GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE of INDIAN ORIGIN (GOPIO)

P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA      Web: www.gopio.net

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2005 Conference Report

FOUR PIO LEADERS ON GOPIO HONOR ROLL

GOPIO inducted four person of Indian origin (PIO) leaders to its Honor Roll at the recently concluded GOPIO Conference 2005 held in Mumbai. They include Deputy Leader of the UK House of Lords Navnit Dholakia, former Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, former Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister.Basdeo Panday and Malaysian Minister of Works Dato Seri Samy Vellu. GOPIO honored them for their outstanding political leadership in their respective countries. Dr. M.L. Singhvi, although an Indian citizen, was also inducted as a special honoree to GOPIO Honor Roll for his valuable contributions to Indian Diaspora movement. Many other dignitaries who attended GOPIO Awards banquet at the conclusion of GOPIO 2005 conference in Mumbai, included ministers and members of parliaments from different countries, including Surinam Vice President Jules Rattankoemar Ajodhia, who was also the chief guest of Government of India at the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.

GOPIO’s 2005 Pravasi Bharatiya Community Service Awards were also presented to seven community activists/leaders for their numerous contributions to the NRI/PIO communities in their respective countries. The awardees included  Farook Khan of South Africa, Kishore Bhai of Belgium, Uka Solanki of USA, M. John of Dubai in the Middle East, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj of Trinidad and Tobago, Effendi Ketwaru of Surinam, and Dato Dr T. Marimuthu of Malaysia. A special recognition award was given to S. Ramadorai, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Mumbai, for his contribution to the enormous growth of professional NRIs throughout the world. Due to a death in the family, Ramadurai’s award was received by TCS Director of Marketing Jayant Pendharkar. The Awards Banquet was compered by GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran

The chief guest at the awards banquet was Jagdish Tytler, Minister for Overseas Indians Affairs. Addressing the delegates, Tytler complimented GOPIO for focusing on the points of interest between India and the Diaspora. He assured continuous and close attention to all the problems facing different sections of the scattered Diaspora. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh also sent his good wishes for the success of the two-day conference.

The two day GOPIO conference was formally inaugurated by Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna, in the glittering hall “Roof Top Rendezvous”of Taj Palace & Towers near Gateway of India in Mumbai on Jan 5, 2005. Addressing a packed hall which included local dignitaries, diplomats, businessmen and delegates, Krishan said that the 22 million strong Diaspora living outside India had a very important role to play in shaping the destiny of India. He complimented the founders of this movement, Dr.Thomas Abraham and Inder Singh who had given concrete shape to the ideas of the late Mrs.Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi who wanted to marshal NRIs’ strength towards the development needs of India. He also complimented Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for creating a separate ministry of Overseas Indians Affairs under Shri Jagdish Tytler.

The Governor also released the conference souvenir and a book “Voices of the Diaspora” written by Prof. Anand Muloo of Mauritius. The Indo-American Society of Mumbai hosted a reception to welcome the delegates, following the inauguration. Earlier, GOPIO President Inder Singh and GOPIO-Mumbai Coordinator V. Balachandran welcomed the delegates. Singh in his remarks said that GOPIO will mobilize the NRI/PIO communities to help Tsunami victims.

Earlier in the afternoon the Conference discussed the area reports from North America, South America and Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, Far East and South Asia, Pacific/Oceana and Africa.  This was followed by a media conclave on “Indian Diaspora and Global media” presided over by S.V.Raju, a senior Mumbai based Editor of “Freedom First”. Kumar Ketkar, Editor of  “LokSatta’ while delivering the key note address, decried the lopsided coverage of NRI/PIO issues by the Indian media based both in India and overseas, and filling their pages with only the glamour and the rich among them. This tended to obfuscate the real issues, which should engage the attention of the media in so far as it relates to the Diaspora.

On January 6, GOPIO Academic Council was inaugurated at Taj President Hotel, Mumbai. Former Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister.Basdeo Panday delivered the keynote speech while former Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry addressed the gathering. GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham said that the Academic Council would be the focal point of the Diaspora studies and network the academicians engaged in teaching and research of diasporal subjects in various institutes of learning around the globe. Pandey said that it was necessary to have a clear concept on Diaspora by realizing that it was not homogeneous and that there should be more interest in the less privileged sections. He wondered whether it was enough to say that only common cultural heritage was the bonding factor of the diaspora. In his view the relationship between India and the Diaspora should be governed by a consideration that each will help the other, that Mother India should be strong so as to enable the Diaspora to derive its strength from this factor and that India should benefit from the tremendous economic power from the 22 million strong Diaspora located in 74 countries. He complimented GOPIO for its commendable initiative in networking the Indian diaspora.

Mahendra Chaudhry urged that India should take an assertive stand when human rights of the diapsora are violated. He commended GOPIO for establishing an academic council.

Dr.Jagat Motwani, Chairman Academic Council chaired the session on “Indian Diaspora, Social, Political and Economic issues.” Dilip Mehta, CEO “Rosy Blue” Antwerp, Belgium called upon the Diaspora to improve the ability of global distribution to boost their economic standing.  Chandresh Sharma, MP, Trinidad & Tobago called for the setting up of a “Youth GOPIO”. Dr. Chandrasekhar Bhat, Director, Center for Diasporic Studies, University of Hyderabad and Prof. Adesh Pal of the Center for Indian Diaspora and Cultural Studies, North Gujarat University, Patan gave an account of the studies done by their institutions to spread the knowledge on diaspora among Indian students. Dr. Denison Jayasooria, Executive Director, Social Strategic Foundation, Malaysia analyzed the World War II and its impact on the Diaspora.

The Session on “GOPIO Connect-Helping in developmental, philanthropic and Educational Activities” was chaired by Prabodh Gupta, Chairman, GOPIO Philanthropic Council. Prof. Manubhai Shah, Chairman Emeritus, Consumer Education and Research Center, Ahmedabad gave an account of the consumer protection measures taken by his organization and it can also help the NRIs/PIOs on any issues in India. Keshav Chandaria of the Chandaria Foundation gave a presentation about the involvement of his organization in the field of water preservation, education, insurance to the farmers etc, helping 2 million people. Uka Solanki and Dr. Awtar Singh, Philanthropists from California, gave account of their philanthropic activities and how other NRIs/PIOs can initiate and participate in such activities.

The session on Business, Technology and Investments was chaired by Dwarkesh Shah, Chairman of GOPIO Business Council, Stuttgart. Padma Shri Dr. Amitav Mallik gave the details of foreign technology flowing into private sector in India while Dr. Muhammed Majeed, Chairman Sami Labs, New Jersey & Bangalore made impressive presentation on the business opportunities in India for private NRI initiative. Bharat Shah, a Board Member of Indo-Belge Diameters Association said that the diamond trade formed 5% of the GDP of Belgium and ninety per cent of the rough diamonds were polished in India. Ms.Lalitha Gupte, Joint Managing Director ICICI gave a presentation on the investment climate in India while Logie Naidu, Deputy Mayor of Durban, South Africa gave a profile of the recent development and challenges in his area.

GOPIO Conference 2005 concluded with several resolutions including demand for Rajya Sabha seats for NRIs, voting rights for Indian citizens living outside India, restoring “Not Ordinary a Citizen (NOR)” status from two to nine in the income tax on global income of returning NRIs/PIOs and repealing the new VCA clearance rules for NRIs for adoption of orphaned children from India. GOPIO has also urged Govt. of India to take pro-active stand on political and human rights violations NRIs/PIOs. In another resolution, GOPIO has supported India’s bid to be a permanent member of the United Nations with veto power and urged NRIs/PIOs to garner support for this cause in their respective countries. The resolutions were compiled and presented to the conference delegates by GOPIO-Belgium President Sunil Prasad and were passed unanimously after discussion by the delegates.

GOPIO Awards Banquet – 2005 held in Mumbai shows the award recipients and dignitaries with GOPIO officials. From L. to R.: Dato Dr T. GOPIO-Mumbai Coordinator V. Balachandran, GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran, Dato Dr T. Marimuthu of Malaysia, TCS Director of Marketing Jayant Pendharkar, Surinam Vice President Jules Rattankoemar Ajodhia, M. John of Dubai, former Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, Uka Solanki of USA, former Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister.Basdeo Panday, Dr. M.L. Singhvi, Farook Khan of South Africa, Effendi Ketwaru of Surinam, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj of Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysian Minister of Works Dato Seri Samy Vellu, Kishore Bhai of Belgium, GOPIO President Inder singh and GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham.

GOPIO officials meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Mumbai. From L. to R.: Prime Minister Singh, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, GOPIO President Inder Singh and GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran.