In a tweet which has since been deleted, Tanden called Collins ‘the worst’ and attacked her in another tweet for her questioning of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing.

"Susan Collins' terrible treatment of Dr. Ford should haunt Collins the rest of her days," Tanden tweeted during Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, when Blasey Ford raised allegations against him.

“The OMB needs steady, experienced, responsive leadership. I will vote against confirming Ms. Tanden,” said Maine's senior senator in a statement Monday morning.

Biden reportedly called Manchin to calm him down and the White House is looking at other Republicans for support. That includes Sen. Lisa Murkowski, D-Alaska, who hasn't publicly stated her vote.

Young reporter killed in moped accident

Nina Kapur died when she was riding on the back of a moped when she was thrown from the vehicle.

ASAM NEWS

Friends, family and colleagues are mourning the death of a reporter who during her short career touched many lives.

Nina Kapur of CBS New York died in a moped accident that occurred Sunday (July 20).

MSN reports the 26-year old died shortly after the driver of the moped she was riding in the back on “swerved for an unknown reason,” according to police. The driver suffered minor injuries.

“I’m heartbroken to learn about the passing of my friend and colleague @ninakapur1. Her smile lit up the room. Her tenacity and determination were remarkable. She always strove to be better, work harder and love those around her,” co-worker Jessica Moore tweeted, according to Heavy.

Kapur began her career at WDVM TV in Maryland in 2016 after graduating from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication and Whitman School of Management. A year and a half later she would go on to report for News12 Connecticut before being hired at CBS NY in 2019.

“This is devastating. Nina was such a wonderful person and always a pleasure to interact with. This is one of the many times I had the pleasure of working with her,” said retired Fairfield, Connecticut Police Chief Gary MacNamara.

In a short statement, CBS2 said Kapur “was known for her contagious smile and love for storytelling.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Nina’s family.

“She will be missed.”

Suspect arrested in gruesome slaying of Bangladeshi American businessman

CBS VIDEO

Suspect Tyrese Haspil was arrested Friday morning.

The personal assistant of entrepreneur Fahim Saleh has been arrested as a suspect in the slaying of his former employer.

Officials close to the case but not authorized to discuss the case spoke on the condition of anonymity. One of them identified the suspect as 21-year-old Tyrese Haspil, who reportedly owed Saleh thousands of dollars.

Saleh, a 33-year-old Bangladeshi American, was found Tuesday (July 13) dismembered inside his luxury Manhattan condo, said the two anonymous law enforcement officials.

The same sources believe that the motive for the killing stemmed from Saleh’s having discovered that the assistant had stolen tens of thousands of dollars from him, and Saleh  had not reported the man but had set up a repayment plan, reported The New York Times.

Saleh's body was discovered Tuesday by a cousin who became worried when Saleh didn't answer his attempts to contact him. Earlier reports incorrectly identified the relative as Saleh's sister.

Autopsy reports said that Saleh was killed on Monday from multiple stab wounds. The suspect apparently returned to the residence to clean up but was interrupted when the doorbell from the lobby rang.

Video shows a man dressed in all black, believed to be the suspect, leaving the building.

FAHIM SALEH

Saleh's family issued a statement Friday: "The headlines talk about a crime we still cannot fathom," the statement said. "Fahim is more than what you are reading. He is so much more. His brilliant and innovative mind took everyone who was a part of his world on a journey and he made sure never to leave anyone behind."

Saleh had founded two ride-sharing services in his native Bangladesh and Nigeria.

Authorities arrested Haspil at his apartment with no incident. The N.Y. Post obtained surveillance video showing cops walking the cuffed Haspil out from the lobby of 172 Crosby Street to a squad car just Friday morning.

Investigators were apparently led to the suspect by credit card statements, Uber receipts and text messages between Saleh and Haspil, along with electronic records, which is how police found out about the alleged embezzlement.

Padma Lakshmi's new food show presents 'American' food, with a side of politics

Just what is American food?

Most likely someone would respond, "a hotdog." Sorry, that's German in origin.n

How about the fortune cookie, chop suey, the burrito? Sorry, hella American.

Padma Kakshmi - cookbook author, food show host and cultural commentator -- attempts to examine this question in her new show Taste the Nation, which premieres June 18.

“Taste The Nation is a show about what connects us as Americans and as human beings,” Lakshmi wrote in an Instagram post.

The show that airs on the Hulu streaming channel takes audiences on a journey across America, exploring the rich and diverse food culture of various immigrant groups, seeking out the people who have so heavily shaped what American food is today. 

From indigenous communities to recent immigrant arrivals, Padma breaks bread with Americans across the nation to uncover the roots and relationship between our food, our humanity and our history – ultimately revealing stories that challenge notions of identity, belonging, and what it means to be American.

“It’s a project I’ve spent years developing.," says the Indian American host of Top Chef. "We traveled across the country visiting indigenous and immigrant communities to find out what American food is today. The process was incredibly emotional and rewarding, a journey I will never forget. “⁣

Unlike her other efforts, Taste The Nation lets Padma be Padma. It allows her to voice her opinions and lets her guests air their views. If you are a follower of Lakshmi's tweets, you're going to love this.

What would the American food scene be without Chinese American restaurants, without Taco Bell, without sushi or jambalaya? It would be boring, she contends.

“I want to hear these stories,” Padma told me on a recent phone call. “I don’t want to hear the same Eurocentric stuff. I’m bored.” Throughout the 10-episode season, there’s creamy bowls of khao soi, cheesy bean burritos, indigenous three sisters salad, and so many other vibrant flavors. 

"I have also been frustrated that [my worth] has not been as deeply weighted as my male colleagues who work less than I do frankly. I was sick of it. I really am thankful to Hulu for giving me the opportunity to do this show in the way that I wanted," she said in an interview on Thrillist.

At a time in US history when immigrants are being villified, and bigots feel emboldened to attack foreign-looking people, Lakshmi is not afraid to wade into some uncomfortable conversations.

"I wanted to remind people that America actually had a tradition and legacy of welcoming outsiders and welcoming people who do need a safe haven, who do come here looking for a better life," Lakshmi says.

Yes, there’s hot dogs too -- and also an explainer on how those snappy sausages came to the US by way of immigrants.