Bhargav Patel

[Sachin H. Jain, MD, MBA @sacjai]

Lately, I’ve found myself thinking about the countless business dinners and social meals my parents attended during their early years in America.

Before ordering, my mother would invariably tell the server: “We are strictly vegetarian. No meat, no chicken, no fish, no eggs.”

She might then remind them—no beef stock, no gelatin…and list all the ways in which meat might be hidden in our food.

As a child, I often felt a twinge of embarrassment when she said it. I worried that we were making things difficult, creating extra work for the wait staff, drawing attention to ourselves in a way I wished we wouldn’t.

What I didn’t appreciate then was how much courage that simple sentence required. Especially when social pressures and convention would invite conformity. Instead they were often forced to answer a set of uncomfortable, sometimes ignorant questions:

“Have you always been a vegetarian?”

“How do you get protein?”

“Have you ever tried meat?”

“Don’t you know you’re missing out?”

And then they quietly would use the moment to share our belief system.

My parents arrived in a country where fitting in would have been easier than standing apart.

They could have quietly relaxed their commitments.

They could have decided that some traditions were not worth carrying across an ocean.

Instead, they held fast to a faith and culture rooted in nonviolence, one that called them to remain strictly vegetarian even when it was inconvenient, awkward, or misunderstood.

I don’t judge those who made different choices.

Every immigrant family navigates these questions in its own way.

But looking back, I see that what embarrassed me as a child was actually an expression of conviction.

Every child of immigrants, I suspect, wants their parents to adapt a little more, to blend in a little better.

We feel the friction when they don’t.

Yet now, whenever my wife and I sit down with friends or colleagues and hear ourselves say, “We are strictly vegetarian. No meat, no chicken, no fish, no eggs,” I feel something entirely different.

I feel gratitude.

What once sounded to me like a dietary restriction now sounds like an inheritance.

A small sentence.

A quiet act of conviction.

A reminder that my parents carried more than suitcases when they came to this country—they carried their beliefs.

And they had the courage to keep carrying them.

[India First Post @ifpost47]

Indian-American couple Brij Agarwal and Sunita Agarwal have donated $5.5 million to expand healthcare services in Texas, including support for St. Luke's Health–Sugar Land Hospital and a new primary care clinic.

Funny how stories like this rarely go viral. The same people obsessed with pushing anti-India narratives won't be making podcasts or headlines about Indian-Americans funding hospitals, improving healthcare access, and giving back to the communities that helped them succeed.

The donation is the largest single gift in the hospital's history, with its main patient tower and pavilion now being named in the Agrawals' honour.

[BAPS Public Affairs @BAPS_PubAffairs]

Thank you @RepCDMenefee (TX-18) for joining us at the @BAPSCharities Walk | Run 2026 in Sugar Land, TX. Your support reflects a shared commitment to serving the community and building a brighter future. #SpiritOfService

[BAPS Public Affairs @BAPS_PubAffairs]

We were honored to welcome Congressman @PeteSessions (TX-17) to the groundbreaking ceremony for a new @BAPS mandir in Austin, TX. We are truly grateful for his support for our community spanning over many years as we work to build a brighter tomorrow together.

[BAPS Public Affairs @BAPS_PubAffairs]

Honored to welcome @RepCDMenefee (TX-18) on his first visit to @BAPSHouston!

Thank you for taking time to engage with our community, from youth to elders, and for embracing our culture, values, and spirit of unity.

[Bhargav Patel @BharG3003]

@RobinhoodApp Merch

[Bhargav Patel @BharG3003]

@GhostOptions_ Options flow

[Bhargav Patel @BharG3003]

@vedikabaisa Jodhpur

[akshardhamusa @akshardham_usa]

A surreal moment suspended in time. #Akshardham

[akshardhamusa @akshardham_usa]

Every corner of Akshardham tells a story — in its carvings, in its calm, and even in the quiet beauty of flowers in bloom. #NJinBloom #Akshardham

[akshardhamusa @akshardham_usa]

Dr. Gnanvatsaldas Swami shared an inspiring message at BAPS Swaminarayan #Akshardham, explaining how the same carbon atoms can form a simple pencil, or a priceless diamond based on internal organization — thus, it is our “internal organization” that shapes who we become.

[akshardhamusa @akshardham_usa]

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham welcomed renowned Carnatic vocalist, and founder of Ahuti, ArtSivasri Her stirring rendition of Venkatachala-nilayam honored the enduring power of music in expressing devotion and connecting hearts.
#CarnaticMusic #DevotionalMusic #Bhakti #Akshardham

[akshardhamusa @akshardham_usa]

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham welcomed entrepreneur and philanthropist @Naveen_Jain_CEO, along with @ms_anujain, Head of Women’s Health at Viome. They engaged in a thoughtful exchange centered on the joy of giving, volunteerism, and selfless service.

#Volunteerism #Akshardham

[akshardhamusa @akshardham_usa]

Experience summer at #Akshardham—where each evening blends vibrant skies, serene spaces, and sacred architecture. From devotional sounds to the stillness of sunset, the season invites reflection, renewal, and peace.

#FirstDayOfSummer

[BAPS Houston @Bapshouston]

Thank you to the Stafford Police Department for your support of BAPS Charities Walk-Run 2025 and the shared commitment to community service. #BAPSCharities #StaffordPD #SpiritOfService #CommunityFirst

[BAPS Public Affairs @BAPS_PubAffairs]

Honoring the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their courage is a beacon of inspiration in serving society with dedication and gratitude.

#MemorialDay

[akshardhamusa @akshardham_usa]

On Memorial Day, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham honors all who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation. Their courage, selflessness, and unwavering dedication continue to inspire hearts and uphold the values we cherish.

#MemorialDay #BAPSRobbinsville #Akshardham

[Friends of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Leicester @FriendsBAPSLeic]

Today marks the birth anniversary of Yogiji Maharaj, the fourth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan.

A pioneer of children and youth engagement, Yogiji Maharaj laid the foundation for the weekly assemblies that continue to nurture spiritual growth around the world.

[BAPS Houston @Bapshouston]

What adds vibrancy to your life?

#BAPSHouston #BAPS #Houston #houstonarchitecture #visithouston #mandir #HTX #mandir #mandirmoods