An interfaith movement started in 1893 in Chicago with the Parliament of the World Religions. A Lotus in the Mud is an offshoot of the same effort. This amazing web magazine is trying to bring forward positivity and helping the world to realize that effort is needed to resolve all our issues and make ourselves a better community and a better society.
Nitin Ajmera
A Jain, he is Chair of the Board of Parliament of the World Religions; and CFO at a New York company
A Lotus In The Mud is a good magazine with a range of helpful articles. I first met Parveen Chopra while we worked at India Today in New Delhi. He quit a fairly cushy job to start Life Positive magazine from scratch. His sheer willpower and zeal to spread positivity and curate authentic knowledge about wellness and spirituality have created A Lotus in the Mud in New York.
Ravi Shankar Etteth
Consulting Editor at The New Indian Express and Editor at The Sunday Standard. The Return of the Brahmin is his latest novel
Parveen Chopra, founder-editor of Life Positive, India's first spiritual and holistic health magazine, is now successfully blooming A Lotus in the Mud in New York. His vision encompasses timeless wisdom and the modern-day body-mind-spirit understanding. Parveen had the courage and open-mindedness to publish my spiritual fiction book, Nine Days to Nirvana, 25 years ago. I wish him, and A Lotus in the Mud ever-new heights of success.
Dr Sanjay Grover
Eye surgeon, author of Nine Days to Nirvana (published by Life Positive) and Romancing the Truth (to be published)
I am continually inspired by Parveen Ji’s visionary work with A Lotus in the Mud. His dedication to exploring and sharing profound insights into spirituality, personal growth, and well-being is commendable. His commitment to fostering a global community of seekers and changemakers is reflected in every thoughtfully curated article and feature. May his webmag magnetize the support and resources needed to have this work reach more people across the world.
Neha Lohia
Conscious Filmmaker and Guru Whisperer
Parveen Chopra is a uniquely talented man, with a tempered moral compass. His journalistic abilities have helped enhance the US-India relationship and create a community out of the Indian diaspora. His latest chapter in life harnesses his past experiences, to empower Lotus: a perfect metaphor for living life stress-free. Ranju and I wish Parveen and Lotus readers life's best!
Ranju & Ravi Batra
Eminent Attorney, Chairman - National Advisory Council South Asian Affairs
I have always admired Parveen Chopra’s qualities of head and heart, and his achievements. Proud of you. I pray for success in all your positive and spiritual endeavors.
D.R. Kaarthikeyan
Former Director General, National Human Rights Commission, India, Padma Shri awardee.
I enjoyed exploring the Lotus site and perusing all the various articles there. It is a great service that you're doing for the community. I’ll like to write for it later.
Srinivas Reddy, PhD
Author, Visiting Assistant Professor of Contemplative Studies at Brown University, RI
In 1997, when I started writing for Delhi-based Life Positive magazine, Parveen ji encouraged me as its editor to write a number of cover stories. I went on to publish five books and carved a career as a corporate trainer. I am sure with his sincerity, patience, and courage, he will now make the lotus bloom in America and nudge thousands of people on the path of spiritual growth.
Anil Bhatnagar
Large Audience Transformational Speaker, award-winning author
I came to know Parveen as editor of Life Positive magazine in India. He helped some spiritual events we organized there in the early 2000s take off. He has been an important player in the field of spiritual awareness, first in India and now with his Lotus magazine in the US. His roots may be Indian, but as true spirituality requires, his work addresses people across the globe.
Ravindra Raj
IT Consultant who also runs a spiritual events firm in Sweden
Parveen Chopra is a name that stands for true journalism, not sensationalism or any negative ‘ism’. He likes to tell the stories of inspirational people and report on positive developments and trends. Now with the Lotus site he is moving to the most positive and profound subject: spiritualism. The media needs more Parveen Chopra’s!
Prashant Gupta
Actor (‘A New Christmas’, ‘Tashkent Files’, ‘Neerja’)
As founding Editor of Life Positive, Parveen Chopra broke fresh ground in publishing industry in India with an outstanding holistic and spiritual magazine. Now a New Yorker, he looks to again blaze a fresh trail with A Lotus In The Mud that looks fresh, inviting and informed. I am excited for Mr Chopra as well as the readers of this web magazine.
Suma Varughese
Facilitator of The Zen of Good Writing Course, former Editor, Life Positive & Society magazines
The present decline of interest in religion is troubling because faith is an immense source of resilience and community. Human beings flourish through connection. Without it, we are imprisoned in one body, utterly alone. A Lotus In The Mud brings together diverse insights that move us to deep, meaningful connection.
Nev March
Award-winning author of ‘Murder in Old Bombay’, and other mysteries
With his considerable achievements in journalism, Parveen Chopra could have moved to greener pastures. But his inner voice told him to follow his passion: to curate and present knowledge from ancient wisdom traditions as well as modern science to help people heal in mind, body and spirit.
Arvind Vora
President, Shanti Fund
With journalistic skills, labor of love and integrity, Parveen Chopra as founding editor made The South Asian Times a leading publication of the Indian American community. We wish him great success in his own venture, ALotusInTheMud.com, which aims to contribute to the well-being of the global community.
Kamlesh C Mehta
Chairman, The South Asian Times
As a journalist, Parveen Chopra has worked with people of many different faiths, nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and political persuasions.He brings the experience we desperately need today to our divided land.
Rev. Tom Goodhue
Executive Director Emeritus, Long Island Council of Churches
A need was strongly felt for a consolidated website to help bring clarity, find purpose of life, search for meaning, provide balance, and understand self on the spiritual journey. We hope A Lotus in the Mud, developed by passionate-seeker Parveen Chopra, will help inspire, motivate, engage, and illuminate individuals in their pursuit of connection, exploration, discovery, and awakening.
Rajan Zed
Hindu Statesman & President, Universal Society of Hinduism