Chair of the Virginia Asian Advisory Board (VAAB), Srilekha Palle, has affirmed that South Asian Herald will “hold our societies together, will hold this DMV together, and will give the voiceless a platform.”

Palle, who co-emceed the Grand Launch of South Asian Herald on March 6, 2025, at the Intelligent Office in Virginia, emphasized the need for in-depth coverage of South Asian communities in the United States, rather than just a fleeting mention in big media outlets such as CNN or Fox. 

“We want in-depth coverage,” she stated, pointing out that such depth can only be achieved when publications like South Asian Herald exist. “So let us take a moment to celebrate this milestone.”

Palle stressed that South Asian politics and policies often do not receive the attention they deserve. While these topics may appear as a “headliner,” they are rarely covered in detail. “There are times you really feel there is a need for depth and focus on South Asian issues, and that’s precisely why I enjoy reading Jayaraman’s articles,” she added.

Reflecting on her recent Middle Eastern delegation with the American Jewish Council to Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, Palle noted that she had written about her experiences in South Asian Herald.

“No other place would have taken that, but I was able to write it down. So South Asian Herald gives a platform for ‘voiceless’ like me.”

She further emphasized that the event was not just a celebration of the launch of South Asian Herald but also a recognition of its founder, Jayaraman. “We are celebrating a journey here and a journey of my dear friend, Vishnu. He has supported so many people around here. He’s done such great work in the community,” she said, describing him as a figure of “resilience, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to journalistic excellence.”

As a seasoned healthcare professional, Palle acknowledged the challenge of articulating Jayaraman’s journey accurately. “I’m an orator, but I want to get this right,” she said, explaining that much like in healthcare, storytelling is essential to ensuring that people’s experiences are remembered.

“I mean, people remember stories a lot, right?” she asked, adding, “But if you’re not a good storyteller, it does not stick. That’s what Vishnu does best. If you have not read one of his articles, read one – it just flows so beautifully.”

Palle recalled how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, her views were often unpopular, and she was hesitant to share them with journalists. However, she found that Jayaraman, then Washington Bureau Chief of News India Times, covered her perspective in an unbiased manner.

“I was afraid to go to any journalist with my views because I didn’t think my views would be taken into account. I think that’s how I came to know of Vishnu. What he put in there – pointing to SAH banner – unbiased, in-depth, and impactful journalism – is what I saw within Vishnu’s journalism,” she expressed.

Drawing from her experience in politics and policy, Palle also highlighted three key factors: “Time matters, talent matters, treasure matters.” She reminded the audience that free journalism cannot sustain itself without financial backing, as South Asian Herald does not charge for subscriptions. She urged small business owners and the community to come forward and support Jayaraman and his publication.

Palle, who was appointed as Chair VAAB by Governor Glenn Youngkin, recalled that Jayaraman had covered Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May last year, at the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond, where the Governor recognized his journalistic accomplishments with a citation.

“I hope Vishnu can join us this year too,” she said, extending an invitation to Jayaraman and underscoring Governor Youngkin’s unwavering support for small businesses.

“He [Governor Youngkin] himself was an entrepreneur. If you all know him, he supports small businesses, and I think he’ll be thrilled to know that Vishnu has taken on entrepreneurship.”

The former Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia, Puneet Ahluwalia emphasized that a “free press” is essential to safeguarding the freedom to pursue happiness and upholding the values enshrined in the Pledge of Allegiance. He stressed the need to fight for these principles and noted that Jayaraman is the right person to help amplify this message.

Reflecting on his interactions with Jayaraman, Ahluwalia remarked, “I must commend him [Jayaraman] because whenever he reaches out to me for my comment, I’ll say ok, and even if I take a day or two to respond, he is still diligently working on it.”

Ahluwalia further emphasized it’s not only important to support Jayaraman, but it’s important to support the uplift the broader community and the ideas rooted in India and South Asia, and that’s what South Asian Herald is all about.

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