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GOPIO
NEWS
A
Publication of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
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Issue: IX-9
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August 1,
2010
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KOLKATTA MEMORIAL FOR PIOs SCHEDULED FOR INAUGURATION IN
JANUARY 2011
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For the
descendants of the masses of indentured Indian laborers who left India
from 1834 through 1920 to work in British colonies in remote parts of the
world, the Kolkata Memorial is becoming a reality. With the active
support of the Government of India Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
(MOIA) and the West Bengal Government, the Global Organization of People
of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) is prominent in this pioneering
efforttowards inaugurating a commemorative memorial plaque followed by a
museum at appropriately significant sites in Kolkata. The goal is to establish a
commemorative memorial followed by a museum at a suitable site or sites
where Indian indentured laborers were housed and processed while awaiting
the ships for emigration to plantations in colonies of West Indies,
Mauritius, Fiji, Africa and elsewhere from 1834 thru' 1820.
GOPIO
International Executive Vice President Ashook Ramsaran visited Kolkata
July 7 - 8, 2010 along with MOIA Secretary Dr A Didar Singh and MOIA
Joint Secretary G. Gurucharan. Both Dr A Didar Singh and JS G. Gurucharan
are enthused and very supportive of this effort. MOIA coordinated the
visit with the West Bengal Chief Secretary Arhendu Sen and other
officials for support and logistics. Prominent Indian emigration
researcher, historian and writer Leela Sarup is an integral part of the
team and provided the historic background and invaluable information on
potential sites for both the commemorative memorial plaque and the museum
at a subsequent time. Leela Sarup is an ardent advocate of the
preservation of the sites and is working in collaboration with GOPIO in
this effort. Former MOIA Joint Secretary and now Indian High Commissioner
to Trinidad & Tobago, Malay Mishra, has been an early proponent of
this effort and he continues to be actively supportive.
MOIA Secretary Dr. A Didar Singh
said, "The descendants of all those who had left for foreign
shores from Calcutta port during that period have been lobbying with the
government for a memorial and a museum in Calcutta to honor the memory of
their ancestors".
Ashook Ramsaran is
spearheading the effort on behalf of GOPIO International. Born in Guyana
(formerly Demerara, then renamed British Guiana), Ashook Ramsaran who can
trace his ancestry to his great grandfather's emigration in 1853 through
the port of Kolkata, said that "this is a fitting tribute of due
recognition and an effort on behalf of the descendants of the thousands
of Indian indentured laborers to erect an appropriate, long lasting
physical connection in the land of our ancestors. This is a
memorial and museum to physically as well as emotionally connect the
descendants of those indentured workers with the story of their ancestors
and their ancestral homeland. This will be our tribute to our ancestors
and a lasting legacy to present and future generations".
The team of Dr A
Didar Singh, G. Gurucharan, Ashook Ramsaran and Leela Sarup, accompanied
by officials of west Bengal Archaeology Department, used a motorized
launch with crew provided by the West Bengal
government. The team traveled along the Hugli River
where the British transport ships were docked to receive their respective
ship loads of Indian indentured laborers to designated colonies to work
on British owned plantations. Using maps and information provided, the
team viewed and evaluated the various depots used, such as the Suriname
Jetty, the Demerara Depot, Garden Reach Depot, etc. This was followed by
team visit on land to other sites (Bhowanipore, Alipore) used to house
the Indian indentured laborers while they awaited medical evaluation for
fitness and accumulating the required number of approximately 400 for
each ship load. The present condition of the various depots were
discussed and evaluated during the visit and in subsequently discussions.
Photo left:
On the bank of the Hugli River - Site of Commemoration Plaque: Demerara
Clock Tower at the Demerara Docks used for transport of Indian indentured
laborers to the West Indies
Photo top right: MOIA Joint
Secretary G. Gurucharan, Captain of Kolkata Port Trust
Schooner, MOIA Secretary Dr A. Didar Singh, GOPIO Intl Executive
Vice President Ashook Ramsaran, Superintendent of West Bengal Dept of
Archaeology Mr Amal Roy
Photo bottom right: In the
office of West Bengal Chief Secretary (l-r): GOPIO Intl Executive Vice
President Ashook Ramsaran, MOIA Joint Secretary G. Gurucharan, West
Bengal Chief Secretary Arhendu Sen, MOIA Secretary Dr A. Didar Singh,
Diaspora Historian/Researcher Leela Sarup, Attorney Anupama Sharma
After considerable
evaluation and consideration of present conditions of various depots as
well as logistics, accessibility by land and river, as well as time
factors, the consensus is that there will be a two-phase effort as
follows:
·
Phase
1:
Install a memorial plaque at Kidderpore (Demerara) depot clock tower
which is intact and fairly good condition. Date: January 10, 2011.
GOPIO is collaborating closely with MOIA on the inscription to be placed
on the memorial plaque and the logistics of installation. The plan is for
its inauguration on January 10, 2101 immediately following PBD2011. The
Prime Ministers of Guyana,
Trinidad & Tobago and Mauritius
would be invited to participate in the inauguration ceremony. High
ranking officials of the Government of India would include Min Vayalar Ravi
of MOIA as well as MOIA Secretary Dr A Didar Singh and MOIA Joint
Secretary G. Gurucharan, and others.
The objective is
for the memorial plaque to reflect the sentiments of "honoured
tribute, with due recognition, gratitude and lasting remembrance of all
those who left these shores from 1834 - 1920 as Indian indentured
labourers to far away lands seeking better livelihoods for themselves and
their descendants; for their pioneering spirit, determination,
resilience, endurance and perseverance amidst the extremely harsh and
demeaning conditions they encountered; for their preservation of sense of
origin, traditions, culture and religion, and their promotion of the
Indian culture; for their achievements and successes despite
insurmountable odds; for the many sacrifices made individually and
collectively; for the invaluable contributions they have made to the
diverse culture and economic development of the lands they adopted and
where they lived; and for triumph of the spirit of Indianness that
they maintained and passed on to their descendants"
·
Phase
2:
Acquire suitably significant land in Kolkata for a museum and
resource center containing records of Indian indentured laborers'
emigration (1834 --1920), literature, works of art, documentaries, films,
artifacts, photographs and emigration records relevant to that era and
those who left as indentured laborers. Options: Bhowanipore Depot,
Alipore Depot or Garden Reach Depot. The West Bengal Heritage Commission
had marked 14A DL Khan Road
as the site of the barracks where the Indian indentured laborers were kept
before being shipped to colonial plantations and mines. "Maps have
since strengthened the possibility of the BSNL Telecom factory turning
out to be the barracks," said Amal Roy, the superintendent of the
West Bengal Archaeology department. The third site to be surveyed was
Surinam Ghat, near Kidderpore.
Phase 2 will be a
significant undertaking and on a longer time schedule with much advanced
planning to be done by a select team whose members would have various
areas of expertise
GOPIO
International has filed application in Kolkotta to register the Global
Indian Diaspora Heritage Society (GIDHS) as an integral unit of
GOPIO International Cultural Council. GIDHS will be the organization to
plan, coordinate and manage the museum to be constructed as Phase 2 of
project. An international team of GIDHS is being formulated with
representation from all destination countries where Indian indentured
laborers emigrated from 1834 to 1920. GIDHS membership will include
prominent persons of Indian origin (PIOs) as patrons and benefactors, as
well as historians, researchers, planners and supporters.
It is to be noted
that GOPIO's effort to establish the Kolkata Memorial has been received
with overwhelming emotional sentiments and enthusiastic support from all
corners of the global Indian diaspora, in particular from PIOs in
destination countries where Indian indentured laborers emigrated from
1834 to 1920. "A noble effort indeed", said writer and
historian Anand Mullo of Mauritius; "An extra ordinary service to
the Indian Diaspora", said Indian emigration roots researcher
Shamshu Deen of Trinidad & Tobago; "A commemoration tribute
whose time is overdue", said Prof Mohan Gautam of The
Netherlands; "We are all deeply indebted for the Kolkata Memorial
which is a tremendous achievement", said prominent Indian
Diaspora icon (Dr) Yesu Persaud of Guyana.
GOPIO plans to set
up a special "GIDHS" corner on the GOPIO website www.gopio.net.
For more
information on the Kolkata Memorial and/or membership to GIDHS, contact GOPIO International Executive Vice
President Ashook Ramsaran at Ramsaran@aol.com
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GOPIO
APPEALS MINISTER VAYALAR RAVI TO SORT OUT THE REMAINING ISSUES OF
PASSPORT SURRENDER
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The Global Organization of People of Indian
Origin (GOPIO) was joined by the National Federation of Indian American
Associations (NFIA) and the Federation of Indian Associations of NY/NJ/CT
(FIA) and other community groups from the New York Metro Area to host a
dinner reception and interactive session with Minister for Overseas
Indian Affairs Mr. Vayalar Ravi at the Golden Terrace Banquet Hall in
Richmond Hill, New York City. Over 100 Indian American community
representatives attended this meeting held on July 8th.
In his welcoming remarks, the Program
Coordinator and GOPIO Immediate Past Chairman and Founder
President, Dr. Thomas Abraham said that GOPIO, since its inception,
has been taking issues of larger interest to NRIs/PIOs in the last 20
years and has been successful in the implementation of several
resolutions of past GOPIO conventions.
"In 1989, through two resolutions at the
First GOPIO Convention, we proposed to the Govt. of India (GOI) to grant
dual citizenship and permanent resident card (PIO Card) to NRIs and PIOs
and in the year 2000, GOPIO also proposed to establish a ministry for
overseas Indian affairs similar to the ministry for overseas Chinese;
Govt. of India fulfilled all three GOPIO resolutions in the last ten
years," said Dr, Abraham.
The hot topic, of course, was the Outstanding
Issues Relating to Passport Surrender Rules and on another note, Minister
Ravi spoke on future MOIA programs. Ample opportunity provided for
audience participation.
GOPIO's initiative on this issue (see GOPIO
Bulletins (May 25th, June 2nd and June 15th)
Consul General of India
in New York,
Mr. Prabhu Dayal, in his remarks said that GOPIO's proposals are
seriously considered by Govt. of India and the Consulate will work
closely with GOPIO and other community organizations to sort out any community
issues with Govt. of India. Since Passport Surrender was a major issue of
the community, Mr. Dayal was accompanied by Mr. Pramod Bajaj, Consul for
OCI Card and Dr. Anju Kumar Consul for Visa & Passport at the
program.
Dr. Abraham addressed some of the concerns (on
behalf of the community at large), on the remaining issues of Indian
Passport Surrender by naturalized citizens. Dr Abraham began the
discussion by stating, "The retroactive enforcement of new rules
requiring surrender of Indian passport by former Indian citizens who had
acquired citizenship of other countries have been relaxed somewhat and we
are very thankful to MOIA for its efforts."
Since the new rules were implements by the
government due to the security concerns at the borders, Dr. Abraham said
"Our overseas Indian community will fully cooperate and support
Govt. of India in whatever way we can to make our borders safe and
secure.".
For the past several months as described in
GOPIO Newsletters, GOPIO has taken up the issue of Passport Surrender and
voiced concern in support of the overwhelming opposition by those
affected. GOPIO presented an appeal written by GOPIO Chairman Inder Singh
to Minister Ravi on the Passport Surrender rules which should be changed
without compromising on the security concerns raised by Home Ministry.
These include the following:
1. Reduce the passport surrender fee of $175 from
those who became naturalized citizens after June 1, 2010 to $20 and give
3 months for surrender and if not surrendered, charge a fee of $175.
2. There is still some confusion after MOIA
Secretary had sent a note to GOPIO and others saying that those who
became naturalized citizens before 2005 need not submit their old
passports and need not obtain the surrender certificates. However, it is
has not become rule yet since the Home Ministry officials are still
resisting. GOPIO suggested a compromise to go back on the date to year
2000 since all passports issued before 2000 are expired and are no more
valid travel documents.
3. GOPIO also requested that Government of India
should relax the current rigid requirements for those whose passports
have been misplaced or lost.
Dr. Abraham also thanked Minister Ravi for
taking up several community issues in the past especially pertaining
Middle East Indians and initiating "Know India"
program for the PIO youth and urged to expand this program further so as
to cultivate PIO youth and make them future resources of India.
GOPIO also brought up some other issues to the
attention of Minister Ravi. These included, passage of voting rights act
for Indian citizens living outside India
in the Parliament, PIO Cards even to the 4th generation of
PIOs, if they can provide affidavit of their roots in India and professional licensing in India for
OCI professionals. GOPIO also appealed for more educational opportunities
for NRI/PIO students, completion of PIO
University and completion of
Pravasi Bhavan in New Delhi.
After presenting the appeal, Dr. Abraham called
on Minister Ravi to address the attendees. Min Ravi began by saying he
was happy to be there and the purpose of this visit was to hear
"you" better and understand from "you" better. He
stated, "I appeal to the people, however, when we (the Government),
try to help, you (the NRIs/PIOs,) please help the Government. The
government of India
and my Ministry are about reason!" Continuing with that, 'India is
marching ahead!" and there are 27 million NRIs and PIOs (and
growing).'
Photo clockwise from top left - Dr. Thomas Abraham presenting an
appeal to Minister Vayalar Ravi; Minister Vayalar Ravi speaking at
GOPIO's community interactive session in New York on July 8, From L. to
R.: GOPIO Upper-New York President Satruhan Sukdeo, GOPIO Health Council
Chairperson Sangeeta Ahuja, GOPIO Founder President Dr. Thomas Abraham,
Minister Vayalar Ravi, Consul General Prabhu Dayal, GOPIO-New York
President Lal Motwani, FIA President Nirav Mehta and GOPIO-Connecticut
President Shailesh Naik; Community representatives at the meeting with
Minister Ravi.
He stated that apparently, the mechanisms were
there to accommodate the Passport Surrender; however, the problem might
have been that it was not implemented forcefully before.
To all OCI card holders, Minister suggested to
staple or clip, the old passport which has the permanent visa stamp with
the new passport.
After someone complained about the necessity
(due to cost and inconvenience) of getting an entry visa if they
currently had a tourist visa, Mr. Vayalar Ravi stated emphatically that a
tourist visa cannot be converted to an entry visa.
Mr. Prabhu Dayal, The Consulate General of India,
New York, who also serves the residents of the following states:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands, answered some of the Consulate related questions and
reinforced cooperation form the Indian community.
Bottom line, there is no mandatory requirement
for Persons of Indian Origin to carry their Surrender Certificates or
cancelled Indian passports while travelling to India. However, if the Indian
immigration authorities find that the former Indian citizens are entering
into India
using valid and non-cancelled Indian passports, they will seize such
passports.
With regards to the surrender certificate, you
can apply for the surrender certificate by mail only. With regards to OCI
Card, applications are accepted ONLY by mail. Cards can be collected in
person or by mail.For more information, and the forms necessary, please
refer to the following link. (http://www.indiacgny.org). Information and forms are
also available at the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs. (http://www.mha.nic.in)
Other questions were about the validity of
Pravasi Awards and how the winners were chosen. Council General Dayal
stated that it was a very stringent and strict process.
Minister Ravi further stated that his ministry
has successfully implemented "Know India". It is a 3 week
program for youth, age 18-26, of Indian Origin (excluding Non-Resident
Indians). This provides an overall understanding of India,
including politics, culture, industry, media, etc.
Only a few days ago at the consulate, during an
occasion where FIA was hosting launch of India Day Parade (on August 15th),
Mr. Dayal stated, "VOLUNTEER! There is lot that you (NRIs), can do,
rather then complain. We should respect our government!" On the
question of lost passport, Mr. Dayal continued, "If you have lost
your passport, we will try to help, however, you must prove you were
Indian citizen prior to gaining citizenship of another country."
Mr. Ravi emphatically concluded, "The
ministry is available to everyone." When he returns to India, he
stated that he shall certainly take up these issues to the Ministry of
Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs.
The program ended with a dance by Maaza Miss India
winner of 2009 Anuradha Maharaj, live Indian music by Stamford based IKSG and dinner.
GOPIO urges Indian community groups,
organizations and individuals to write to the Prime Minister at pmosb@pmo.nic.in, the Secretary of
the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at psfs@mea.gov.in, and the
Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) at secretary@moia.nic.in,
with a copy to GOPIO at GOPIOmail@yahoo.com.
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RECORD
NUMBER OF INDIAN AMERICANS RUNNING FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE
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A record number of Indian Americans are running
for public office this year. As reported by GOPIO News earlier,Nikki
'Randhawa' Haley is Republican gubernatorial candidate in South Carolina.
Haley had brushed aside allegations of marital infidelity and an ethnic
slur to become the Republican nominee for governor. Other Indian
Americans are running in congressional, state and city races in Pennsylvania, Kansas,
California, New
York and Ohio.
More than a dozen others serve in senior
positions in the Obama administration, including USAID chief Rajiv Shah and US Chief Information Officer
Vivek Kundra.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, the first
Indian American governor, made the Republican short list for vice
president in 2008.
Like Haley, most of the politicians in races
this year are second-generation immigrants who volunteered for local
political campaigns, served in state legislatures or worked on Capitol
Hill.
Manan Trivedi, a doctor and Iraq war veteran, recently won the
Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's
6th Congressional District. Before running for Congress, he served as a
healthcare adviser to the Obama campaign.
Raj Goyle, who has served in the Kansas
legislature for three years, is running in the Democratic primary in the
4th Congressional District, which includes his home town of Wichita.
Reshma Saujani, a Democratic fundraiser in the
South Asian community, says she is the first Indian American woman to run
for Congress.
The increased political involvement is an
indication of 'successful assimilation into mainstream American society',
Dino Teppara, chair of the Indian American Conservative Council and
former chief of staff for Republican House member Joe Wilson, was quoted
as saying.
The estimated 3.0 million Indian Americans rank
among the most highly educated ethnic groups in the US,
according to census figures, and they have the highest per-capita
income.
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NFIA
CELEBRATING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH 16TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION IN NEW YORK
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The National
Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), established in
1980, has been serving the community for the last 30 years. It has given
voice to Indian-Americans to be a participating community in America and motivate them to perform their
civic duties and at the same time preserve their rich cultural heritage,
thus contributing to the melting pot of America. NFIA has also been
promoting India's
interest in at various levels of the American society, among the media,
intellectuals, and corporate and political leaders.
In 1989 at the
First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin organized by the NFIA,
GOPIO was formed. NFIA has been organizing Congressional luncheon at the
Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to promote interest of the community and India
among the legislators. This year's luncheon took place on May 18th.
NFIA has scheduled
its 16th Biennial Convention and 30th Anniversary Celebrations in New York from
Sept. 17-19, 2010. The theme will be "Indian
Americans Celebrating Success, Overcoming Challenges"
The program begins
on Friday, September 17, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. with welcome dinner and
inauguration at the World Fair Marina, Queens, NY.
A conference will follow at the Crowne Plaza La Guardia Hotel on
Saturday, September 18, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The conference topics will
cover contemporary issues affecting the Indian-American community such as
education, business, jobs, politics, immigration, and security, etc. On
Saturday evening we will host a Gala Awards Banquet beginning at 7:30
p.m. at the same place.
Mr. Lal Motwani,
NFIA Executive Vice President and GOPIO New York Chapter President, is
serving as the Convener of the Convention.
Contact: Lal
Motwani at 719-470-1026, E-mail: lmotwani@verizon.net.
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GOPIO
INTERNATIONAL AND CHAPTER NEWS
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GOPIO-CONNECTICUT
YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS HOLD ANNUAL SUMMER BBQ
The GOPIO Youth
and Young Professional Group of CT held its annual summer BBQ on
June 27th at the Hampton Inn in Stamford.
The attendees consisted of of middle schools, high schools and
college students. The group was led by GOPIO Youth Co-Chairs Sharon-Priya
Banta and Ankur Ahuja, both of whom who grew up in CT. Sharon-Priya is a
masters student at NYU and plans to study Naturopathic Medicine upon
completion. Ankur is currently doing his rotations for medical
school and studying for boards. Despite busy schedules, these two have
led the group for the last 4 years.
This was the
second annual GOPIO Youth BBQ. The group who is known for its Youth and
Young Professionals event held every winter, started summer get
together as another way to connect during the
year. The attendees stated they were happy to get to know other
GOPIO Youth in an informal setting. With introductions, the
youth connected could network from one another. For example
if someone is attending UConn in the fall, connected the
person with a GOPIO Youth already at UConn. It is a great way
to build relationships and grow together within the community. The
summer time is perfect time for the youth to meet and learn from
each other about potential volunteer opportunities, jobs and other
opportunities taking place locally.
The new middle
school rep. Ashish Ramachandran made a speech to present some ideas
for this year. The Middle School group plans to hold a bake
sale at the GOPIO Indian Independence Day event on August 14th in Stamford CT.
The proceeds raised from the bake sale will be donated to help the
Akshaya Patra charity which supports the mid-day meal program in
ndia. Additionally this group plans to select a middle
school leader in each of the schools (a way to help expand the
youth group). Youth Volunteer Chair, Namrata Gannu and Youth
Secretary, Surbhi Sood are also working to help build the Middle School
group.
Photo above:
GOPIO-CT Youth and Young Professionals at its Annual
Summer BBQ held in Stamford,
CT
The group also
brainstormed ideas for the upcoming year and came up with the
idea of a GOPIO Youth Talent show. Details on tryouts will be
passed out shortly and the group is looking for volunteers to help and
for youth to perform.
The food was
organized by Shelly's On the River, a new restaurant at the Hampton Inn.
The kids loved the BBQ served! The Hampton Inn was generous enough
to provide the youth with a great venue to host their event. There was a
great outdoor space where the BBQ grilling took place after the
indoor youth meeting ended.
Until recently, CT
didn't have an Indian youth population so groups like GOPIO CT Youth and
Young Professionals help to create a positive environment
which facilitates a sense of community. Adults leaders: Anita Bhatt,
Shilesh Naik and Thomas Abraham have been instrumental in
providing positive energy for the co-chairs as well as the youth group
members to stay driven and active. One can look for the group
on Facebook and join its page to get more info on the group, the link is http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18084811065&ref=ts. All
in all the youth that day came in a quiet but left smiling and
happy. They had fun and were excited for more GOPIO Youth events and
continue the trend through the GOPIO Youth CT chapter to build
a sense of community within young people in the area.
Contact: Sharon-Priya Banta, e-mail: sharonpriya.banta@gmail.com
GOPIO WAIKATO
TO HOLD YOUNG ACHIEVERS AWARDS NITE
GOPIO Waikato
announces its Young Achievers Awards Nite to be held at 7.30 PM on
Tuesday the 3rd of August, 2010 at the Hindustan Restaurant 10
Garden Place Hamilton. Indian High Commissioner in New Zealand,
Retd. Admiral Sureesh Mehta, is scheduled to be the chief guest for
the event. Mayor Bob Simcock of Hamilton,
along with other ministers have been invited to grace the occasion
and participate in the events.
The program is
being coordinated by-Indianz Global Women & Family Group. .
For more
information and tickets, contact:
Suman Kapoor, President GOPIO Waikato at sumankapoor2002@yahoo.com
GOPIO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO TO HOLD COMMEMORATIVE 165th
ARRIVAL ANNIVERSARY
GOPIO Trinidad and
Tobago will be commemorating the 165th Anniversary of the Arrival of
Indians in Trinidad on Saturday August 7th, 2010 at the National Academy
of Performing Art (NAPA)
in Frederick Street,
Port of Spain. The event
was originally planned for May 20, 2010 but was postponed because of
general and local government elections in Trinidad and Tobago.
GOPIO Trinidad and
Tobago will honor several outstanding
citizens of the nation for distinguished and meritorious
service. These include the former Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma who
was victimized and hounded out of office by the previous
government; Professor Vijay
Naraynsingh, renowned vascular surgeon and Professor of surgery; Sandra
Sookdeo, celebrated dancer, choreographer and author who has trained
hundreds of students in the authentic classical styles of Odissi and
Khatak dance; Lloyd Harradan (posthumous), historian, for
research and online publishing of the history of Indo-Caribbean and
Indo-Canadian immigrants; Shrimati Geeta Ramsingh Vaahini, first woman
President of the Hindu Prachar Kendra; Rafi Hosein, acclaimed Hindi
teacher; and Rajesh
Seenath, classical dance teacher and founder of the Prem Jyoti Dance
Academy.
Among the special
invited guests are the new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the
Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar; the Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism,
the Hon. Winston Peters; Members of Parliament and the Diplomatic Corps;
and leaders of Indo-Trinidadian community.
Indian Arrival
Day is a national holiday celebrated on various days around the
world, usually commemorating the arrival of people from the In Indian
subcontinent to the respective countries. It originated
in Trinidad and
Tobago and has since spread to many nations. Indian
Arrival Day is celebrated on May 30 in Trinidad and Tobago each year
since the 1990s. It commemorates the first arrivals from the Indian
subcontinent to Trinidad
on May 30, 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack.
For more information, contact:
Ruben
Neranjan, President of GOPIO of Trinidad and Tobago
at email ruben.neranjan@hotmail.com
or tel: 1-868-665-5984
GOPIO HEALTH COUNCIL ORGANIZES
SEMINAR ON EATING SMART
"It
is Cool to be Healthy - Eat Smart" was the subject of the health
awareness program offered by GOPIO International and sponsored by
GOPIO-Connecticut and the Hampton Inn in Stamford on June 23. The
focus of the program was to promote awareness regarding healthy eating
for school age children and prevent childhood obesity.
Over
40 school-age children and their parents attended the program which was
moderated by experts in medicine, nutrition and healthy food
preparation. They provided tips and techniques in making sure children
understand healthy foods and have them available to them both at home and
in the schools.
The
guest speakers included Dr. Madhu Mathur: Director, KIDS'FANS
Wellness Program, Stamford Hospital and Chair, Obesity Task Force,
Stamford; Kathy Kraus a Registered Dietitian; Lisa F.
O'Gorman, CEC: Certified Executive Chef and Food Allergy Specialist; and
Sangeeta Ahuja, Chair of the GOPIO Health Council and a Registered
Dietitian and Certified Diabetes educator.
In
welcoming guests Sangeeta said that on average most people are consuming
too few vegetables, fruits, whole grains and consume more refined grains
along with processed foods that are high in salt, fats and sugars. She
quoted US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin,
MD, MBA who states "There is perhaps, no more serious
challenges to the nation's health and well-being than those posed by
obesity and overweight. We see the sobering impact of these numbers in
the high rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and
other chronic illnesses, that are starting to affect our children more
and more."
Dr.
Madhu Mathur, stressed that the prevention of obesity should begin in
early childhood and families should get involved and work as a team. She
gave practical and easy to follow tips (termed 5-2-1-0) on consumption of
fruits and vegetables (5), screen time (2 hours max), exercise(1 hour)
and elimination of sugary drinks (0). "There is an increased trend in
mothers being obese/overweight before pregnancy and gaining excessive
weight during pregnancy which places babies at higher risk of obesity and
Type 2 diabetes as they get older," she said.
"Healthier
options like fruits and vegetables low fat - low salt - whole grain
products can be included in the school lunch program without facing any
challenges with the budget," said Lisa Gorman.
Photo above: GOPIO
CT Eating Smart Seminar - Speakers and some
participants
All
the speakers stressed that the prevention of obesity should begin in
early childhood and families should get involved and work as a team.
They encouraged all parents to get the children involved in the
decision making process of food shopping, planning of meals and healthy
cooking. It was emphasized that the responsibility lies on the whole
community to offer healthier choices to our kids.
"I
learned that fewer the ingredients listed on a snack, healthier it is. I
will also follow my pledge of walking 2000 steps a day. I will try to
incorporate 5-2-1-0 into my daily routine. The recipes and the snacks
that were prepared were amazing and delicious," said Eshita who is 9
years old and attended the program with her mother.
For
information on GOPIO Health Council, contact
Sangeeta Ahuja at sangeetaahuja@aol.com.
GOPIO- UPPER
NEW YORK ORGANIZED GOLF OUTING
GOPIO Upper New
York held their Third Annual Golf Outing on 12th June at Pelham Split
Rock Golf Course in the Bronx. This year
the format was slightly different to end the outing with a presentation
dinner.
The winner of the
Presidents Trophy, awarded to the best golfer was won by M. Budhan with a
sco're of 76 and the longest drive was won by Allim Ali. The Vice
Presidents Trophy for Sportsmanship was awarded to Jairam Persaud.
There were eight
players who were first time golfers, underscoring, that this outing was
successful in attracting Persons of Indian Origin to golf.
Photo above: GOPIO Upper New York Executive Committee Members at the
Golf Outing. From L. to R. Jairam Persaud, Netram Rambudhan, Sat Sukdeo,
and Romesh Budhram.
HARISH BAJAJ
OF GOPIO NEW ZEALAND
DELIVERS SPEECH ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Harish Bajaj (QSO, JP, MNZITT), GOPIO International Regional Vice
President, Oceania, delivered a speech on Domestic and Family Violence at
Town Hall, Auckland on 10 July 2010 at the seminar "SPEAK UP, SEEK
HELP, SAFE HOME" organized by the Ethnic Affairs Ministry of New
Zealand. The seminar was officially opened by His worship John Banks,
Mayor of Auckland City, with key note speaker Hon Pansy Wong, Minister for Ethnic Affairs and Minister
of Women's Affairs. Besides Harish
Bajaj, the other guest speaker was Jill Proudfoot, Director from
Shine, Safe Home Services.
Mr.Bajaj stated
that whilst there is no statistics for domestic violence amongst Indians,
anecdotal evidence suggests that there has been a significant increase in
domestic violence in the Indian community. In addition, given its
cultural beliefs and lack of support for victims, many cases are
unreported. Many victims bear their suffering due to a feeling of helplessness
and sometimes for the sake of their children. The victims often feel
ashamed and stigmatized if they leave home.
Significant
factors contributing to domestic violence include: financial stresses,
actual and perceived interference by extended family members,
incompatibility and relationship problems, drug & alcohol abuse,
gambling problems, mental health issues and infidelity. Mr. Bajaj
stressed that, "Without doubt, we are confronted by an epidemic of
domestic violence. Unless this issue is confronted by our society and the
criminal justice system, domestic violence will escalate and have very
traumatic consequences".
Inclusive in the
speech was access to justice for victims of domestic violence:
Counseling, steps to take, access to family law advocates, protection and
being kept informed of outcomes in court cases. Community steps which can
help improve conditions: Promote violence free messages
through Indian radio, newspapers, council notice boards etc; Include
information about where to get help in various newspapers and website;
Run a campaign for action on family violence.
GOPIO HEALTH COUNCIL - SAVE THE DATE FOR NRI/PIO HEALTH
SUMMIT
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NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE
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INDIAN AMERICAN
SUNIL KUMAR APPOINTED AS DEAN OF UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
BUSINESS SCHOOL
Come January 2011,
Indian-origin business experts will head at least two MBA programs that
regularly feature in top-10 rankings of U.S. business schools.
Dr. Sunil Kumar, an operations management
expert who teaches at the Stanford University Graduate School of
Business, will become dean of the Chicago Booth School of Business
starting January 1. It was announced by John Huizinga, chairman of the
business school's dean search committee. Currently the senior associate
dean of academic affairs at Stanford, Kumar, 42, succeeds Edward Snyder,
who stepped down in June and will run the Yale School of Management, in New Haven, Connecticut,
starting next year.
Mr. Kumar was born
and raised in India
and completed a master's in computer science and automation at the Indian
Institute of Science before going on to do a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a
statement from the school said.
Kumar "brings the right blend of
vision, entrepreneurial energy and academic leadership that will build on
the contributions of Chicago Booth at a time of tremendous momentum and
achievement," University of Chicago
President Robert Zimmer and Provost Thomas Rosenbaum said in a statement.
Kumar told the Wall Street Journal his
role at Chicago
will be as a gatekeeper for what the school has already accomplished.
"This is an institution that is already in terrific shape."
"My basic mission is to strengthen and enhance what is already
great." Meanwhile, he says he will take time to learn "about
the students, faculty and the programs."
GOPIO News (June 10, 2010) had earlier had a
story on, Nitin Nohria, a leadership and ethics expert, taking over as
the dean of the Harvard
Business School.
INDIAN AMERICAN
MOHAMMED HAMEEDUDDIN CHOSEN MAYOR OF TEANECK
Mohammed
Hameeduddin, whose roots have been traced to Hyderabad,
has become one of the few Muslim mayors in the United States. He was elected
the mayor of Teaneck Township in New Jersey, following a fierce debate
among its council members.
Hameeduddin, who won a council seat two year ago, earned five out of
seven votes at the annual reorganization of township government on July
1. It also elected Adam Gussen, a devout orthodox Jew, as the deputy
mayor.
"No where else is this possible," the newly elected mayor was
quoted as saying by ABC News. "The opportunity to bring two
communities together and break down stereotypes that have belittled our
nation is both monumental and humbling," he said.
OBAMA APPOINTS
PREETA BANSAL TO A HIGHER POSITION
Obama
administration has appointed Preeta D. Bansal to serve as the Vice-Chair
(Government Official) of the Council of the Administrative Conference of
the U.S. (ACUS). Ms. Bansal's appointment follows close on the heels of
Nisha Desai Biswal being nominated to the post of Assistant Administrator
for Asia in the U.S. Agency for
International Development (AID). When their appointments are confirmed,
the two will join the large and growing club of Indian-American Obama
appointees, which already include USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, Federal Chief Information Officer
Vivek Kundra, First Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra, Special
Representative to Muslim communities Farah Pandith, Assistant Secretary
for Legislative Affairs at the State Department Richard Verma, U.S.
Attorney for Southern District of New York Preet Bharara.
Ms. Bansal, is now
the General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of
Management and Budget. She was also the Solicitor-General of the State of
New York
during 1999-2001.
Ms. Bansal has a
J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard
Law School
- where she was supervising editor of the Harvard Law Review - and an
A.B., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Harvard-Radcliffe College.
SHRI BALESHWAR AGRAWAL CELEBRATES 90 YEARS MILESTONE
Shri Baleshwar
Agrawal celebrated a milestone birthday of 90 years on 17th
July 2010, having contributed 62 years of national service with many
Indian origin heads of state being his admirers and consider him as the
father figure of Indian Diaspora organisations. He is a founder member of
Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad (Indian Council for International
Co-operation), which was established in 1978. Four years later, he became
the Secretary General of ARSP and since then he has been working
tirelessly in the service of Indian Diaspora.
During his leadership
at Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad, many National and International
conferences were organised to focus on the need for engaging with Indian
Diaspora. He has been instrumental in highlighting the aspirations and
problems of PIO's. He has travelled extensively to Indian Diaspora
countries. He played a key role in many landmark developments, including
a key member of the High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora was
established under the leadership of Dr. L.M.Singhvi.
Shri Baleshwar
Agrawal is also the founder Chairman of Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Nyas
which was founded in 1996 when he donated the entire award money he
received on his amrit mahotsava (75th birthday).
Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Nyas honours one PIO every year to be selected
for excellence for working for the Indian Diaspora. The award consists of
Citation, a cheque of Rs.One Lakh and Memento. His selfless services to
the nation have been repeatedly acknowledged. The then Prime Minister of India,
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, gave the credit of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
celebrations on 9th January 2003 to Shri Baleshwar Agrawal. Shri Vajpayee
said that "Baleshwar Agrawal was the initiator of coordinating the
PIO living in different parts of the world". Shri Baleshwar Agrawal
has been honoured by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India in
the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 11th October 2002 for his
exceptional devotion and dedication for 'propagation of Hindi'
GOPIO India
president K N Gupta visited Shri Baleshwar Agrawal on that milestone day
and GOPIO International sent messages of congratulations as well. Message
from GOPIO International Executive Vice President Ashook Ramsaran, who
visited Shri Baleshwar Agrawal on July 12, read in part, "We extend
very happy 90th birthday greetings to you and wish you
continued good health to continue the invaluable civic service you do so
well for the lasting benefits of the Indian Diaspora. You are indeed a
pioneer and a tremendous asset and example to us all".
INDIAN AMERICAN
ANAND JULKA GIFTS THE LARGEST GIFT TO CLEVELAND STATE
UNIVERSITY
Indian American
Anand 'Bill' Julka has gifted $6 million to Cleveland State
University the
largest single scholarship gift in the university's history. Julka,
president and founder, Smart Solutions Inc. said that the president of
the university approached him for a donation, given that the university
was facing a budget shortfall because of the downturn in the economy and
that a lot of students who wanted to go to school were not able to get
the financial support they needed.
"Many
students already have economic challenges working against them," he
said. "I don't believe anyone should be denied a good education
simply because they don't have the money to pay for it. Cleveland State
played a critical role in my life, and the university continues to be a
pivotal part of this community."
Julka said his
donation comes in support of the leadership of CSTJ President Ronald
Berkman, who has brought a new vision to the university, including
launching an on campus K-12 International Baccalaureate School, an Urban
Primary Care program in conjunction with the North Eastern
Ohio University
Colleges of
Medicine and Pharmacy and a $40 million north campus development project.
Julka's gift,
Berkman said in a statement, 'also will play a critical role in the lives
of many students who otherwise might have missed the opportunity for an
advanced degree.'
In recognition of
his outstanding generosity, the CSU will name its newly completed College of Education and Human Services building,
Julka Hall.
Julka, who earned
a master's degree in industrial engineering from the university's Fenn
College of Engineering in 1974, said he is passionate that students in Cleveland receive
the same opportunity he had once received. Part of the endowment will go
for scholarships.
Julka, who
migrated to the US from India at the age of 22 with a few personal
belongings and a bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of
Technology, chose the CSU's graduate school because it offered night
classes, which he attended while working days at Eaton Corp. Eleven years
later, he founded Smart Solutions, a provider of systems integration and
networking solutions, headquartered in Cleveland.
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NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
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EMANCIPATION DAY AND BEGINNING OF INDIAN INDENTURED LABOR
Emancipation Day is celebrated in many former British colonies in the
Caribbean and areas of the United States on various
dates in observation of the emancipation of slaves of African origin.
August 28, 1833, the Slavery Abolition Act was given Royal Assent, which
paved the way for the abolition of slavery within the British
Empire and its colonies. On August 1, 1834, the Emancipation
Act came into force, after fifty years of bitter debate in Britain
over the morality and profitability of slavery. It did not abolish
servitude, but it was the first significant promise of freedom. On
that date, all slaves in the British Empire
were emancipated, but they were indentured to their former owners in an
apprenticeship system which was abolished in two stages; the first set of
apprenticeships came to an end on August 1, 1838 while the final
apprenticeships ended two years later on August 1, 1840.
The Emancipation Act did not make a difference to the more than half
million slaves in Britain's
Caribbean colonies, for although the act
outlawed slavery in theory, the slaves had to wait another four years for
the most elementary liberties. The British government was afraid of
liberating half a million slaves without controls, while the planters did
not want their estates to collapse, as forced labor would no longer be
available. The Emancipation Act simply transformed the slaves into
apprenticed laborers for a further four to six years. Trinidad and Tobago
was the first country in the world to declare a national holiday to
commemorate the abolition of slavery.
The abolition of slavery in 1834 resulted in labor shortage on the
plantations. Indian laborers were then brought under the Indian
indenturedship scheme to fill the resulting labor void in the colonies
starting with the first shipload arriving in 1838 in Guyana (then known as British
Guiana).
NEW STUDY: 245 MILLION WIDOWS "IN WORLDWIDE CRISIS"
The first edition of a comprehensive research study laying out the
global crisis of widows - 'Invisible,
Forgotten Sufferers: The Plight of Widows Around the World'- was presented to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, by the
Loomba Foundation's President, Cherie Blair, and Founder and Chairman
Trustee, Raj Loomba CBE. They
were joined by Shri Balbir Singh Kakar, a Trustee from India and Dr. Peter Rajsingh,
a Trustee from the USA.
The Research Study was commissioned by the Loomba Foundation and also
calls for UN recognition of 23rd June as 'International Widows
Day.'
The book presentation was followed by a dinner to mark the 6th
anniversary of International Widows Day, which was held at the Delegates
Dining Room at the United Nations, and was attended by 27 UN Permanent
Representatives, including Permanent Representative of India to
the United Nations Hardeep Singh Puri.
Photo above: Cherie Blair, HE Ban Ki
Moon and Raj Loomba Widows
Research Study Book presentation at the United Nations in New York
The Loomba Foundation, an UN accredited global NGO, also organized
events on 23rd June 2010 in the UK, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
Syria, Kenya and South Africa to mark the 6th International Widows Day
and raise awareness of the more than 245 million widows worldwide -
victims of HIV/AIDS, ethnic cleansing, armed conflict and extreme
poverty, - and over 500 million dependent and adult children of widows
who are caught in a vicious cycle of disease, forced servitude,
homelessness and violence.
"The plight of widows as an ostracised and disenfranchised group
is a human rights catastrophe," said Cherie Blair, "On one
level, there are the humanitarian problems of abject poverty and
widespread violence against women and children. But on another, it's
about the rights and the role of women in certain societies, where their
marginalisation and dehumanisation create environments that perpetuate
abuse."
"There are few resources in the world available to help widows
achieve a safer, more comfortable existence and to promote equality and
justice. The United Nations declaring 23rd June as International Widows
Day, would make great strides towards developing these resources," Raj Loomba added.
Raj Loomba also serves as GOPIO's Vice President for European Region.
NRIs TO GET VOTING RIGHTS - LAW MINISTER MOILY
The Indian government is planning to provide voting rights to
Non-Resident Indians and steps are being taken to make it a reality, Law
and Justice Minister Veerappa Moily has said.
"The Law ministry has initiated a scheme to provide voting rights to
NRIs and it will become a reality soon," Moily told members of the
Indian Overseas Congress (UK) London
last month.
Replying to a representation made by D L Kalhan, President of the Indian
Overseas Congress, at the Indian Gymkhana that the NRI's demand for right
to vote in India
was pending for long, the Law Minister said "necessary legislation
for that purpose would be enacted soon."
Answering queries at the reception hosted in his honor, Moily said NRIs
would have to visit India
at the time of the elections.
Efforts would also be made to provide voting facilities at the concerned
Indian Missions abroad. There are an estimated over 22 million NRIs
spread all over the world.
He said for the purpose of registration as voters in India, their last address in India
would be taken into consideration.
The right to vote would, however, not be available to NRIs who have
acquired citizenship of other countries, he said.
US GOVT. FILES SUIT OVER RACIAL
DISCRIMINAITON AGAINST INDIANS
The US Justice
Department has filed a lawsuit against the owner and management of an
apartment complex at Renton in Washington State
for racial discrimination against Indians who were treated less favorably
than other tenants and even told to "go back" to India.
The lawsuit seeking monetary damages and an order barring further
discrimination was filed on Friday in the US district court for the
western district of Washington and named as defendants Summerhill Place
LLC -- the owner of Summerhill Place Apartments; GRAN Inc. -- the
management company; and Rita Lovejoy -- the former on site manager.
The suit alleges, among other things, that the defendants steered Indian
tenants away from one of the five buildings at Summerhill, treated
tenants from India
less favourably than other tenants and discouraged African-Americans,
Hispanics and families with children from living at Summerhill.
"Equal access to housing in the United States is a
fundamental right, and this nation will not tolerate discrimination in
housing," said assistant attorney general for the civil rights
division Thomas E Perez.
The justice department alleged that the owner and management of apartment
complex instructed its staff not to show new or renovated apartments to
people from India,
Hispanics and African Americans.
The company and its staff engaged in discriminating against Indian
tenants by not replacing their carpets or their broken appliances, while
providing such services to other similarly situated tenants, the law suit
alleges.
It also alleges that one or more Indian tenants were told that their
children cannot play outside and that they should take them to park to
play. They were also allegedly told to "go back to India"
if they could not learn how to work their appliances and faced other
derogatory comments about their national origin.
As alleged in the complaint, two
Summerhill employees contacted
the King County Office of Civil Rights (KCOCR) in 2007 and complained of
discriminatory housing practices at Summerhill. KCOCR then contracted the
Fair Housing Council of Washington to conduct testing at Summerhill.
After testing was conducted, KCOCR referred the matter to HUD (Housing
and Urban Development Department). After an investigation, the secretary
of HUD determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that discriminatory
housing practices had occurred and issued a charge of discrimination.
The defendants elected to have the
matters asserted in the HUD charge heard in federal court.
"Housing discrimination is illegal and unacceptable," said
assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity John Trasviņa.
"HUD and the justice department work to eliminate it," he said.
The suit seeks monetary damages for those harmed by the defendants'
actions, civil penalties and a court order barring future discrimination.
HINDUISM GRADUALLY FLOURISHING IN GHANA,
WEST AFRICA
Hinduism is increasingly becoming prominent in Ghana, West Africa.
Today there are more than 2,000 indigenous African Hindus in Ghana and
they say they have all converted to Hinduism. The total number of Hindus,
including those from India
who migrated to Ghana
and work there, is much larger. Hindu religion was first introduced to Ghana by Sindhi settlers who migrated to
Africa after India
was divided in 1947. Like PIOs in the Caribbean, the Hindu devotees in Ghana have no links with India and
have never visited the country. Still they strictly follow religious
rules and observe rituals in traditional Hindu way.
Wrapped in shiny bright clothes, statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses
smile benevolently from the elevated platform while the air is filled
with the sweet smell of incense burning in a corner of the huge hall.
Sitting on the white marble floor a group of more than 50 men, women and
children sing devotional Hindu songs. Nothing extraordinary about this
scene, except that the temple is in Ghana and the devotees are
all indigenous Africans. The tall cone-shaped temple emerges out of the
crowded neighborhood of Orkordi on the outskirts of the capital Accra. It can be easily
identified-the holy Sanskrit "OM"
shines on its top. Swami Ghanananda Sarawati established the temple in
1975.
NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR 6th BHARATVANSHI GAURAV SAMMAN
AWARD
Nominations are invited by Antar-Rashtriya
Sahayog Nyas (Trust for International Co-operation) for the 6th
Bharatvanshi Gaurav Samman from eminent personalities and organizations
of Indian Diaspora. The award carries
Rs. One Lakh in cash, a citation, a plaque and a shawl. The Antar-Rashtriya Sahayog Nyas was
created with the objective of maintaining close contacts
with the Indian Diaspora and to acknowledge and appreciate their
achievements by publicly honouring at least one person every year to be
selected for excellence for working for the Indian Diaspora.
The Nyas honoured Shri Ranjith Ramnarain of
South Africa in 2005, Shri Satnarayan Maharaj of Trinidad & Tobago in
the year 2006, GOPIO Founder Dr. Thomas Abraham of United States in
January, 2008, Human Service Trust of Mauritius
for outstanding work for the people of Indian origin in January, 2009 and
Shri Shivnath Rai Bajaj of Thailand
in 2010 for their contribution to the Diaspora.
The Selection Committee includes prominent
members of the Indian Diaspora such as Sir Aneroodh Jagnauth, President
of the Mauritius Republic; Shri Mahendra Choudhry, former Prime Minister
of Fiji and Shri Basdeo Pandey, former Prime Minister of Trinidad &
Tobago.
The nominations, along with
detailed bio-data, are to reach the Nyas Office at 'Pravasi
Bhawan', 50-Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi - 110002 latest by 30th
September, 2010.
For more information, e-mail at arspind@bol.net.in
NEW JERSEY
CHILDREN CONTRIBUTES THOUSANDS OF CRAYONS AROUND THE WORLD
Thirteen-year-old Shubhankar Chhokra
was walking around his house one day and saw crayon after crayon lying on
the floor of his house in South
Brunswick, New Jersey.
The thought occurred to him that he and his 9-year-old brother, Devankar,
had too many of them and that there were other kids in the world who had
none.
With the support of his parents,
teachers and friends, Shubhankar created an organization called Color the
World. He and his brother collected bins and bins of donated crayons at
various drop-off points. They then gave them to charity after sanitizing
them and packaged them 10 to a baggie.
In June, the brothers dropped of more
than 10,000 crayons to be used by about 1,000 kids at Mbiriizi School
in Uganda
through a nonprofit organization called Sylvia's Children. The brothers
then dropped off another 1,500 crayons that were sent to children in Costa Rica
through another organization called Pillar of Fire, International.
"It's a simple thing - everyone in
America
has crayons," Shubhankar said. "And on the other side of the
world, not many people do. In fact, it's a luxury. I thought, even one
crayon gives you the ability to make something. In some of these poorer
countries, the whole function, the whole point of life is to survive.
They should live too, and not just survive.
Shubhankar has created a website for
Color The World atwww.ColorTheWorld.yolasite.com
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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: 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net
GOPIO President -
Lord Daljit Rana, UK, Tel: +44
28-9807-8787, Email: president.gopiointl@googlemail.com
GOPIO Executive
Vice President - Ashook Ramsaran, Fresh Meadows, New York City, Tel: 718/939-8194,
E-mail: ramsaran@aol.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)
Editors: Ashook Ramsaran,
GOPIO Executive
Vice President (New York,
USA)
Webmasters: Prashant Gupta (Hyderabad, India)
and Abu Thomas (New Rochelle,
NY, USA)
Contributors of
this issue: Inder Singh (GOPIO Intl., USA),
Sangeeta Ahuja (GOPIO Intl, USA), Harish Bajaj (GOPIO Intl.
Oceanic Region, New Zealand), K.N. Gupta (New Delhi, India, Sharon-Priya
Banta (GOPIO-CT, USA), Bina Mahabir (Guyana-USA), Lucky Singh,
(GOPIO-Sydney, Australia), Deosaran Bisnath (Trinidad).
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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