Editor’s Note

At the center of debate

It’s not often that Indian Americans are at the center of the country’s constitutional debates. Yet that’s exactly where Georgetown University law Professor Neal Katyal is. He is defending Salim Ahmed Hamdan, the driver of Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden who has been held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the past three years. Judge John Roberts, who was just confirmed as Chief Justice of the United States, during his stint at the D.C. appeals court in a key decision in the Hamdan case gave President George W. Bush – and future presidents – “the unreviewable power to bypass civilian courts and previous due-process protections of our military courts in the treatment of prisoners suspected of involvement in terrorism,” according to The Washington Times. Katyal has warned that the effects of this ruling go beyond his client, explaining that the decision “vests the president with the ability to circumvent the federal courts and time-tested limits on the executive. No decision, by any court, in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has gone this far.” Indian Life & Style wanted to find out more about this professor who is at loggerheads with the Bush Administration. “Neil’s Law,” our cover story by Sunil Adam, tell you more about this dynamic and influential lawyer.

Physicist Dr. Mani Bhaumik, on the other hand, made waves years ago as the scientist who led the U.S. team that created the laser widely used in LASIK vision-correction surgery. Though the development of the Excimer laser made an eye-popping fortune for him, Bhaumik eventually turned to spirituality, and realized that “one should be spiritual to live, not live to be spiritual.” Read more about this world-renowned scientist in “Code Name Success.”

As any self-respecting beer aficionado knows, October is the time to party. The annual Oktoberfest in Munich is one of the biggest public festivals in the world, and this year, 6 million visitors are expected to consume more than 6 million liters of the brew. What, might you ask, does this have to do with Indians? Well, as it turns out, one of the fastest growing manufacturers of this frothy drink in the U.K. is none other than India-born Karan Bilimoria. “Fizz of Success” takes you on a journey through his golden path of achievements.

Success comes in many forms and in many professions. Sunny Leone, originally from Punjab, has had her share of achievements in a field rare for Indian Americans: the adult entertainment business. How did she decide on a career that is generally frowned upon by our community? “Sunny Side Up” tells you how she made her way to the top in this “unconventional” field.

And, keeping our pulse on the community, we examine how desi bloggers are making their mark on the Net. So, get onto your laptops and post a blog… just for the fun of it!