GOPIO NEWS
February 8, 2014
A Publication of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
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| Issue: XIII-1 | February 8, 2014 |
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PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2014 CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY
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The 12th
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD2014) was held on January 7-9, 2014 at
Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, India. The theme of PBD2014 was "Engaging
Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations". PBD
conventions are being held every year since 2003 to mark the
contribution of Overseas Indian community towards the development of
India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since
it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi,
returned to India from South Africa, led India's freedom struggle and
changed the lives of Indians forever.
These
conventions provided a platform to the overseas Indian community to
engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for
mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful
for networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various
parts of the world, and enable them to share their experiences in
various fields. During the event, eleven individuals were honored with
the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. The event also provided a
forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora.
 The convention was inaugurated on January 8th at the Vigyan Bhawan by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who urged the overseas Indians community to remain engaged in the future of India.
Prime
Minister Singh said, "it is not only the size of the Indian expatriate
community as the world's second largest, but also your achievements that
give you a very significant global profile."
Minister
for Overseas Indian Affairs Sh. Vayalar Ravi has said India is
immensely proud of the achievements of Indian Diaspora which has made a
great contribution in shaping the image of India to the world at large.
On January 9th,
President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman
Awards and addressed the closing session of the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas Convention. Addressing the gathering, Mukherjee reiterated that
overseas Indians could play an important role in the growth and
development of India. He said they had within them the experience,
expertise and knowledge gained as a result of their life abroad, which
could be of immense benefit to India. "Overseas Indians could play an
extremely important role in helping the education institutions of India,
most of which are their Alma Maters, rise to world class status. They
could be catalysts in transforming Indian higher education institutions
and instilling in them a culture of excellence as well as the spirit of
innovation," he added.
He
called upon all stakeholders to take up this task in a single minded
manner. Mukherjee expressed the hope that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
2014 will seed many initiatives for deepening mutually beneficial
engagement. He stated that the government on its part will continue to
actively engage with the overseas Indian community and explore all
possible avenues to make them valued partners in the building of a
strong and prosperous India.
Also
addressing the Valedictory session, Minister Ravi said that PBD was
also a celebration of the home-coming of the global Indian. The Minister
emphasized that the bond between India and her Overseas Indians who
live around the world remains strong. Appreciating the progress made by
Indian Diaspora Sh. Ravi said that it has grown to be recognized as one
of the important diasporas of the world. He exhorted the overseas
Indian communities to be engaged in India's great adventure of building
India free from hunger and exploitation. He asked the overseas Indians
to reach out in new India not just financially but intellectually,
socially and culturally.
GOPIO MEMBERS PROMINENT AS SPEAKERS AT PBD2014 SESSIONS
GOPIO International was prominent at the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014 in New Delhi with participation by several GOPIO members making presentations in key sessions.
7th January, 2014 - Plenary Session of Youth PBD - Aspirations of Diaspora Youth:
Kirty Matabadal, Chairperson, GOPIO Youth Council (Netherlands).
7th January, 2014 - Concurrent Session 2 - Young Achievers
Dr. Mamta Singhvi, Former President, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI),Member, GOPIO Youth Council (USA).
9th January, 2014 - Concurrent Session 1 - Innovation and Technology
Prof. Prasad Yarlagadda, Co-Chairperson of GOPIO Science & Technology Council and GOPIO Life Members and Dr. Birendra Dutt, GOPIO Life Member
9th January, 2014 - Concurrent Session 3 - Meeting of Diaspora Organizations
Ashook Ramsaran, President, GOPIO International
9th Jan, 2014 - Concurrent Session 4 - Making India the Hub of Media & Entertainment Munish Gupta, Chairman & Managing Editor, PIO TV Pvt. Ltd, GOPIO International Coordinator (Africa)
GOPIO
International plans to hold its annual Executive and General Council
Meetings on January 5 afternoon followed by its conference. This
convention will conclude on January 6, immediately preceding and in
conjunction with Pravasi Bharatiya Divas PBD2014 events of January 7-9,
2013 in New Delhi, India.
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GOPIO ORGANIZES OCEANIC REGIONAL CONVENTION AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HONORS ELEVEN OVERSEAS INDIANS AT PBD2014
At
the concluding session of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014, the President
Pranab Mukherjee conferred the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman
award to eleven distinguished members of the Indian Diaspora for their
achievements in life and their contributions to the welfare of the
Indian community and enhancing India's image overseas. The awards were
presented to these eminent Overseas Indians at the valedictory function
of the third and concluding day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award
is the Government of India's highest civilian honor for non-resident
Indians recognized for their roles in various fields of human endeavor
in their respective countries of abode. Malaysian Minister for Natural
Resources and Environment G. Palanivel, president of the Malaysian
Indian Congress (MIC), was the chief guest at this year's PBD2014 in New
Delhi.
The names of the awardees, their countries and contributions are as follows:
Photo aove: Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees with President Pranab Mukherjee
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| INDIAN DIASPORA COMMEMORATED AND HONORED THE LATE NELSON MANDELA | |
How
do we say farewell to a global icon, a fighter for freedom, equality,
democracy, human rights and social justice; an exemplary leader and an
outstanding humanitarian; a champion of reconciliation who cast aside
his personal suffering and sacrifices to embrace his oppressors? This
was done without any expectation of personal reward (nishkama karma).
Madiba's qualities as a leader conform to the norms postulated by the
Rig Veda (4-3-1):
"O
men, choose from amongst yourselves an illustrious man as ruler, for
the peaceful and undisturbed administration of your country, one who
would be capable of vanquishing the foes in battle and who is ever ready
to sacrifice his life for the state; one who would firmly rule the
state and establish truth and justice between disputing parties".
Madiba
was an extraordinary person who, in the mould of Mahatma Gandhi and
Martin Luther King, set the highest inspirational standards in terms of
ethics, morality and integrity, which many of his successors have
struggled to emulate. He served only one term as President, a rare feat
in Africa'
Whilst
the world and South Africa mourned and celebrated the life of times of
late Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), the country's Indian Diaspora were
equally saddened by and celebrated this great global icon's legacy and
lessons as well as remembering him and drawing inspirations as to what
they could learnt from his example. There were amongst the countless
number of activities, tributes, prayers, celebrations, statements,
messages etc.. Below are a few examples from the Indian Diaspora of
South Africa:
The
Indian aimed national radio service, Lotus FM, had an ongoing 24 hour
daily broadcast from the first day following Mandela's death up to the
day of his funeral. It gave updates and information, aired some of
Mandela's speeches, high profile PIOs, leaders, prominent and ordinary
Indians sharing their 'Mandela Moments' their views, sadness, lessons
learnt from his life and times.
Devotees
from the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir joined hundreds of fellow South
Africans in prayer for Nelson Mandela outside his residence for prayer
and celebration on the eve of Monday 9 December 2013. Prayers were also
conducted in the Mandir.
The
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) of South Africa
honored & remembered Nelson Mandela by i) joining the world in the
mourning the passing of this world icon in which a statement was issued
on 6 Dec 2013 that also related information such as ISKON's
association with the former President, him bowing at the idol of Sri
Prapupadha, his respect for the work of ISKON and multi culturalism ii)
organizing a festival for thousands just South of Johannesburg in
celebration of the life and legacy of South Africa's most famous son on 8
Dec, and iii) gathering outside Nelson Mandela's home in Houghton,
Johannesburg and in true South African style, indeed Maida style
chanted, danced and distributed free vegetarian food to the throngs who
had come to celebrate Mr. Mandela on 8 Dec.
The
South African Tamil Federation (SATF) laid a wreath and put up a banner
At Madiba's Haughton home of former President Mandela. It also held an
open-air Memorial at the Rose Park in Lenasia on Sunday, the 8th
December 2013 in which almost 3000 people attended. . Bhajans were
rendered and speakers included Karthie Mootusamy, Nad Pillay, Sashnee
Naicker, Mickey Padayachee, Vis Naidoo, Kishore Badal and Bash Hoosein
The Gauteng Tamil Federation held a memorial service at the Sangam Hall
on 10 December 2013 where a number of singers inter-alia performed,
these included Edward Reddy, Kuveshan Reddy, Gonna Pillay, Anil Rambaran
and Vandana Naran.
The
Mount Edcombe Shree Mariaman Temple, the Woodview Ramakrishna Andra
Maha Sabha & the South African Raam Bhajan Mandal Association hosted
a joint Memorial Service at the at Marieammen Temple, Sunday, 15
December 2013 at 09h00.
In
Laudium, an Indian suburb of Pretoria, the African National Congress
hosted an Interfaith Memorial Service at the Laudium Civic Centre on 9
December 2013, 7 pm.
Shrandhanjali Prarthana - Sunday 8th Dec - 6pm at Veda Vidya Mandir.
The
Springs Tamil Association has honored Nelson Mandela by making every
Sunday Bhajan at the Sitthi Vinayagar Alayam in memory of the former
President. The first was on 9 December at 09h00.
A
Candlelight Vigil was organized by the Shree Pretoria Hindu Seva Samaj,
Laudium, and Pretoria, Gauteng at their Mandir on Saturday, 7 December
2013 at 20h00.
A
Bhagavad Gita Recital and Tribute to Nelson Mandela was organized by
the Lakshminarayan Temple of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society, Lenasia,
Gauteng, Thursday 12 December 2013 from 18h00 - 21h00.
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| GOPIO INTERNATIONAL AND CHAPTER NEWS | |
GOPIO-SYDNEY NORTHWEST MAKES DONATION TO BENEFIT VICTIMS OF BUSHFIRE
 GOPIO
Sydney NorthWest chapter made a donation to Blue Mountains and
Springwood bushfire victims. Harmohan Singh Walia, Chairperson, GOPIO's
Committee on Bylaws, Policies & Procedures and Prof. Balkar Singh
Kang, Co-Chair GOPIO Academic Council presented a
check to Councillor Brenden Luchetti, Deputy Mayor of Blue Mountains
City Council at Town Square, Springwood. This donation was announced at
Caring & Sharing event on 2nd November 2013 at Bowman Hall,
Blacktown, Australia.
Photo
left: GOPIO Sydney NW officials Harmohan Walia and Prof. Balkar Singh
Kang present Check to Blue Mountain City Deputy Mayor Brenden Luchetti
Contact: GOPIO-Sydney Northwest Chapter President Ravi Singh, Tel +61-433 179 303 and E-mail: ravsingh.consultant@gmail.com or Harmohan Walia, Tel: +61 402 842 375.
GOPIO-CT HAS A NEW TEAM
GOPIO-CT
held its annual Holiday Party and General Body meeting on Friday,
December 13 at the Hampton Inn. After successfully running the
organization as its President for four years, Mr. Shailesh Naik handed
over the charge to Mr. Shelly Nichani who had served as GOPIO-CT
Executive Vice President for the last two years. The new GOPIO-CT team
is as follows:
President - Shelly Nichani
Executive Vice President - Pradeep Govil
Vice President - Varghese Ninan
Secretary - Yash Khandelwal
Joint Secretary - Leena Ramchandani
Treasurer - Viresh Sharma
Trustees - Dr. Thomas Abraham, Sangeeta Ahuja, Bhom Banta, Anita Bhat, Ravi Dhingra, Amarjit Singh
Photo
above left: GOPIO-CT Team for 2014, from l. to r.: Dr. Thomas Abraham,
Shailesh Naik, Sangeeta Ahuja, Viresh Sharrma, Shelly Nichani, Leena
Ramchandani, Pradeep Govil, Bhom Banta and Anita Bhat, Above right: from
l. to r.: Shailesh Naik hands over the presidency to Shelly Nichani,
from l. to r.: Sangeeta Ahuja, Shailesh Naik, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Anita
Bhat, Shelly Nichani and Dr. Rupam Saran
GOPIO-CT chapter has lined up several programs for this year including its Annual Awards Banquet on May 7th.
The soup kitchen at the New Covenant House will continue six times a
year. GOPIO-CT also plans to bring several youth activities as part of
the program this year.
Contact: Shelly Nichani, President, GOPIO-CT, Tel: 203-550-7747or e-mail: shellynichani@msn.com.
GOPIO'S ROLE IN INDIAN DIASPORA DISCUSSED AT JNU ON 8TH JAN, 2014
GOPIO's outreach initiatives and role in making progress in the Indian Diaspora were the topic of discussion on 8th January, 2014 at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at a presentation by Ashook Ramsaran, president of GOPIO International. The session was organized by Dr. Sadananda Sahoo, Assistant Professor of School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies at Indira Gandhi National Open University
(IGNOU). It was chaired by Dr. Denison Jayasoria of Malaysia (Co-Chair
of GOPIO's Academic Council), and also attended by Prof. Prabhu Guptara
(Chair of GOPIO's Academic Council) and Mridul Pathak (Director of
Diaspora Development, GOPIO International) among many faculty and
participants from JNU and IGNOU.
In
his presentation, Ramsaran stated that, "GOPIO is aggressively
continuing its outreach mission to engage and embrace the Indian
Diaspora with rapid expansion and growth of its programs, chapters,
councils and membership at all levels, adapting to the changing dynamic
of mobility, migration and second journeys within the Indian Diaspora.
GOPIO is engaging the Indian Diaspora at all levels and in all regions
with local, regional, national and international seminars, conferences
and symposia on matters beneficial to the Indian Diaspora. GOPIO
advances its collaboration with Government of India (Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs and other departments), other governments,
agencies, organizations, institutions and associations to better achieve
its objectives and goals"
At
the interactive session following the presentation, Ramsaran, ably
assisted by Guptara, responded to queries, comments and suggestions from
faculty and participants, including discussion on closer collaboration
among academic institutions on programs for global Diaspora interaction
and research.
 Photo above: Some of the faculty and participants at JNU on 8th January, 2014
CONFERENCE ON INDIAN DIASPORA IN BELIZE & WIDER CARIBBEAN AUG 5-6, 2014
The
Belize Chapter of GOPIO International is co-sponsoring the upcoming
conference on "Indian Diaspora in Belize and the Wider Caribbean" to be
held in Corozol, Belize on August 5-11, 2014. The conference Convener
is the Corozal Organization of East Indian Cultural Heritage (COEICH),
supported by The National Institute of Culture & History (NICH), the
Indo-Cultural Union of the Caribbean and the Americas. This is the
first Indian Diaspora conference of its kind to be held in this
English-speaking country in Central America. This conference is in the
series of Indian Diaspora conferences in the Caribbean region: 2011
Trinidad & Tobago; 2012 - St Vincent; 2013 - Suriname.
2011 - Conference in Trinidad & Tobago
2012 - Conference in St Vincent
2013- Conference in Suriname
2014- Conference in Belize
2015- Conference in Trinidad
2016- Conference in Grenada
2017 - Conference in Jamaica
2018 - Conference in St. Lucia
The
conference aims to bring together academics, scholars, teachers and
students at all levels with an interest in the Indian Diaspora in the
Caribbean to discuss their research findings. Space will be provided for
less formal presentations from activists and practitioners in the field
in order to contribute to the limited store of public knowledge on
Indians in Belize
Formally
known as British Honduras, Belize is the only English-speaking country
in Central America. Bordered by Mexico in the North and Guatemala in the
West and South, it lies at the heart of the Caribbean Basin. Unlike any
other Caribbean country, Belize experienced three waves of East Indian
migration, commencing in 1858. The first wave of migrants consisted of
1000 deported ex-soldiers (and their families) who had rebelled against
the British Government in India's First War of Independence/Sepoy
Rebellion. The second wave of Indians came to Belize in 1872 as
ex-indentured workers from Jamaica. The third wave of Indian migrants to
Belize left from Guatemala, from where they had gone to work in the
coffee plantations in Cafe Mountains. Unique to Indian history in the
Caribbean is the fact that early immigrant labourers worked in Belize in
the sugarcane, as well as lumber and banana plantations. As early as
the 1860s, they worked under the employment of American ex-confederates.
Indians now comprise about four percent (7,000 persons) of the
multi-ethnic population of Belize.
Contacts: Sylvia Gilharry Perez, President, GOPIO Belize at sylviaperez1@yahoo.com or Dr. Kumar Mahabir, University of Trinidad & Tobago, Co-Chair GOPIO Academic Council, at dmahabir@gmail.com
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| NRIs AND PIOs ACHIEVE | |
SATYA NADELA APPOINTED CEO OF MICROSOFT
Software
giant Microsoft has named India-born Satya Nadella, 46, as its new CEO
to replace Steve Ballmer, making him perhaps the most powerful
Indian-born tech executive in the world.Nadella, 46, who was said to be
in the race for the top job with another Indian American, Chennai-born
Sundar Pichai, a senior vice president at Google, took over immediately
to allow Ballmer to retire early.
"There
is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella," said Gates
in a prepared statement. "Satya is a proven leader with hard-core
engineering skills, business vision, and the ability to bring people
together. His vision for how technology will be used and experienced
around
the world is exactly what Microsoft needs as the company enters its
next chapter of expanded product innovation and growth."
Nadella's
naming to the post, effective immediately, makes him the third CEO
since the Redmond, Washington company was founded in 1975.
"Today
is a very humbling day for me," said Nadella, a 22-year veteran of
Microsoft who currently heads the company's Cloud and Enterprise group,
in an internal memo to Microsoft employees.
"It
is an incredible honour for me to lead and serve this great company of
ours," he wrote outlining why he has stayed on at Microsoft. "While we
have seen great success, we are hungry to do more. This is a critical
time for the industry and for Microsoft. Make no mistake, we are headed
for greater places - as technology evolves and we evolve with and ahead
of it. Our job is to ensure that Microsoft thrives in a mobile and
cloud-first world."
In
choosing Nadella, "Microsoft has turned to a highly accomplished
executive in the mould of Gates, who reportedly held out for a candidate
with sufficient technical gravitas to inspire - and if need be, change -
Microsoft's engineer-driven corporate culture," wrote CNet, a
technology site.
"At
the still relatively young age of 46, Nadella oversaw one of
Microsoft's fastest-growing divisions - the Cloud and Enterprise Group -
which accounted for $20.3 billion in revenue and $8.2 billion in
operating income during the company's last fiscal year," it noted.
Nadella,
who grew up in Hyderabad, attended Hyderabad Public School in Begumpet
before getting a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and
Communication from the Manipal University.
After
moving to the US, he earned a Master of Science degree in Computer
Science from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and a Master of
Business Administration from the University of Chicago.
NANDITA PERRY APPOINTED TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE
Attorney Nandita Berry has been appointed as the Secretary of State for Texas by Governor Rick Perry, making her the first Indian-American to occupy this top position in the Southern State.
In
this position, effective January 7 onwards, Berry will serve as the
state's chief elections officer, the governor's liaison on border and
Mexican affairs, and Texas' chief protocol officer for state and international matters.
"Nandita
Berry personifies what is possible through hard work and dedication in
the State of Texas," Perry said in a statement. "Arriving from India at
the age of 21 with nothing but $200 to her name, she worked diligently
to earn her law degree and has since become one of the most accomplished
attorneys in the state," he continued.
The
Secretary of State's Office serves as the formal repository for
official and business records, publishes government rules and
regulations, keeps the state seal and attests to the governor's
signature on official documents.
"Her
work ethic, intelligence and wide array of experiences will serve her
capably in her new duties as Secretary of State, and I look forward to
working with her to keep Texas the best place in the country to live,
work and raise a family," Perry said.
Berry
said that she is humbled to follow "in the footsteps of Stephen F
Austin, Texas' first Secretary of State." She replaces John Steen. "Like
him, I came to Texas in search of a better life and the limitless
opportunities to be found across our great state," she said. "Every day,
I see Austin's pioneering spirit alive in
Texas, and this great honour proves once again Texas is the land of
opportunity, both in the private sector and public service," Berry said.
A
senior counsel at Locke Lord LLP, Berry is a member of the State Bar of
Texas and Houston Bar Association. Berry received a Bachelor's degree
from Mount Carmel College in Bangalore, a Bachelor's degree from the
University of Houston, and a law degree from the University of Houston
Law Centre.
NIRUPA PADIA TO LEAD A UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Professor Nirupa Padia became the 1st non-white women to head the School of Accountancy adding to her groundbreaking achievements in recent years.
This
young PIO is an Associate Professor in Auditing has come full circle to
now having being appointed as Head of the School of Accountancy at the
University of Witwatersrand (Wits) - her Alma Mater where she first
completed her B. Com degree in 1985.
Her
three children are now professional dentists leading to a lull in her
academic career, but 10 years later, Ms Padia began studying for a
Bachelor of Accountancy. She then did her articles at PriceWaterhouse
Coopers qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. This energetic and
inspiring lady went back to Wits, not as a student but as a lecturer.
She
made significant contributions to develop undergraduate and post
graduate modules whilst a lecturer and the same time continued to
further her studies. Her students were consistently at the top ten in
the examinations set by the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants
(SAICA). Ms Padia serves on the Auditing Guidance Committee of this
Institute as well as the PwC Business School. She also teaches Yoga at
the Art of Living Foundation.
PROFESSOR RAKESH KHURANA NAMED DEAN OF HARVARD COLLEGE
Indian-American
professor Rakesh Khurana has been appointed dean of the prestigious
Harvard College, becoming the latest addition to a long list of
Indian-origin academicians assuming leadership roles at renowned global
universities.
Khurana, 46, is currently the 'Marvin Bower' professor of leadership development at Harvard Business School (HBS), professor of sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), and co-master of Cabot House at Harvard.
He
succeeds Evelynn Hammonds, professor of history of science and of
African and African American studies at Harvard and will assume his new
role on July 1.
Harvard College is the school within Harvard University that grants undergraduate degrees.
Khurana earned his PhD through a joint programme between HBS and Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1998.
Harvard
president Drew Faust described Khurana as a "faculty leader who
embodies the interconnectedness" of Harvard. "His experiences as a
graduate student, an award-winning teacher at HBS, and the master of an
undergraduate house give him a unique perspective on the university, and
his deep respect for the liberal-arts model and the residential
education will serve him well as he guides Harvard College," Faust said
in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Following
the announcement, Khurana said he is "honoured" to have the opportunity
to serve the college and work with the faculty, students, and staff to
create a "transformative educational experience for our students. I am
convinced that, working together, we will have a significant and
positive impact on the college."
Although
Khurana did not attend the college himself, he said, "One of the
benefits of being a house master is that you get some window into
student experiences."
FAS
dean Michael Smith, who announced the appointment in an email to the
FAS community, praised Khurana as a scholar and teacher with deep
experience working with undergraduates and a strong commitment to the
college. He said Khurana is a "distinguished scholar of organizational
behavior and leadership" and a dynamic house master who has also deeply
engaged with undergraduate issues on important committees. "He brings to
the deanship an intimate understanding of the Harvard College
experience," Smith said.
Harvard Business School's
India-born Dean Nitin Nohria also welcomed Khurana's appointment saying
his selection is a testament to his skill and vision as a teacher and
scholar. "I think the appointment is wonderful news, and I am looking
forward to working with Rakesh to identify and strengthen efforts across
the College and HBS that will benefit us all," Nohria added.
BHARAT SURESH JOSHI IS NEW BRITISH DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER IN CHENNAI
Bharat
Suresh Joshi, a Briton of Indian origin, has replaced Mike
Nithavrianakis as the British deputy high commissioner in Chennai. Born
in Croydon in the UK in 1969, Joshi is the first person of Indian origin
to represent the British mission in Chennai, an indication of the
growing influence and spread of the Diaspora in the UK.
Joshi
joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1995 and has had
diplomatic postings in Gambia, Dhaka, Qatar and Cameroon. He would focus
on enhancing the trade and investment partnership between the UK and Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, in specific, his office said.
The
appointment comes weeks before British Prime Minister David Cameron's
visit to India on November 14. Indian diplomatic circles expect an
assurance from Cameron that the UK will not enforce a restrictive visa
regime that hurts trade ties.
"It
is a huge honour to represent the UK in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and
Kerala. And returning to my country of origin at a time when the UK's
relations with India are growing at a faster pace than ever before is a
dream come true," Joshi said in an official release.
He
is married to Bhakti Joshi, and the couple has two daughters. The envoy
has been private secretary to two British Ministers, and has held
positions in departments of the Foreign and Common Wealth Office (FCO),
including the European Union
Department and Press Office. According to his biography on the FCO
website, he has experience of crisis management, and has been deployed
to the scene of major incidents involving British nationals, including
the aftermath of bombing of the British Consulate-General in Istanbul in
2002.
Joshi
is likely to focus on garnering support for trade and investment,
especially in information technology and information technology-enabled
services.
PRABHU GUPTARA NAMED CHAIRMAN OF RELATIONAL THINKING NETWORK
Prof. Prabhu Guptara, Chairperson of GOPIO's Academic Council, has been appointed Chairman of the Relational Thinking Network which comprises Relational Analytics and Relational Research. The focus is on learning
to think relationally as the first step towards building a more
relational world by learning to see public policy and personal issues
through a relational lens, changing goals, values and practices of
organizations, and developing an analytical framework appropriate to
relationships. This means learning to
see life from the perspective of relationships, as opposed to seeing it
from the viewpoint of materialism or individualism, changing the
priorities and goals of organizations and of nations, and a framework
for analysis using directness, continuity, multiplexity, parity and commonality.
Prof Guptara is speaking at several global events including: 7th February, 2014 NetSAP on "Why some Indians make it to the top and some don't"; 8th February, 2014: Relational Thinking; 9th February, 2014: The Trinity Forum: "Beyond Money: What it will take to put relationships again at the heart of American life"; 10th February, 2014: New Hampshire Institute of Politics on "How Governance Became Unethical - and what To Do about it".
Prof.
Guptara is Executive Director, Organizational Development, Wolfsberg (a
subsidiary of UBS - one of the largest banks in the world). He is also
Freeman of the City of London and of the Worshipful Company of
Information Technologists, and Chartered Fellow of the of the Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development; Fellow of the Institute of
Directors, of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and of the Royal Society
for the Encouragement of the Arts Commerce and Manufactures. He has
supervised PhD research at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) as
well as been Visiting Professor at various Universities and Business
Schools around the world.
GAPIO BESTOWS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO DR. SUDHIR PARIKH
The
Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) Lifetime
Achievement Award was bestowed to Dr. Sudhir Parikh, an Indian-American
physician, publisher of News India Times and recipient of India's Padma
Shri award. Dr Parikh is also a Pravasi Saman Awardee and a gold life
member of GOPIO and prominent supporter. The other lifetime award
recipient was Dr. Sandip Mukerjee of India. An additional 14 members
were bestowed the GAPIO Service Excellence Award. "The criteria for the
Lifetime Achievement Award we gave to Dr. Parikh recognize his 35 years
of experience in the medical field and the service he has given to
healthcare and humanity," Dr. Anil Tandon of Apollo Hospitals told News
India Times. GAPIO's International Conference was held 11th - 12th January 2014 in Kolkata with West Bengal Minister of Finance, Commerce and Industries Amit Mitra as the chief guest.
Representing
approximately 1.2 million physicians globally, GAPIO believes it can
make a significant contribution to quality and access issues that plague
healthcare services worldwide. The theme of the conference was "The Non
Communicable Diseases Epidemic - Meeting the Challenges." A landmark
achievement announced at the conference was the launch of a web portal,
SwaasthIndia.com, to match the skills of Indian physicians abroad with
changing needs in various parts of India. State governments in India
cooperated with GAPIO's members, the American Association of Physicians
of Indian Origin (AAPI), and British Association of Physicians of Indian
Origin (BAPIO), to develop the website where doctors abroad can view
and apply for the opportunities listed by various Indian state
governments.
During
the conference Dr. Sanku Rao took over as president of GAPIO, Dr.
Ramesh Mehta from the United Kingdom became vice president, Dr. Anupam
Sibal from India the secretary general, Dr. Nandakumar Jairam as joint
secretary and Dr. Sudhir Parikh was appointed treasurer.
SANJEEV KULKARNI NAMED DEAN OF PRINCETON GRADUATE SCHOOL
Dr.
Sanjeev Kulkarni, professor of electrical engineering at Princeton, has
been appointed Dean of the Princeton University Graduate School
effective March 31. The Graduate School enrolls about 2,600 students
pursuing masters and doctoral degrees in 42 departments and programs.
Princeton's
President Christopher L. Eisgruber said Kulkarni would make a
"spectacular dean" taking over from William Russel, the dean since 2002,
a Jan. 27 release from Princeton said. Kulkarni was born in Mumbai and
grew up in the United States, first in Indiana and then in upstate New
York.
Despite
being on the Princeton faculty since 1991, and holding some
administrative positions, he said none had been equal to the level he
was now going to occupy. Asked what his biggest challenge was, Kulkarni
said, it was "just trying to get my head around everything. I will spend
the first several months listening to folks around the campus; to
understand the scope of things." In his initial interactions, it has
been "Academics, campus life, diversity and professional development
that have come up quite a bit in conversations - there's always room to
do better," he said.
He
has served as associate dean for academic affairs in the School of
Engineering and Applied Science from 2003 to 2005; was the master of
Butler College, an undergraduate residential college, from 2004 to 2012;
and since 2011 has been the director of the Keller Center, which aims
to "educate students to be leaders in a technology-driven society."
His
research covers areas related to understanding fundamental limits and
developing methods for processing data and information, with a focus on
information theory, machine learning, statistical pattern recognition,
and signal and image processing. He has advised dozens of undergraduate
and graduate students and taught a variety of courses, winning several
teaching awards along the way.
Kulkarni
holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and bachelor's and
master's degrees in mathematics, all from Clarkson University in
Potsdam, N.Y. He also got a master's degree in electrical engineering
from Stanford University, and earned his Ph.D. in electrical
engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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| NRIs AND PIOs NEWS FEATURES | |
CENTENARARY OF BHARAT RATNA SARDAR PATEL AT THE MIDDLE TEMLE, LONDON
The
Indo British Cultural Exchange and the British Sikh Association in
partnership with the Sardar Patel Memorial Society UK, National Congress
of Gujarati Organisations of UK and Society of Asian Lawyers held a
historic event to mark the centenary of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel's call to the Bar-at-Law on 27th January 2014 at the Middle
Temple, London. A plaque was unveiled by the Chief Guest, Member of
Parliament Dominic Grieve QC; the Attorney General for England and
Wales, Advocate General for Northern Ireland. The momentous ceremony was
presided over by Indian High Commissioner Ranjan Mathai.
Over
150 prominent members of society attended the Unveiling Ceremony which
included Mr. Sailesh Mehta, President, Society of Asian Lawyers; Dr.
Chandra Kant Patel, author of the article in the souvenir booklet "A
Homage to Sardar Patel"; Baroness Verma of Leicester, The Junior
Minister at the Department of Energy and Climate Change; Dr. Rami Ranger
MBE, FRSA, Chairman of the British Sikh Association; Ms. Vyjayanthi
Kumar, Director IBCE and the Compere of the Ceremony; Mr Sharad Parikh,
President National Congress of Gujarati Organisations UK; Master Jai
Diptesh Patel, City of London School for Boys; Mr Shailesh Vara, MP,
Junior Minister in the Justice Ministry of the United Kingdom; Ms.
Ranjanbala Patel, Chairperson of the Charotar Ladies Group Brent; Mrs.
Leslie Whitelaw, Archivist at the Middle Temple; Mr. Pravin G. Patel,
President of the Sardar Patel Memorial Society UK and Mr. Praful Patel,
Chairman of the Indo-British Cultural Exchange.
GOPIO
Life Member Dr. Rami Ranger MBE, FRSA, Chairman of the British Sikh
Association welcomed the guests by sharing the message of the British
Prime minister, the Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP, "Please accept my best
wishes to the British Sikh Association and the Indo British Cultural
Exchange. I would like to welcome the unveiling of this commemorative
plaque honouring the anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel's call to the Bar. His contribution to modern India as a barrister
and statesman are very widely respected".
The
Rt. Hon. Dominic Grieve QC, MP then unveiled the commemorative plaque
to an audience that had been waiting in anticipation. He spoke in
admiration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel coming from a humble background
and how through his hard work he transformed himself into a successful
lawyer and statesman. He excelled in his exams at Middle Temple and
gained entry to the Bar. The Attorney General added that the plaque
would remind future generations of students and people alike of the
remarkable life of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Baroness
Verma of Leicester unveiled the brochure that had been specially
printed for release on the evening. This contained archival documents of
the work of Sardar Patel and were possible thanks to the courtesy of
the Middle Temple's archivist, Ms Lesley Whitelaw.
Indian
High commissioner Ranjan Mathai spoke of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as
being a man of self-discipline, with clarity of mind and determination.
He was rightly called the Iron Man of India. He praised the Sardar for
his vision and determination to unite India within a matter of months.
HE narrated some interesting facts about Sardar Patel - how he walked
every day from his flat in Bayswater to Middle Temple and how he gave
his savings to his brother so that he could travel to the UK for his
Bar. The High Commissioner thanked the organisers for their hard work in
organising such an historic event.
Master
Jay Patel, 13 years old and from the London School of Boys spoke about
the legacy of Sardar Patel, what he represented and how he personally
became inspired by him. He added that schools should teach more about
Sardar Patel to ensure the legacy of such an amazing mind was not
forgotten.
Mr.
Praful Patel, Chairman of the Indo-British Cultural Exchange closed the
formal part of the evening by presenting mementos of the event to all
dignitaries present. He also announced that a Sardar Patel Scholarship
would be launched to enable students from India and the UK to study at
Middle Temple.
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NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
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INDIANS NOW THE BIGGEST EXPAT COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
For
the first time, India has topped the list of non-UK born residents in
the country, displacing Ireland, which held the top spot in every census
since 1951, when there were 1.9 million non-UK born residents in the
UK. By 2011 this had increased to 7.5 million.
Due
to reasons of history and geographical proximity, Ireland was the place
of birth of the largest number of residents in the UK who were born
abroad. In 1951, Poland held the second spot and from the 1961 census
onwards India emerged as the second-largest group in this category.
But
newly analysed results of the 2011 census show that India has overtaken
Ireland. UK residents born in India now number 694,000.
The
ONS analysis says: "This (India) group has consistently accounted for a
large proportion of the non-UK born population of England and Wales.
The largest inter-censal percentage increase for this group was between
1961 and 1971, where this population almost doubled from 157,000 to
313,000. In 1971 those born in India accounted for 10% of the whole
non-UK born population."
In
1951 the top ten non-UK countries of birth represented 60% (1.1
million) of the total foreign born population, compared to 45% (3.4
million) in 2011. There are several major groups identified in this data
that have continually been present in the top ten non-UK countries of
birth, such as those born in Ireland, India and Poland, the ONS says.
In
1951 there were 1.9 million non-UK born residents in England and Wales
(4.5% of the usually resident population) and by 2011 this had increased
to 7.5 million (13% of the resident population).
According
to the ONS, underlying reasons for migrations to the UK are complex,
but often include 'push' factors such as civil conflict, political
instability and poverty, and 'pull' factors such as employment and
education opportunities.
HARYANA RESERVES 10% RESIDENTIAL SPOTS FOR NRIs
In
a speech at the recently concluded PBD2014, Haryana Chief Minister
announced that the state of Haryana, India, has reserved 10% of
industrial plots for Non Resident Indians (NRIs), and a Foreign
Investment and Non-resident Indian (NRI) Cell to help the overseas
Indian in setting up business ventures and other investment related
matters. The state government of Haryana offering incentives to the
overseas Indian as the state has emerged as a land of opportunity and
enterprise with its modern industrial infrastructure. The state has put
in place a single window clearance system to streamline taxation and
attract investment from NRIs.
The
state's economy has an impressive average growth rate of 9.1% during
the 11th Plan, which is remarkably higher than the national average of
7.9%. These impressive growth rates mirror Haryana's enviable status in
terms of its per capita income and investment. The state's multipronged
approach towards progress has created several avenues of investment that
have collectively catalyzed its inclusive growth story. One of the
major focus areas of the state has been education. The Rajiv Gandhi
Education City is attracting attention of global universities and
colleges, in addition to the Global Centre for Nuclear Partnership and a
national cancer institute is coming up in Jhajjar.
TRACKING the MYTH OF THE 'INDIAN VOTE' IN SOUTH AFRICA
As
the election draws nearer, political parties are gearing up into full
campaigning mode. Even the ways in which we remember Nelson Mandela,
that towering political visionary, has been dragged into electioneering.
In
the Western Cape, election hinges on the so-called "coloured vote"
whilst in KwaZulu-Natal the so-called "Indian vote" has often proven to
be decisive.
Some
may well argue that today's ANC is a very different organisation from
the one that Indian political stalwarts like Dadoo, Naicker, Nair and
others supported.
The
ANC should not think that Indian people will only vote for a party with
Indian heroes. The idea that Indian people may cast their vote on the
basis of principle, or support of particular policies or personalities
rather than out of ethnic identification should also be factored in by
the ANC. The ANC is committed to non-racialism, after all.
The
Indian vote has always been something of a myth. Back in the 1990s Adam
Habib, now the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand,
first made his name when, as a lecturer at the former University of
Durban-Westville, he wrote a paper debunking the myth of the "Indian
vote". Habib showed that in upper-class Indian areas Indian people
overwhelmingly voted for the ANC, while in working class areas there was
strong support for rival parties.
This
pattern was explained by the fact that upper-class Indians were well
placed to benefit from affirmative action and were therefore thriving in
the new democracy. On the other hand working-class and poor Indians
were losing jobs in clothing and shoe factories in great numbers and had
often found that the new democracy had made their lives more difficult.
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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.Global@gmail.com.
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
GOPIO Senior Vice President - Dr Piyush Agrawal, Weston, Florida, USA, Tel: +1-954-684-6494, E-mail:sudhapca@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 | |
Chief Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Founder President and Chairman Emeritus of GOPIO Intl. and Executive Trustee, GOPIO Foundation (Stamford, CT, USA)
Editor: Nami Kaur, Secretary, GOPIO International (New York, USA)
Co-Editors: Bina
Mahabir (Co-Chair GOPIO Media Council, Guyana-New York, USA), Nilofar
Pardawala (Portland, Oregon, USA) and Kishor Kapitan (GOPIO Durban,
South Africa)
Webmasters: Prashant Gupta (Hyderabad, India) and Abu Thomas (New Rochelle, NY, USA)
Contributors of this issue: Ashook Ramsaran (President, GOPIO International), Harmohan Singh Walia (GOPIO's Committee on Bylaws, Policies and Procedures, Sydney, Australia), Shailesh Naik (Immediate past President, GOPIO-CT, USA)
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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