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GOPIO NEWS
SPECIAL BULLETIN
December 18, 2011
A Publication of
the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
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Issue: X-18
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December 18,
2011
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Join Our List
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NOTE: GOPIO News is a FREE bi-monthly newsletter
of GOPIO International, based in the USA. We need your help in
reaching out more NRIs/PIOs around the world. Please go to the bottom of
the news bulletin and click the FORWARD
button and type e-mail addresses of your friends and relatives. One could
also subscribe this newsletter by visiting www.gopio.net and type in the e-mail address. All preivous issues of
GOPIO News are provided at GOPIO News Archives. If you do not wish to
receive this newsletter in future, please click SafeUnsubscribe at the
end of this newsletter.
GOPIO is a community
supported non-profit organization taking up issues of the Indian Diaspora
and attempting to unifying the community in its common causes. Support
GOPIO by becoming a Life Member or chapter member. One can become Life
Member online by visiting http://www.gopio.net/online_membership.html.
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GOPIO TO
HOST ANNUAL MEETING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS BANQUET IN CONJUNCTION
WITH PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2012
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GOPIO INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING & COMMUNITY SERVICE
AWARDS BANQUET IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2012
GOPIO International has
scheduled its annual Community Service Awards Banquet on January 6, 2012
in Jaipur, India along with GOPIO's General Council Meetings on January
6, 2012 preceding Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD2012) events of January 7 -
9, 2010.
GOPIO is inviting community representatives to provide
country and regional reports on issues and prospects pertaining to
Indian Diaspora in all countries with substantial NRI/PIO population. If
you like to present a report from yiuyr country on the state of affairs
NRI/PIO issues and and prospects, please contact GOPIO President
Ashook Ramsaran at tel: 718/939-8194 or 917/519-5783 (cell), E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com.
The GOPIO Community Service
Awards (GOPIO CSA) are given for outstanding community service, public
service and/or significant charitable or philanthropic contributions of
benefit to the community.
Program Outline as follows:
- 11:00am GOPIO Executive Meeting
- 12:30pm Lunch
- 1:30pm Regional & Country Reports
- 7:00pm Cocktails and Networking Reception
- 8:00pm GOPIO CSA Banquet
Date -
Friday,January
6, 2012
Registration Fee for the
Banquet Only -
Rs. 1,500 or US $ 30 (Seating is limited.
REGISTER ONLINE AT THE GOPIO
WEBSITE, www.gopio.net
(or click http://www.gopio.net/Pravasi_Bharatiya_Divas_2012.htm)
Veenue - Hotel Marriott
Jaipur (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
JAIPUR MARRIOTT HOTEL - GOPIO International is
proud to select Marriott Jaipur as its host hotel and hospitality
partner. Marriott Jaipur is a new, modern, convenient and comfortable
hotel (also the official hotel of PBD 2012). Thoe who are registered for
GOPIO conference and/or banquet are eligible to avail of the special
rates, use
the CODE - PIO
and make a reservation for Rs. 6,600 plus tax for double occupancy
including breakfast.
Need credit card to reserve directly at the hotel (copy Munish Gupta,
Coordinator moviegupta@gmail.com your reservation confirmation).
Jaipur Marriott hotel is strategically located close to the
heart of the city as well as the airport. It offers perfect accommodation
for leisure as well as business travelers. The contemporary hotel has 300
spacious rooms including 15 suites and 1 Presidential suite, catering to
the MICE and leisure traveler. Marriott Jaipur hotel is a perfect
destination where work and pleasure blend seamlessly into each other.
GOPIO International and Marriott Jaipur are pleased to be
able to enclose an offer tailored especially for GOPIO International, one
that will completely fulfill all your needs and requirements. And,
alongside the services and prices that Marriott Jaipur has thoughtfully
drafted for you, there is lots of additional information gathered to
explore. Jaipur Marriott Hotel (www.jaipurmarriott.com).
This offer reserved for GOPIO International is valid for
reservatuion until December 30, 2011.
Jaipur Marriott Hotel, Near Jawahar Circle, Ashram
Marg, Jaipur - 302015, Rajasthan, India. Tel: +91 141 4567777 Fax: +91
141 4567887
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GOPIO JOINS
GUJARAT UNIVERSITY TO ORGANIZE DIASPORA CONFERENCE IN AHMEDABAD, JANUARY
2012
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GOPIO joins hands with the
Department of Study Abroad Program at the Gujarat University to organize
a conference with the theme, INDIA DIASPORA - Inter Linkage and Synergy
at Gujarat University campus in Ahmedabad on January 12 and 13th,
2012. See announcement below:
The impact of Indian Diaspora has motivated its homeland to map
its history and factors for migration. Concerns for economic, political,
cultural and social engagements of Indian Diaspora have been widely shown
in the society. It has also brought sociologists and researchers to look
into the process of migration and have found themselves into pondering
upon the trends of Indian Diaspora.
The considerable presence of the Indian Diaspora in almost all
parts of the world and its insistence upon sending success stories back
home in spheres inspired homeland India to connect India with her
Diaspora with renewed passion. This conference will look into the
cultural, social, economic and political spheres of India's relations
with its Diaspora and map on Diaspora history and its contribution to
India in IT, infrastructure, education, research and technology, finance
and banking, remittances, investments and oriental arts and cultures.
The conference organizing chairs are: Dr. Neerja Arun (Study
Abroad Program of Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India), Dr. Thomas
Abraham (Founder President and Chairman Emeritus, GOPIO International)
and Dr. Jagat Motwani (GOPIO Academic Council Chair 2004-2009).
Although, the deadline to submit is over, one may contact Dr.
Neerja Arun to see whether there are any slots available for
presentation.
INDIA DIASPORA - Inter Linkage and Synergy
- Here and there: merging spheres
- Transforming the local with global initiatives
- Funder's agenda: pitching ideas for development
And finally, Role of Indian Diaspora in re-conceiving and
reconstituting faith in physical and virtual places of spiritualism:
India and Abroad
Contact: Dr. Neerja Arun, Study Abroad Program, Gujarat
University, Ahmedabad, India, drneerjaarun@yahoo.com or Dr. Thomas Abraham of GOPIO at gopio@optonline.net.
The International Indian Diaspora Conference
12th and 13th January, 2012, GOPIO & SAP at
Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India
For a registration ansd accommodaiton, contact the
Conference Secretariat. Should you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact Dr Neerja Arun. Tel:
+91-79-26303153 or +91- 9825012984 Fax: ++91-79-27910213 E-mail: drneerjaarun@yahoo.com
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GOPIO TO
HOST TRINIDAD & TOBAGO PRIME MINISTER KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR IN
KOLKATA
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 GOPIO
International is hosting a special dinner in Kolkata on January 11,
2012 for Trinidad & Tobago's Prime Minister, Hon. Kamla
Persad-Bissessar, who is making a historic visit to the Kolkata Memorial
on the first anniversary of its unveiling. Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar,
the first female Prime Minister of the twin-island state will be the
chief guest at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2012 to be held in Jaipur on
January 7-9, 2012.
The Kolkata Memorial pays
tribute to those who left India as indentured Indian laborers from 1834
thru' 1920 and is inscribed with memorial plaques in Hindi and English in
"recognition and remembrance of their journeys as Indian indentured
laborers taken to far away lands seeking better livelihoods for
themselves and their descendants".
It
was inaugurated on January 11, 2011 at Kidderpore Depot along the
Hoogley River in Kolkata by Hon Vayalar Ravi, Minister of India's
Overseas Indian Affairs, along with now Chief Minister of West Bengal,
Hon Mamta Banerjee. The unveiling was a attended by hundreds from several
countries including Guyana, Trinidad, Surname, Guadeloupe, USA, Canada,
UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Kenya, Fiji, Mauritius, Re-Union
Islands, New Zealand, Australia and other many others countries where
Indians and persons of Indian origin reside.
A large contingent of PIOs
from the Caribbean region will be in attendance as well as many GOPIO
members from local and international groups. The event will be one of the
highlights of the first official state visit to India by Prime Minister
Persad-Bissessar.
Attendance to the planned dinner is by invitation only.
For seating arrangements, RSVP is requested as soon as possible.
For details, contact:
Mridul Pathak (Program Coordinating Chairperson) at calonline@gmail.com or Arundhuti Ganguli at arundhuti.ganguli@gmail.com (or tel 91-98-3063-2422)
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PRAVASI
BHARATIYA DIVAS (PBD 2012) SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 7-9, 2012 IN JAIPUR
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The
10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be held from 7-9 January, 2012 in
Jaipur, Rajasthan. Shri Vayalar Ravi, the Minister of Overseas Indian
Affairs (MOIA) and Civil Aviation, announced that the Chief Guest of
PBD-2012 will be the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Kamla
Persad Bissessar. The theme of PBD-2012 is "Global Indian-Inclusive
Growth". It was announced that Rajasthan will be the partner
State of the 10th PBD, which would provide the Diaspora an opportunity to
understand the vibrant culture and potential of State.
Shri Ravi said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate
this annual flagship event of the Ministry on January 8, and the
President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will deliver the valedictory
address on January 9 and confer the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awards. He
also informed that two pre-conference seminars on 'Solar Energy-
Investment' and R&D' and 'Social Entrepreneurship-Water' will also be
organized during the event.
The Minister said that more than 1500 delegates are expected to
participate in PBD-2012 from all over the world. He said that Government
is making efforts to make PBD more meaningful and interactive event that
would address issues and concerns of the overseas Indian community
effectively. He also announced that the event would be webcast online and
summary of proceedings put out each day. The interactive website would
provide an opportunity for the Diaspora to participate in the conference
from any corner of the world. On the occasion, he also launched the PBD
website- www.pbdindia.org.
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GOPIO-JAIPUR
AND GOPIO-AHMEDABAD LAUNCH SCHDULED
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GOPIO-JAIPUR TO BE LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 23RD, 2011
GOPIO has been initiating
chapters in major cities of India. These chapters will provide a forum
and an opportunity to network for NRIs who are settling back in India,
NRI parents and those who have business, technology and educational
interest to reach out to NRIs. Such Indian chapters will provide
opportunities to share ideas and interests on common interest with
visiting NRIs and help in social, community and philanthropic causes of
the local community as well as develop activities such as Youth Exchange
programs with GOPIO India chapters and GOPIO network around the world.
The Indian chapters could also become conduit to deliver services to the
local community utilizing resources from the global Indian communities,
functioning within the guidelines and within the objectives of GOPIO
International.
Special Guest
Dr. Thomas Abraham
Founder President, GOPIO
International and
Executive Trustee, GOPIO
International Foundation
Program:
6:00 pm to 6:30 pm - Networking Reception
6.30
pm - GOPIO-Jaipur Launch, Talk, and Interactive Session Followed by
Dinner
Date
and Time:
Friday,
December 23rd
Place:
Conference Centre, CEG Tower, B-11G Malaviya
Industrial Area, Jaipur
Confirm
your participation by sending an e-mail to GOPIO-Jaipur Coordinators.
Gopal Mehta at 09928852100
(e-mail: mehtagopal@yahoo.com) or Viswas Jain at 09929094199 (e-mail:vishwas@cegindia.com) or Rajiv Jain 09413350005 (E-mail: rajmehmwal@yahoo.com) or Mr. Suresh Singhvi 09829052 (E-mail: pm.sharma@gmail.com)
GOPIO-AHMEDABAD TO BE
LAUNCHED ON JANUARY 11TH, 2012
GOPIO plans to launch GOPIO-Ahmedabad in
conjunction with the Diaspora Conference organized by Gujarat
University's Study Abroad program on Jan. 12thand 13th.GOPIO
Founder President and Chairman Emeritus Dr. Thomas Abraham will be the
guest speaker.
Former NRIs settled in the Ahmedabad area and those interested in to
network with NRIs/PIOs (i.e. parents of NRI children and those with
business interest) are invited.
Program
5:00
pm to 5:30 pm - Networking Reception, Coffee/Tea and Snacks
5.30
pm - 7.00 p.m. GOPIO-Ahmedabad Launch, Talk, and Interactive Session
7.00
p.m. - Dinner (Venue will be announced later)
Date
and Time:
Wednesday,
January 11th, 2012
Place:
Executive Meeting Room, Main Tower Building, Gujarat University,
Ahmedabad
Confirm your participation
by sending an e-mail to Dr. Neerja Arun 9825012984 or 079-25601314 or
26303153 (O) (e-mail: drneerjaarun@gmail.com)
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GOPIO SYDNEY NORTH
WEST TO ORGANIZE CARING AND SHARING CHARITY DINNER
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GOPIO Sydney North West
chapter invites everyone to "Caring & Sharing Charity
Dinner" to be held on Saturday, 24 December 2011 at 6.00 p.m. at
Sapphire Function Centre, 7 Station Road, Auburn. A fun filled evening
with music, laughter & dance with DJ Disco Waves. Tickets: $30 per
head and $100 for a family of four. All proceeds will be used for
providing uniforms, warm sweaters, shoes, socks etc. to 150 students of
Government Middle School, Village Gannjja, Distt. Gurdaspur, Punjab
(India). This school has been identified as under privilaged school,
where students come from very poor families. GOPIO Sydney North West
chapter thanks their sponsors for their support.
Last year GOPIO Sydney
North West chapter provided similar support to under privilaged school in
village Wara-Pohwindia, Zira, Dist. Ferozepur, where hand pump was
provided for clean drinking water along with warm clothes, shoes, socks
and stationary to all the students of Government Middle School.
Photo above: The new
handpump provided by GOPIO Sydney NW and shoes are provided to students
in Wara-Pohwindia, Zira in Ferozepur District in Punjab in 2010
For more information please
contact Ravi 0433 179 303, Raj 0433 330 722 or Harinder Kaur 0430 158
911.
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GOPIO LIFE
MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
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GOPIO is a non-partisan,
non-sectarian global organization with chapters in several countries,
actively promoting the interests of people of Indian origin worldwide by
monitoring and addressing current critical issues of concern, and by
enhancing cooperation and communication between groups of Indians living
in various countries.
GOPIO Individual Life
membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO. The one-
time fee is $5,000 for Platinum Life Membership, $2,500 for Gold Life
Membership and $1,500 Silver Life Membership and half the amount for each
category for those from developing countries and India.
GOPIO is looking forward to
opening chapters in all major cities of the world so as to network people
of Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have chapter in your
city, please visit GOPIO website (www.gopio.net) and get details of chapter initiation (visit http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm). Process involves sending a letter of intent to start a
chapter by a committee of five people or more. For more information,
contact:
GOPIO Chairman - Inder
Singh, Tarzana, California, USA, Tel: +1-818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net.
GOPIO President - Ashook Ramsaran, Fresh Meadows, New York,
USA, Tel: 718/939-8194, E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com
GOPIO Executive Vice
President - Sunny Kulathakal, Bahrain, Tel: +973 39441956 or +91
9845756692, E-mail: Kulathakal@yahoo.com
To become a Life member of
GOPIO, one can sign up online at http://gopio.net/online_membership.htm or fill up the form and send it with a check to: GOPIO International, PO Box
560117, New York NY 11356, USA.
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EDITORIAL
BOARD
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Chief Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President and
Chairman Emeritus,
GOPIO (Stamford, CT, USA)
Editor: Ashook Ramsaran,
GOPIO President
(New York,
USA)
Webmasters: Prashant Gupta (Hyderabad,
India) and Abu Thomas (New Rochelle, NY, USA)
Contributors of this issue: Inder Singh (Chairman,
GOPIO Intl.), Nami Kaur (GOPIO Convention 2011), Suman Kapoor (GOPIO-Waikato, New Zealand), Dr. Piyush Agrawal (GOPIO Intl., USA) and Sangeeta Ahuja
(GOPIO Health Council)
GOPIO NEWS welcomes NRI/PIO
related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer correspondent or
reporter.
Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, Tel: 203-329-8010, E-mail: gopio@optonline.net.
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