BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, October 24, 2025: There’s a distinct power in hearing a story not just written but lived—when the voices behind the headlines step onto the stage, the narrative transforms from newsprint to lived reality.
At NRI Pulse, we’ve always believed that while newspaper articles capture moments, it’s the people behind those moments who truly bring them to life. With MOH: Jewels – NRI Pulse NRI Stories, we wanted to take those powerful stories off the page and bring them face-to-face with our community. On Sunday, September 28, we hosted this special evening at the Golden Venue in Cumming, Georgia—an event devoted to the transformative power of storytelling within the Indian American community.
Conceived last year to commemorate two decades of NRI Pulse, NRI Stories has already become a meaningful platform that amplifies lived experiences of courage, resilience, and justice. The evening combined live storytelling, entertainment, dinner, and networking, but storytelling remained at its heart.
In her opening remarks, our founding editor Veena Rao emphasized why storytelling endures as a vital cultural force: “It connects us, inspires us, and ensures that voices which might otherwise go unheard find audience and action.” Under the direction of emcee and coach Neha Negandhi, CEO of Storytellars Table, the program reflected the publication’s continuing commitment to community narratives that inform, heal, and unite.
We were deeply honored to welcome our distinguished guests of honor — Sreejan Shandilya, Deputy Consul General, CGI Atlanta, and Cassandra Kirk, Chief Magistrate Judge of Fulton County, whose presence reflected strong community partnership and support for our shared mission.
We also had the privilege of honoring Padma Shri Dr. Dhananjay Sagdeo, Chief Medical Officer of the Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission (SVMM) in Wayanad, Kerala, who was visiting from India. He has spent more than four decades working in the areas of tribal health, education, and community development.
The evening also included a special felicitation for community stalwart Mustafa Ajmeri, fondly known as the unofficial Indian mayor of Atlanta, in recognition of his decades-long service to the Indian American community.
After a warm meet-and-greet, the room grew still with expectation. As the lights softened, and the hum of conversation faded, the storytellers took the stage. Each voice carried the weight of lived experience—stories of courage, loss, and perseverance that transcended individual journeys to reflect the shared strength of a community. What unfolded was more than an evening of storytelling; it was a stirring chronicle of resilience, justice, and the indomitable human spirit.
Raveena Kumar: Finding Strength in Scars and Connection
The evening opened with an inspiring story of courage from Raveena Kumar, whose journey from paralysis to purpose deeply touched the audience.
Raveena shared how, on the morning of April 28, 2011, just weeks before her 13th birthday, a rare spinal stroke left her paralyzed from the neck down. “The doctor said I would never walk or breathe on my own again,” she said. “But something in me refused to believe that.”
Her recovery was slow and painful. She spent three months in the hospital relearning how to breathe, move, and speak. On the night before her 13th birthday, she experienced what she calls her first miracle—one toe moved after weeks of trying. “That tiny movement was the greatest gift,” she said. “It proved that hope wasn’t wasted.”
Raveena credited her doctors, nurses, and therapists for guiding her not just toward physical healing but also toward self-advocacy. Their support inspired her to become a speech-language pathologist, helping others find their voices.
She also spoke with deep gratitude for her parents, family, and friends, who never left her side. “The greatest strength of our community,” she said, “is showing up for each other.”
Raveena compared healing to a roller coaster—full of ups, downs, and unexpected turns. “Time doesn’t heal all wounds,” she said. “Recovery isn’t a straight path. It’s a lifelong process. Everything may not happen for a reason, but we can create our own reason from what happens.”
She ended her talk with a powerful message: “My reason is to connect—to help others build connections, because that’s where true strength comes from. So now I ask you—what will your reason be?
Today, she channels those experiences into her vocation as a speech pathologist, assisting children in finding their voices. Her testimony was both candid and inspiring, demonstrating the power of transforming personal hardship into purposeful service.
Sonny Bharadia: Framed, Forgotten, and Finally Free
In his powerful talk, Sonny Bharadia shared his remarkable journey of injustice, perseverance, and ultimate vindication.
On November 30, 2001, Sonny’s life changed forever. Out of nowhere, police arrived at his home and arrested him for burglary, sexual assault, kidnapping, and aggravated assault—crimes he did not commit. Shocked and confused, he thought it was some kind of mistake. But soon, the nightmare became real.
In 2003, at just 27 years old, Sonny was sentenced to life without parole. He lost everything—his freedom, family, and peace of mind. Behind bars, he endured violence and hopelessness. Still, he held on to one belief: the truth would one day set him free.
In 2004, an independent DNA test proved that the biological evidence at the crime scene did not match him. Yet the Georgia courts refused to consider it because the testing method was not then used by the state’s crime lab. For nearly two decades, Sonny’s appeals were denied—even though judges admitted the results could have changed the verdict.
His father passed away in 2015, a devastating blow. At his lowest point, Sonny nearly gave up. But his attorney urged him to keep fighting, reminding him that his life still had purpose. He decided to change his mindset—to find peace and hope within, despite his circumstances.
In 2022, the Georgia Innocence Project took up his case. Attorneys Christina Cripps and Olivia Viggilotti fought tirelessly for him. Finally, in 2023, a judge reviewed the DNA evidence and ruled in Sonny’s favor. After 8,393 days—over 23 years—Sonny was freed.
He described running from the jail that day, clutching a small bag of letters and photos, unable to believe he was truly free. In May 2025, Sonny was officially exonerated.
Since his release, he has spoken publicly, attended the Innocence Network Conference, gotten engaged, and begun writing a book. His story is one of courage and unshakable faith in the power of truth.
“I’ve chosen not to let pain defeat me,” Sonny said. “I’m just thankful and grateful—for freedom, and for life.”
Now fully exonerated as of May 16, 2025, Bharadia channels his ordeal into advocacy and hope. “You can let life’s problems defeat you,” he told the audience. “I’ve chosen not to let them defeat me.”
Moni Basu: The Storyteller Who Found Her Story
Award-winning journalist Moni Basu shared her remarkable journey — from an abandoned infant in Kolkata to a war correspondent whose stories have illuminated truth and humanity across the world.
She began by recalling a warm October afternoon in Kolkata, where a baby girl was born in a modest hospital serving the poor. Within hours, the baby was left at the doorstep of Mulvany House, a shelter for orphans and widows. Just a few kilometers away, a woman who had prayed for a child for ten years saw a white owl under the full moon — a sign of good fortune. The next day, she met an American missionary who told her about a baby recently left at her orphanage. “That baby was me,” Moni said. “And that woman was my mother.”
Moni grew up surrounded by books, ideas, and global travel. Her father, a noted scholar of mathematics whose Basu Theorem bears his name, accepted a position at Florida State University in the mid-1970s. Growing up in the American South just years after desegregation was not easy. “I remember telling my mother not to get out of the car when she came to pick me up from school wearing a sari,” she recalled. “I just wanted to fit in.”
At twenty, life took another turn when her mother suffered a massive stroke. As Moni cared for her, she found purpose in journalism, taking a part-time job at the Florida Flambeau. One of her earliest assignments was to write about Marvin Francois, a man on death row. She discovered that his trial had been flawed and that he had not received proper legal representation. The day after she interviewed him, he was executed. “That story changed me,” she said. “It made readers question their beliefs — that’s when I realized the true power of journalism.”
Years later, as a war correspondent in Iraq and Afghanistan, Moni carried that lesson with her. “Stories can bridge divides,” she reflected. “Everyone has a story to tell — and listening is how we move forward.”
Aparna Bhattacharyya: A Voice Rooted in Resilience
Aparna Bhattacharyya, widely known as a strong voice for survivors of violence, shared a deeply personal reflection on what drives her life’s work.
She began by tracing her family history, revealing how generational trauma shaped her sense of purpose. Aparna spoke tenderly about her father, who lost his mother when he was just three years old. That loss, she said, left a lasting mark — not just on him, but on the way he raised his children. “When you grow up with a parent who has known such deep loss,” she reflected, “you understand pain in a different way. You learn empathy early.”
It was her father, too, who guided her toward the path she would one day call her mission. Aparna recalled the moment he handed her a Raksha flyer — the organization she would go on to lead as Executive Director — and encouraged her to get involved. Her mother was hesitant at first, unsure about Aparna taking on such a challenging role. But her father believed in her. “He told me, ‘You can do this. You were meant to help people,’” she said, her voice steady with emotion.
That encouragement became the seed for a lifelong commitment. Under Aparna’s leadership, Raksha has grown into a vital organization that supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence, providing them with safety, hope, and dignity.
As she spoke, the audience listened intently — not just to the story of an advocate, but to the story of a daughter who found strength in her father’s belief and healing in the act of helping others.
Aparna ended with a message that lingered long after she left the stage: “We all carry pain that is not always our own,” she said. “But what we choose to do with it — how we turn it into purpose — that’s what defines us.”
From Accused to Absolved: Mahendra Patel’s Fight for Justice and Dignity
Mahendra Patel’s story was one of heartbreak, resilience, and faith in the face of unimaginable injustice. A soft-spoken man who came to America over three decades ago in pursuit of a better life, Patel described himself as an engineer, husband, father, and active community volunteer. “Like most of you,” he began, “I came to this country for a better life for me and my family.” He spoke with quiet dignity, recounting how his life was suddenly and brutally upended by a false accusation.
One ordinary evening in March, Patel’s elderly mother asked him to pick up some Tylenol for her arthritis pain. What should have been a short trip to Walmart turned into a nightmare that would change his life forever. While lost in the aisles, Patel encountered a woman struggling to maneuver a motorized cart with two young children. When one of the children began to slip, Patel instinctively caught the child to prevent a fall. The woman thanked him, and he went on his way, unaware that this act of kindness would soon be twisted beyond recognition.
Three days later, Patel was arrested at gunpoint—accused of kidnapping a child. “I was scared for my life,” he said. “I couldn’t even call my mother, who waited past midnight for me to come home.” His bond was denied, and he was sent to jail without knowing the charges against him. Inside, Patel faced the horrors of confinement—cramped cells, violence, and fear. “I was housed with alleged kidnappers, armed robbers, and violent offenders,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep for days. I lost 17 pounds in 47 days.”
Despite the despair, Patel found strength in spirituality. “I survived because of my faith,” he said, describing how he read the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita to stay sane. Outside, his family was fighting for him—his wife, daughters, and friends rallied, spreading awareness on social media. Over 92,000 people signed a petition for his release. Finally, after 47 days in jail, video evidence from Walmart proved his innocence. The charges were dropped, but the scars remain.
Patel reflected with purpose. “Injustice can happen to anyone,” he said quietly. “We must stand up for those who are falsely accused. Your courage and faith are the only weapons you have. Sometimes things happen for a reason. Maybe my story can help bring change,” he concluded.
With Mahendra Patel’s moving story marking the finale of our storytelling segment, it is now time to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made NRI Stories 2025 a success.
We are Grateful!
We are deeply grateful to our Title Sponsor, Ashish Doshi of MOH: Jewels, for once again standing by us this year with unwavering support and faith in our vision.
A big shoutout to our Platinum Sponsor, Narendra Patel of Madras Chettinad, for dazzling our taste buds with a feast that delighted everyone in the room.
Sincere appreciation goes to our Silver Sponsors — Madhu and Dr. Sheth of Sheth Foundation and Aho Bilam of Method Hub — for their invaluable support in making this event possible.
Many thanks to our Bronze Sponsors — Kiran Anu and the Subra Bhat Foundation — for their contributions and encouragement.
To our speakers — thank you for standing on that stage and sharing your truths. Your journeys moved us, challenged us, and inspired us to look within.
The evening’s rhythm and energy were set perfectly by our DJ Sponsor, Awaaj DJ, Yogesh Jadhav, whose music kept the atmosphere lively and full of warmth. And a special thanks to photographer Pramod Kailas, who captured every candid smile and powerful moment from the evening.
Between the powerful narratives, the audience was treated to mesmerizing performances by the Atlanta Adavu Group, whose graceful dance added a vibrant cultural rhythm to the evening. The soulful voice of Vaibhavi Matapathi, who performed two beautiful songs, brought emotional depth and harmony to the program — a perfect complement to the storytelling theme of the night.
I began the note of thanks with a heartfelt acknowledgment of those who made this event possible. Our generous sponsors continue to be the heartbeat behind NRI Stories—helping us give a stage to voices and journeys that inspire.
Special appreciation to our emcee and speaker coach, Neha Negandhi of Storytellers Table, for guiding our voices and keeping the energy vibrant throughout the night.
We also extend our gratitude to our table sponsors—GAPI, Paddy Sharma, IACA, Charter Global, Paramount Solutions, Dr. Narasimhulu Neelagaru (Hometrust Bank), Gujarati Samaj (Manoj Barot), Sankara Nethralaya, and SEWA—for their continued support of our mission.
A special thank you to Mini Nair for coordinating with the Consulate, and to Pratima Dhumal for managing logistics with the DJ. Our heartfelt appreciation to our incredible volunteers—Navami Naik, Deepa Chandrakumar, Asim Rao and Meghana Naik, for ensuring the evening ran seamlessly.
And finally, to our wonderful audience—thank you for showing up with such warmth, for listening, engaging, and celebrating the stories that connect us all.
As we close another memorable chapter of NRI Stories, we look forward to presenting many more powerful and inspiring stories in the years to come—stories that remind us who we are, where we come from, and how far we can go together.
