News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (April 18, 2026 - April 24, 2026) April 24, 2026 12 Community/ Books American India Foundation Bay Area Gala Raises More Than $2.6 million T he American India Foundation’s (AIF) Bay Area Chapter hosted its 25th Anniversary Gala April 11, 2026, at Grace Cathedral, bringing together leaders across philanthropy, business, and the community. The gala raised more than $2.6 million, organiz- ers said in an April 16 press release, including $1.4 million raised at the record breaking Pledge Drive, to support AIF’s projects in India’s most underserved communities through interventions in public health, education, liveli- hoods, and leadership development. This year’s gala honored entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist Lata Krishnan, with the Legacy of Leader- ship Award for co- founding AIF in 2001 in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in Bhuj, Gujarat, and for her decades of leadership as president and co-chair of the Global Board in expanding AIF’s influence and impact. “What I’ve come to recognize over time is that giving, at its core, is a deep, pervasive spirit—one that is woven into everyday life and across every community. It isn’t driven by obligation, but by a shared sense of responsi- bility. That idea has stayed with me,” said Krishnan, as she accepted the award. “Through this journey with AIF, I’ve been profoundly changed. It has shaped me, it has shaped my children, and it has shaped the way we see the world and our responsibility within it. When we talk about 25 years and 21 million lives, that achievement doesn’t belong to me; it belongs to all of us.” AIF’s CEO Nishant Pandey, praised Krishnan saying what sets her apart “is a rare combination of qualities— she is a magnet who brings people together around a shared purpose, a doer who leads from the front, and a deeply generous philanthropist who gives wholeheart- edly…. It is because of her leadership that AIF is stronger today than when it began.” The program spotlighted the impact of AIF’s programs and beneficiaries such as Pushpanjali Majhi, a young woman who began her journey as a migrant child in AIF’s LAMP program and, with AIF by her side pursued a col- lege education to ultimately become a teacher—and the first formally employed person in her family, raising it out of the cycle of poverty. The AIF attributed its fundraising success the generos- ity of its sponsors and supporters, including underwriter sponsorsWestBridge Capital, Sumir Chadha, Lata Krish- nan, and Ajay Shah, and Aishwarya and Shashin Shah, and patron sponsorsWadhwani Foundation, Christina and Deepak Kamra, and Riaz Taplin. By a StaffWriter Scenes from the AIF Gala held in California April 11, 2026. PHOTO COLLAGE:COURTESY AIF BriBooks Celebrates India’s Top Young Authors At The National Awards And Exhibition 2025-26 B riBooks, in partnership with EducationWorld, hosted the National Young Authors Awards & Exhibition Ceremony 2025-26 on 28th March 2026 in New Delhi —marking the grand culmina- tion of two transformative youth literary movements: the National Young Authors’ Fair (NYAF) and the Summer BookWriting Festival (SBWF). The landmark ceremony recognised India’s most gifted young authors, honoured schools fostering literary excel- lence, and reinforced BriBooks’ position as the world’s largest book writing platform for school students — a platform that has now inspired over 1.4 million students across 32+ countries to write, publish, and share their stories with the world. A Celebration Graced by India’s Distinguished Leaders The ceremony brought together an extraordinary gathering of luminaries who lent the event their pres- ence, prestige, and personal conviction in India’s young authors: * Hon’ble Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi — Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India * Dr. Deepa Malik — Padma Shri Awardee and Former President, Paralympic Committee of India * Mr. Bhavin Shah — CEO, EducationWorld * Shri Anish Gawande — Celebrated youth leader and author * Shri Pankaj Pachauri — Founder & Editor-in-Chief, GoNews Ami Dror, Founder & President of BriBooks, addressed the audience through a heartfelt video message – ap- plauding the dedication of every young author and reaf- firming BriBooks’ unwavering commitment to nurturing India’s next generation of storytellers. Recognising India’s Best Schools as Literary Leaders Schools from across India were honoured for cultivat- ing a culture where creativity and storytelling thrive — not as extracurricular afterthoughts, but as core expres- sions of academic identity. * India’s Best School Chain Award: ArmyWelfare Edu- cation Society (137 schools, 2.3 lakh students) * India’s No. 1 Literary Leader: Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School, Puducherry Other top literary institutions included: Shree Niketan (Rajajipuram), City Montessori School – Aliganj (Luc- know), Amrishbhai R Patel School, and Amalorpavam Lourds Academy (Puducherry). India’s Top 10 Jury AwardWinners – NYAF 2025-26 The Jury Awards celebrated extraordinary originality, narrative depth, and storytelling craft. A distinguished panel evaluated each work for its literary merit, thematic richness, and the maturity of voice – recognising young authors who wrote with a purpose far beyond their years. 1. Abhiram Sai Chimmili —The Clock of Consequence 2. Devisha Shrivastava —The Signal of Unity 3. Prisha Singh — Swapped 4. Ahana Ray — Cell City and the Secret Code 5. Suchismita Dasgupta —The Pages in Between 6. Mansi Thapa —When Silence Stays 7. Umdah Beg —The BloomThat Broke the Law 8. S Monika — Echoes Beyond Time 9. Drishyaa Gupta — Finding Muffin 10. Priyanshi Popat —When the Time Breaks Abhiram Sai Chimmili was crowned India’s No. 1 Jury AwardWinner, setting a benchmark for literary excellence among young writers. India’s Top 10 Best-Selling Young Authors —NYAF 2025-26 The Best-Selling Author Awards recognised young writers whose stories not only achieved literary merit but resonated powerfully with readers — a rare combination of creative craft and authentic audience connection. 1. Ahaana Changrani —Magicella’s Marine Voyage 2. Rudra Bhangdiya —The Trip to Dubai 3. Abhiraj Shee —The Tale of Jaxon and Elara 4. Nishtha Pal — Good Has Triumphed Over Evil 5. Darsh Devendra Makhija —TheWizard’s Parfait 6. Kshipra Moreker —Marine Biology to Regenerate 7. Hasini Polu —When the Silence Screamed 8. Arjun Rathore —The Secret Bridge 9. Amayra Agrawal — Interesting Stories by Amayra 10. Gianna Narula — Star Adventures Summer BookWriting Festival 2025 — CreativityWith- out Boundaries The SBWF 2025 Awards & Exhibition Ceremony cele- brated students who transformed their summer vacation into a season of authorship — proving that imagination, when given direction, needs no classroom. * India’s No. 1 Jury Choice AwardWinner: Namrata Chambyal (Dearest Maisy FromThe Chasm) * India’s No. 1 Best-Selling Author: Kshipra Moreker (Beti Padhao) The event concluded with a powerful fireside chat fea- turing JuryWinners and Best-Selling Authors — sharing their personal journeys through storytelling, the disci- pline of writing, and the transformative experience of seeing their words in print. Their insights offered a living proof of what BriBooks enables: young people who don’t just consume stories, but create them. In Their OwnWords “When children are given the opportunity to write, publish, and share their stories, they don’t just become authors — they become creators of the future.” – Ami Dror, Founder & President, BriBooks -ANI By a StaffWriter