As we celebrate India’s 75th Independence, Hindustan Times’ journalist Prashant Jha will take us through a journey that traces back to how India became one of the first countries in Asia to get freedom from colonial rule and attain its independence. This is a Hindustan Times podcast, brought to you by HT Smartcast.
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Dandi March Podcasts
It's just immigration, it's not rocket science, or is it? If you're a visa / “temporary” status holder in the US and have often found that it was easier navigating through the politics of Game of Thrones than understand the US immigration system, you're not alone. In this podcast, we aim to talk about the problems we face as immigrants here. The way we see it, we're all in for a long 20+ year long (some even up to 436 years!) rollercoaster ride waiting for our Green Cards, dealing with the d ...
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Welcome to the Jen Waters' Pen Jen’s Inkwell Podcast! Jen wrote and performed all the original stories in the podcast. This podcast is produced by Eric Baines, who scored all the stories and poems in the series to public domain and original music. The podcast is associated with the blog of the same name, Pen Jen’s Inkwell, www.penjensinkwell.blogspot.com, which can be found on her website: www.jenwaters.com. It features the children's music and spoken word stories from her Apple Music releas ...
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Build Fellowship and Cap-Exempt H-1B
1:05:41
1:05:41
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1:05:41In this essential episode of the Area 51 podcast, we dive deep into an innovative solution for the thousands of skilled immigrants whose dreams are crushed annually by the H-1B lottery system. Join us as we welcome Danielle Goldman, the dynamic and passionate co-founder of the Open Avenues Foundation and Build Fellowship, who presents a compelling …
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In this compelling episode of the Area 51 podcast, we tackle the controversial topic of H-1B visas and confront the growing wave of misinformation surrounding immigrant workers in America. Join us as we welcome Sam Peak, Labor and Mobility Policy Manager at the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), who brings data-driven clarity to the heated debate. Us…
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In today's episode we dive deep into the world of immigration advocacy with Adnan Zafar from Immigration Voice. Ever since it was created 19 years ago, IV has been leading from the front and standing up for issues faced by immigrants in America. In an unprecedented and rare media engagement, this episode offers listeners an exclusive, unfiltered gl…
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Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Dip Patel, the visionary founder of Improve the Dream, as he unveils the untold story of America's "Documented Dreamers"—children who grew up legally in the United States but face deportation upon turning 21. Key Highlights: - Understand the paradox of Documented Dreamers: legally present since childhood…
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Soundarya Balasubramani arrived in the United States like many others, armed with ambition and a visa. But that's where the similarities end. Rather than following the well trodden path of climbing the corporate ladder, she's carved out a very unique trajectory that defies expectations. From excelling as a Product Manager at tech giant Salesforce, …
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One of the biggest impediments in moving to Canada is the stress of finding a new job. What if you could have the best of both worlds? What if you could work for your US employer and still enjoy the immigration freedom Canada has to offer? Sounds too good to be true right? Apparently not. In today's episode, we are joined by Marc Pavlopoulos, the f…
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Often considered a consolation prize for those facing immigration issues, Canada has always been a topic of discussion for visa holders in America. In today's episode, we are joined by Sindhu Mahadevan to better understand the Canadian immigration landscape. Creator of the immigration newsletter 'This Immigrant Life', Sindhu is a 'US dropout' who h…
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As an Indian immigrant in America, one thing we all miss is the food back home. We've felt it and we're sure all of you have as well. Have we done anything about it? Probably not! In today's episode, we are joined by the founders of the Brooklyn Curry Project, Swetha and Venkat , two immigrants from Bangalore, India, whose shared love for tradition…
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In today's episode, we are joined by John Moye, one of the founders of Pro Se Pro to talk about their game changing tool in the fight against immigration delays. Developed by attorney Brad Banias and technologists John Moye and Andrew Steinmeyer, Pro Se Pro is a revolutionary tool that provides immigrants with the knowledge, resources, and support …
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The immigration backlog is something that has deeply impacted every Indian immigrant’s life in America. We have all complained about it numerous times and have pretty much given up hope for any change. That’s what makes Anuj different. In today’s episode we sit down with Anuj Christian, the dynamic force behind a nationwide campaign for immigration…
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IIT Alumnus. Ironman. Immigration Activist. Startup Founder. In today's episode we are joined by Atal Agarwal who has been wearing each of these hats with ease. Atal is an inspirational figure whose journey embodies resilience, innovation, and a commitment to creating positive change. Join us as we we unravel the inspiring journey of Atal Agarwal, …
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For the first time since the 60s, there has been a huge proposed change to the American immigration system. DHS has proposed sweeping reforms to the H-1B visa system. While there are many positives that will enrich the lives of immigrants, there are few that could act as a poison pill to the positives and could potentially make life difficult for i…
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In today’s episode, we welcome Hemant Gangolia the founder of iNRI. Hemant is an immigrant entrepreneur who has faced his fair share of obstacles on the path to success. Rather than give in to these setbacks, he used them as stepping stones to propel himself forward. With a dream to democratize access to one of the fastest growing economies, he emb…
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Jaahnavi Kandula. Aishwarya Thatikonda. Sai Charan Nakka. Vamsi Reddy Mamidala. Saiesh Veera. Sharath Koppu. 6 Indian graduate students. 6 tragic stories. 6 unfulfilled dreams. In this somber episode, we delve into their heart wrenching stories that has left countless people in shock and grief. In an attempt to shed light on the untold stories of I…
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A month ago, around 21 Indian students were detained on arrival, interrogated and deported back to India. What started off as a journey filled with hope, excitement and an opportunity to chase the coveted American dream ended as a nightmare as they were detained, interrogated and deported back to India banned from any further travel to US. Many of …
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In a galaxy not so far away, the stories of Indian immigrants in America intersect with a pressing issue that could be straight out of a Star Wars plotline. Join us in Area 51's latest episode as we delve into the intricate web of work visas, FDNS site visits, data collection and fraud findings, guided by a seasoned immigration attorney, Jonathan W…
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Join us on an extraordinary journey through time where culture, community and commerce beautifully collide. In today’s episode, we unveil the inspiring tale behind one of America’s most beloved Indian grocery stories- Patel Brothers! For many decades now, Patel Brothers have been bridging the gap between America and India by empowering immigrants t…
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A smile and a flower can change lives. Daisy Dimple can't smile enough. At age 10, she plants flowers everywhere she goes, even in parking lots and sidewalks. She loves their scent and the beauty they bring to the world. Her 13-year-old brother Billy is a bully who’s jealous of her daisies and magic “hypnotizing” dimple. He calls her “Crazy Daisy,”…
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Every year the annual immigration hunger games that is the 'H-1B Lottery' leaves thousands disappointed and disheartened. Applicants on their third and final attempt have to pick up their broken dreams and figure out what their options are to continue living and working in America. In this episode Rahul and Sanjay discuss the available options at y…
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With a little pink lemonade and a little musical magic, one special little girl can save her endangered neighborhood. Mandy Dandie refuses to let Sherwood Neighborhood—which is going downhill fast—be turned into a major freeway. People are unemployed and don’t talk to each other except to fight. Ruben Gruff offers to buy their backyards, and they’r…
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The term alien is used to describe any person not a citizen or national of the United States. Very welcoming right. We have all felt outrage being called an alien at some point during our stay here. One person actually decided to do something about it. In this episode, we are joined by filmmaker Vidyut Latay to talk about her feature documentary fi…
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Immigration Updates- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
39:11
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39:11USCIS has been busy since the start of 2023. We have seen more activity in the first two months than the whole of 2022. So we thought it would be helpful to discuss some of the updates for our listeners. In this episode we cover the proposed fee hikes, the "helpful" options provided by USCIS to help tech workers who have been laid off among other t…
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Being a willing vessel in the hands of the Potter can bring never-ending miracles. As legend has it, anyone who is a pottery student of Sage Conrad, a renowned potter in Charleston, South Carolina, is sure to experience a miracle, not like a hokey, made-up one, but a deep, mystical encounter that caused the person to change from the inside out. She…
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Let's face it, immigration backlogs are a pain. The current green card wait time for an Indian national is almost 20-30 years. An immigration system where there are no country based restrictions sounds like a dream come true. Do you want to know how close we were to having that dream turned into a reality? In this episode, we discuss two important …
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Murder, Slavery, Hitmen, Riots and Racism. You name it and we've pretty much got it in this episode! Part 2 of the Indian Immigrant Crimes series where Rahul and Sanjay discuss more crimes committed by Indian immigrants in America. If you want to say hi or have an idea for a podcast episode, this is an easy way for you to reach out. We’ll be more t…
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Everything is made beautiful in its time, even if the Hours tries to steal your minutes. Time flies! In an abandoned lighthouse on the coast of Great Point in Nantucket, Massachusetts, an elderly bearded man opens the windows to a bright morning. Over time, he has converted the tower and its nearby buildings into The O’Clock Shop, where he makes an…
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Have you ever wondered if there were crimes committed by Indian immigrants in America? In this two part episode, we've done a deep dive into crimes committed by Indian immigrants in US. Initially we thought we wouldn't find that many, but we were in for a surprise! If you want to say hi or have an idea for a podcast episode, this is an easy way for…
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One girl’s love, faith, and courage turn the tides of Heaven. Fourteen-year-old Joan Orleans is the wonder of the ages. In Medieval France, she has fallen madly in love with Michael, the youngest archangel. She loves to pray with him in the fields of France. Although she lives on Earth and he lives in Heaven, he visits her every day by traveling on…
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When a little girl’s mother dies of cancer, a Christmas reindeer makes the world a brighter place. In 1939, when Robert May, a Montgomery Ward copywriter, decides to write a poem about a reindeer with a shiny nose, he hopes the world will become a brighter place. Many families could still feel the effects of the Great Depression. Instead of making …
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Unlikely friendships, personal courage, and loyalty can save the day and bring peace to a troubled Kingdom. Eight-year-old Shirley the Lamb doesn’t think she matters much to anyone. She doesn’t have a tail because a lion bit it off. Her family always makes fun of her, teasing her because she lacks the wooly waggler and looks incomplete to them. Whe…
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Ep 13: Series finale - The story of Azaadi
15:28
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15:28The road to Indian Independence was long. It was tough. It was marked by moments of political high, interspersed with long periods of political low. But the freedom struggle eventually succeeded, with the British leaving the land that they had no business occupying in the first place. In this finale, HT senior editor Prashant Jha traces the brutali…
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Ep 12: A Second Mutiny, a final challenge
28:36
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28:36The war had ended. India was inching towards independence, but a clear political roadmap and timeline was missing. The Muslim League had stepped up its agitation for Pakistan. It was a turbulent, uncertain time. And then, in 1946, the Empire was struck with a final blow from within. The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny started from Bombay, and spread acros…
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A magic camera leads a young photographer into mysteries only she can solve using the unexpected images that develop on her pictures. Talented but gawky 14-year-old Mary Nose— also known as “Nosy Mary”—inherits her photojournalist grandmother’s magic camera and sets up a secret darkroom. Mary loves feeling special but is troubled by the extra peopl…
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Ep 11: Netaji: The life and politics of Subhash Bose
39:37
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39:37Even as a war broke out in Europe, a clash between different streams of the Indian nationalist movement broke out at home. Triggered by differences with the Mahatma and his protégés, and a desire to leverage the the crisis presented by the war, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the political lion from Bengal, decided it was time to embark on his own pat…
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In 1939, the Second World War broke out in Europe. And India suddenly found itself as a participant in the war, on behalf of the allied powers. There was one problem — no Indian had been consulted. Indian nationalists were clear. They were opposed to Fascism in Europe, but wanted independence at home first. But, by this time, there were a range of …
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As the civil disobedience movement faded, the British embarked on a political exercise to defuse nationalist aspirations — in a way that would help the Empire retain absolute political control. This manifested itself in the Round Table Conferences, the Government of India Act 1935, and the 1937 provincial elections, in which the Congress participat…
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The nationalist movement was at a crossroad by the end of the 1920s. On one hand, the British had shown no inclination to give Indians the right to self rule and continued with their repressive methods. On the other, anger against colonial rule had been building up, with the Congress finally declaring its aim was purna swaraj, complete independence…
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The Rowlatt Acts and the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre had enraged nationalist opinion, and it was in this backdrop that the Mahatma launched his first truly mass-based national movement against the Empire - the Non-Cooperation movement — in 1920. Added to it was the demand for the restoration of the Caliphate — a demand close to the heart of Indian Mu…
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Ep 6: Jallianwala Bagh: The Brutality of the Empire
33:37
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33:37Even as nationalist consciousness was growing, the British decided to embark on what was arguably one of the most coercive phases of colonial rule. In 1919, soon after the First World War ended, the British introduced the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, popularly called the Rowlatt Acts. The new legislation provided for indefinite …
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1915 marked a decisive turn in India’s freedom struggle. And that wasn’t because of anything the British did. It wasn’t because of anything that the Congress did. It was because one man returned to India after close to two and a half decades abroad. That man was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. And his return, his political philosophy, his techniques of…
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Just a decade after the Partition of Bengal, and the sharpening of the Hindu-Muslim divide, there was a moment of unity — a unity made possible by a pact between the Congress and the Muslim League in Lucknow in 1916. The Congress agreed to the idea of separate electorates and demanded that one-third of the seats in the imperial and provincial legis…
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Ep 3: In Bengal, a partition and a movement
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28:021905 saw a change in the direction of India’s nationalist struggle and deepened a communal divide that would haunt India for decades to come. The reason: Lord Curzon, the imperial Viceroy decided it was time to divide British India’s largest province, the Bengal Presidency. The Partition of Bengal was an attempt to divide the Hindu-majority west an…
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Ep 2: The birth of the Indian National Congress
35:48
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35:48It had been three decades since the mutiny. It was a period of gloom, as the Crown consolidated its rule, caring little for the well-being of Indians. But a set of early Indian nationalists and a somewhat unusual British reformer came together in Bombay in 1885 to set up what was to become the primary vehicle of India’s political aspirations — the …
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The summer of 1857 changed the course of Indian history. For over a century, the East India Company had been expanding its territorial economic control over India. The Company used coercion, deception, and cooption, and appeared invincible. But beneath the surface of deceptive calm, there was discontent against what was the foreign corporate rule. …
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The Road to Indian Independence: An Introduction
14:19
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14:19India’s freedom struggle is a story of evolution and revolution. It is a story of elite leadership and mass movements. It is a story of the most remarkable and successful non-violent struggle in global history wearing down the most powerful Empire the world has seen through the power of truth. It is a story of repression and revolt. It is a story o…
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Magic silkworms spin love in the most romantic way. Night and day, Emma Souster spins thread on a spinning wheel in her home, causing calluses on her hands. Her thread makes cotton frocks for the women of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds in England. Because she is always too busy spinning for someone else, her daughter, Velvet Briar Rose Soust…
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The strength of a unicorn makes you strong enough to achieve anything. Twelve-year-old Sunshine lives in the land of Gras whose best friend is a unicorn named Penrose. Because her father is King of Gras and her mother is the queen, she lives in a Scottish medieval castle. Penrose goes with her everywhere, protecting her from harmful beasts in the e…
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If you ever wanted to live in a shoe, now is your chance! Over the river and through the woods, there is an old woman who lives in an ankle boot in the Shoes Neighborhood, a neighborhood of footwear. Although her five children—the parents of her twelve grandchildren—live nearby, her grandchildren enjoy staying at her home more than any other place …
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If the Evil Squid Ink doesn’t steal the Great Magician’s story magic, Ink Fairies just might deliver a book to your beside from the Timeless Library. When the Great Magician in the Kingdom of Reynes runs out of ink in his jar, he calls the Ink Fairies for help. Like all magicians, the Great Magician has a special gift that distinguishes him in the …
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Time-traveling shoes offer a twelve-year-old girl a world of adventures, but her first mishap-ridden journey warns her to seek some experienced advice before her next trip. Twelve-year-old Aiyana Mitchell has her Bubblegum Taffy Hot Pink High Heels on. She loves to sit on the back porch in the suburbs of Philadelphia. With her time-traveling shoes,…
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