Shakti, opportunity and stories that connect us. Namaste from Bharat — October 2026.
OCTOBER 2026 • ISSUE 1020
A note from the Directors
Navaratri has arrived. And, like every year, we will place our goddesses on pedestals and worship them as Shakti — the embodiment of strength, courage and wisdom. But what does Shakti really mean beyond its symbolism? Are women equally empowered in the world outside our places of worship? Our team explores this through the lens of leadership.
We are also looking at how India’s expanding network of free trade agreements is opening new doors for businesses and the global Indian diaspora.
And as we travel to find the next Jewels of India –Bharat Ki Shaan, Bharat Ka Abhimaan and meet extraordinary people across borders, one belief grows stronger: every life holds a story worth telling. Connect with us if you know someone who fits the bill.
Let’s keep creating a circle of stories together.
Manish, Abhishek & Siddharth
SPECIAL FOCUS
Shakti – Success in the Modern World
Nine nights of worship. Nine qualities of strength. Yet, in the real world, women still encounter barriers to leadership. From courage and resilience to empathy and vision, we explore nine traits that are redefining success. And perhaps the most surprising lesson is that these are not just qualities for women.
Seven Trade Deals. Billions in Opportunity. Who Really Benefits?
From the Gulf to Europe and the Pacific, India’s free trade agreements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi are reshaping its commercial relationships. But what do the agreements mean for Indian businesses and the diaspora? And how much of the promised economic opportunity has already materialised?
What happens when a doctor’s calling extends far beyond medicine? For Dr ‘Neel’ Narasimhulu Neelagaru and Dr Bharat Haridas Barai, healing was only the beginning. One went from cardiology to banking; the other became an influential voice in medicine, public service and Indo–US relations. Featured in Jewels of India – Bharat Ki Shaan, Bharat Ka Abhiman Vol. I, their journeys reveal how ambition, integrity and Indian values can shape extraordinary lives in America.
What does a cardiologist know about running a bank? Quite a lot, apparently. He arrived in America in 1973, built a successful medical career and then ventured into banking with no intention of leaving medicine. He transformed a modest banking venture into a thriving financial institution, navigating the 2008 financial crisis along the way. But the most remarkable part of his story isn’t the money. It’s the principle he refused to compromise.
What connects a medical gold medallist, seven appointments to a US state medical licensing board and a future Indian Prime Minister? One remarkable man. From cycling six kilometres to medical college in India to becoming a respected oncologist in America, his journey has taken him from hospital corridors to the heart of Indo–US relations. A physician, philanthropist and recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, he has spent decades proving that service knows no borders. Who is he?
In Wajir County, Kenya reusable sanitary pads and menstrual health education are changing everything—but security challenges leave thousands more girls waiting. Here’s how a small team is restoring dignity, one classroom at a time.
Heavenly Palace in Ludhiana, Punjab came alive on 2nd October as Dream & Beauty Charitable Trust, established by India-American businessman Anil Monga marked three decades of service alongside Gandhi Jayanti and Senior Citizens Day.
How do you tell the story of a woman whose influence stretches across continents, businesses and more than twenty family members — when a pandemic makes the world inaccessible? For Maneesh Media, The Leading Lady was a lesson in connecting generations, uncovering a family’s shared history and finding a way to tell its story during one of the most challenging periods in recent memory.
You know where your father worked. Where your grandparents lived. Perhaps even what they earned. But do you know the dreams they abandoned, the decisions they regretted or the sacrifices they never spoke about? We live in the most documented age in history. Yet some of the most important stories remain untold. What if the greatest inheritance is the story nobody thought to ask about?
