Prominent Indian American community activist and GOPIO Northern Virginia President, Jay Bhandari, has been appointed by Fairfax (Virginia) County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Sharon Bulova, in Citizens Advisory committee on Reapportionment of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Bhandari will represent the Asian Pacific Islander community. This committee will plan and advise the Board on redistricting options. Mr. Bhandari is the only person in 19 members committee from the Indian American community.

Jay Bhandari has been a successful community activist and political leader for the Indian community in numerous capacities. He is the immediate past President of Association of United Hindu & Jain Temples of Metro Washington, which is a congregation of 15 Temples in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC.  He is also director of Indian Cultural Coordination committee and Chairman Public Relations committee of the Jain Society of Metro Washington area.  He has also served as President of Jain Society of South Florida (2001-2002).

Mr. Bhandari has organized several successful big events including largest Diwali Mela of the decade in 2009, Grand Hindi Kavi Sammelan in Metropolitan Washington area in 2010. Other events organized include: Republic Day, Independence Day, Diwali celebration, Holi Mela or Community picnic.

SHASHI RUIA OF ESSAR GROUP NAMED BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR 

GOPIO Life Member Shashi Ruia has been named as Businessman of the Year at the 29^th Business India Award event. Shashi Ruia, Chairman, Essar Group, is a first generation entrepreneur industrialist. He has made invaluable contributions toward strengthening the core and infrastructure sectors in India and has steered the Essar Group to a premier position in global industry. Mr Ruia has masterminded the group's business strategy and consolidated a range of activities through backward and forward integration. This has enabled the group unleash unique synergies across its businesses.

Today, the Essar Group is a multinational conglomerate and a leading player in the sectors of Steel, Oil & Gas, Power, Communications, Shipping, Ports & Logistics, Projects and Minerals. With operations in more than 20 countries across five continents, the Group employs 60,000 people, with revenues of USD 15 billion.  Mr Ruia is also on several important national bodies and industry associations, including the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) the Indo-US Joint Business Council and the Indian National Ship Owners Association (lNSA).

In 2007, Mr Ruia joined an elite list of achievers who will independently fund The Elders, a group of world renowned personalities who have joined hands to tackle the world's most difficult problems. Widely regarded as one of the architects of modem India, Shashi Ruia has a passion for education and mentoring young talent

GUYANA'S PRESIDENT JAGDEO CONFERRED WITH INDIAN DOCTORATE DEGREE

Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo was conferred with the Doctor of Literature by the Padmashree Dr. D. Y Patil University in Mumbai at its Annual Convocation ceremony on February 8, 2011. The university is part of the D. Y Patil Group, one of the largest groups in India in the area of private education with over 100 educational institutions with over 100,000 students covering a range of disciplines.  Along with President Jagdeo, there were two other recipients:  Professor M. S Swaminathan who lauded the important contribution Guyana has been making towards sustainable forest management and offering lessons that can serve as a global example for other forest countries.  The other recipient was Dr. Makarand Jawadekar, former executive of Pfizer global research and development who received a Doctor of Science.

President Jagdeo, in accepting the award alluded to the global trends of greater access to information which will change the demand for educational services and technical expertise. India has emerged as a leader in modernizing and expanding education to meet not only its domestic demand but, has also strategically positioned itself to be able to offer this expertise to other countries.  In recognizing the global challenges, President Jagdeo pointed to the opportunities for many cultures to work together. The rich cultural heritage and tradition of India and Guyana has provided a good foundation for the two countries to continue to work closely. 

TWO INDIAN AMERICANS NAMED 2011 FELLOWS BY SKADDEN FOUNDATION  

Two Indian Americans, Sushil Jacob and Devi Rao are among the 29 candidates named as Fellows by the Skadden Fellowship Foundation for the year 2011.Jacob is with the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, California and advocates to advance green community economic development by providing free, comprehensive legal services to low-income entrepreneurs.

Rao seeks to improve protection against gender-based bullying and preventing and remedying such harassment by seeking enhanced enforcement of Title IX, in collaboration with school districts and advocacy groups. Rao works with the National Women's Law Center in Washington.

The Skadden Fellowship is awarded for two years. The foundation, established in 1988, gives a salary and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled.

GUYANESE PIO SCHOLAR ELECTED TO PRESTIGIOUS CANADIAN COUNCIL

On January 13, 2011, the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada announced the election of Guyanese born PIO attorney- at- law Julius Nathoo as the president of the Transitional Council for the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario. The Transitional Council is the regulatory college that formulates the regulations to enable the Psychotherapy Act to be proclaimed and for the college to begin registering members. The council was established in 2009. Once its members are registered, the college will monitor them to ensure they uphold professional competence and ethical standards

This is Nathoo's second term in that office. Nathoo, from Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, was a Guyana scholar. His father was a bookkeeper at the Port Mourant sugar estate. Nathoo was admitted to the Bar in Guyana in 1996, and has since been associated with the legal firm of Rawana Scott and Bahadursingh of South Road Lacytown, Georgetown in Guyana. Nathoo holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of London, England; a postgraduate diploma in Education from the University of Guyana; a Barrister- at- Law degree from London, England; and a Masters degree in English from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Nathoo taught English and Law at Regina Mundi College, London, Ontario before he was appointed by the governor- general of Canada to the Chair of the Federal Appellate Tribunal that ad ministered the Employment Insurance Act, a position which he held for nine years.

BOOK BY PROF ERRIAH ON COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN FROM COLONIAL TIMES

A new book has been released by Guyanese born PIO Professor Paul Erriah titled "QUO VADIS: Perspectives on the Commonwealth Caribbean from Colonial Times to Present". It is an in-depth research study of the history and motivations in the Commonwealth Caribbean during British colonial times.

Quote from the book: "Spain brought nothing to the New World except the horse and Roman Catholicism. The French wished to expand; the Spanish wished to hold on to everything they could; the Dutch wished to be left alone; the English planters wished to make money, at whose expense was irrelevant; and the English Government also wished to make money at the expense of the English planters in a chain of exploitation irrespective of place and people".

The book is available at www.amazon.com

INDO-CANADIAN JIMMY HANSRA PLAYS CANADA TEAM FOR WORLD CRICKET

Ludhiana born Jimmy Hansra is part of the Canadian World Cup team and will play matches in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. Jimmi's father and brother are accompanying him to India to see him play Canada and to give him moral support. For Jimmy's teachers at Ludhiana's Sacred Heart Convent School too it is a proud feeling that their student was playing in the World Cup.

 ASHOOK RAMSARAN RECOGNIZED IN TORONTO, CANADA

Pravasi Samman 2011 recipient Ashook Ramsaran was recognized in Toronto, Canada at a gala awards event in recognition of his efforts to make the Kolkata Memorial became a reality due to his initiative, articulation of the need and for his persistence that convinced the Government of India to build the Kolkata Memorial which was unveiled on January 11, 2011 in Kolkata. The awards event took place on February 12, 2011 at The Mirage Banquet Hall and Convention Centre located at 1917 Albion Road in Etobicoke, Ontario with this year's theme being "An Evening Of Love & Appreciation".

Over the years the Indo-Caribbean community has played a significant role in the development of the rapidly growing society in Canada. There are many individuals and organizations that have contributed tremendously in making that community more accessible, progressive and convenient in which to live and express its unique heritage.

A recognition plaque was presented to Ramsaran by the Indo-Caribbean Music Culture and Community (MCC) in recognition of his "dedication, excellence and service to our community". The Caribbean East Indian Cultural Organization (CEICO) presented a suitably inscribed and elegantly designed Outstanding Achievement Award 2011 globe for "proudly sharing your heritage with the world"

TWO INDIAN AMERICANS TO SERVE ON US NUCLEAR TRADE COMMITTEE

Two Indian-Americans Ganpat Mani and Vijay were appointed on Monday by US secretary of commerce Gary Locke to serve on the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee for two years. Mani and Sazawal along with 28 others will make recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce concerning trade policy development, improving the competitiveness of US industry and its ability to compete for international contracts for civil nuclear products and services.

The 30-member committee will also identify priority markets for US civil nuclear products and services in the short- and long-terms.

Mani, originally from Tamil Nadu, is president of the Denver, Colorado-based ConverDyn, which us a joint venture between affiliates of Honeywell International and  General Atomics. It manages the international marketing of UF6 conversion and related services from Honeywell's Metropolis, Illinois facility. Active in the industry trade organizations, Mani was elected to Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Board of Directors in 2009.

He received his bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering in 1971 from Loughborough University in England and his MBA in 1973 from Rutgers University, New Jersey.

Srinagar-born Sazawal, 64, who is currently the Director of Government Programs of USEC Inc, was involved in Track-2 discussions preceding the completion of the 123 Agreement between India and the United States.

For over three decades Sazawal has participated in the US civilian and defence nuclear programmes covering the entire nuclear fuel cycle, and an array of reactor designs that have included conventional and space based reactors, and black programs.

Sazawal was born and raised in Srinagar, and came to the US in 1970 for doing PhD. He graduated from the Tyndale Biscoe Memorial High School and the Amar Singh College, and completed his post-graduate engineering studies in the US.

As director of programs funded or supported by the US federal government, Sazawal provides corporate programme oversight and coordination of various government projects within the company. He is a member of the management team involved in the American Centrifuge Project (ACP), the leading initiative by USEC Inc to build a state-of-the-art centrifuge nuclear enrichment plant based on American technology.

Sazawal holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Benarus Hindu University (India), M Tech in Materials Engineering from the M A College of Technology, Bhopal (India), and PhD in Structural Mechanics from the Michigan Technological University. He has authored nine published technical papers and articles.