GOPIO NEWS BULLETIN

April  2005

NOTE: This is a monthly newsletter of GOPIO International, based in the USA. If you do not like to receive this newsletter in the future, please go to the bottom and click the unsubscribe URL. If you feel the information contained here are useful, please forward this e-mail to your friends and relatives. One could also subscribe this newsletter by visiting www.gopio.net and type in the e-mail address and other details.

 

CONTENTS

Ø      US NFIA TO CELEBRATE ITS 25TH MAY 27-29, 2005

Ø      PIO WORLD BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM IN STUTTGART, GERMANY JULY 9-12, 2005

Ø      GOPIO SURINAME TO HOST INDIAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AUGUST 22-25, 2005

Ø      ASIAN INDIAN ANCESTRY RAISES RISK OF DIABETES

Ø      NRI NGOs MEETING HELD IN NEW YORK

Ø      NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE

o       LAKSHMI MITTAL RICHEST MAN IN BRITAIN

o       RITA SHARMA RICHEST ASIAN WOMEN IN LONDON

o       NAYAN CHADA RECIPIENT OF PRESTIGIOUS SHORENSTEIN AWARD

o       FIFTEEN INDIAN AMERICAN NAMED SOROS FELLOWS

o       US REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE AWARD GOES TO SANTOSH C. VERMA

Ø      GOPIO CHAPTER NEWS

o       GOPIO TRINIDAD HOSTS FORUM ON KIDNAPPINGS

o       GOPIO SOUTHEAST LONDON, KENT & ESSEX CHAPTER TO DEBUT

o       GOPIO CHICAGOLAND TSUNAMI FUNDRAISER IN A PACKED HOUSE

o       GOPIO SURINAME MOURNS THE DEATH OF EFFENDI KETWARU

Ø      NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD

o       PUNJAB GOVT. WOOS NRIs

o       ZIMBABWE INDIANS ARE CONSIDERED AS LOCALS

o       LONDON HAS ABOUT 10,000 INDIAN-OWNED BUSINESSES

o       PIOs OPPOSE RENAMING OF ROAD AFTER GANDHI

o       PAKISTANI AMERICAN PHYSICIANS ADOPT INDIAN VILLAGE

o       RAMNAVAMI CELEBRATED BY UK HOUSE COMMONS

o       CANADIAN MAYOR VISITS LUDHIANA

o       CANADA FACILITATES GRANT OF TEMPORARY VISAS

o       TWO NRIs GIFT LUXURY CAR TO NAMDHARI GURU

o       RICH ASIANS IN EUROPE  

o       PM SINGH INAUGURATES CYBER TOWER IN MAURITIUS

o       NRI TO BUILD INDIAS LARGEST SHOPPERTAINMENT MALL

Ø      GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION

Ø      EDITORIAL BOARD

 

 

 

GRAND CELEBRATION PLANNED BY NFIA FOR ITS 25th

 

The National Federation of Indian-American Associations (NFIA), an umbrella organization of various other associations in the United States will organize a grand celebration of its 25th anniversary on May 27-28, 2005 at its place of birth, New York. Established in 1980, the NFIA has worked to protect the civil rights of the community and helped preserve the best of the rich cultural heritage of India as well as project a positive image of India and the Indian American community in the US. It has become the voice of the community in representing Indian Americans in the political corridors not only in Washington, DC but also in State capitals. NFIA organized the First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin in New York in 1989, which resulted in the formation of GOPIO.

 

With the theme, Building on the Past, Shaping the Future, the event will provide NFIA member associations an opportunity to reflect on the organisation's 25 years of service to the Indian American community and to chart out a course of action for the future. It will be our grand celebration, noted Rajen Anand, the NFIA president, but we will also take a critical look at our past activities, honor the pioneers of NFIA, and will identify the challenges facing the community, in order to ease their life in the United State.

 

Ambassador of India to the United States, Ronen Sen has graciously accepted the invitation to inaugurate the event and deliver the keynote address. Other invited guests include Senators Chuck Schumer, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Congressmen Gary Ackerman, Frank Pallone, Gregory Meeks (accepted), Bobby Jindal, Joseph Crowley, Charles Rangel, and Nita Lowey. The governors of New York and New Jersey have also been invited.

 

The planning of celebrations is headed by NFIA Vice President Lal Motwani of New York. Dr. Thomas Abraham, who founded the organization, is in charge of putting together an exciting series of seminars. The program will start on Friday, May 27th evening with the inauguration ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located near LaGuardia airport. Delegates from various associations and guests are expected to come from all over the U.S. On Saturday starting at 9.00 a.m. seven conference sessions will be held as follows:

 

Session I US-India Relations: Progress Made and Challenges Ahead

Session II Community Leadership: Experiences and Expectations

Session III Indian Writers in America Past Experiences and Expectations

Session IV Political Empowerment: Past Successes and Future Prospects

Session V Current Issues Facing Indian American Businesses

Session VI Delivery of Services to the Community An evaluation on what needs to be done

Session VII Indian American Youth Forum

 

Noted speakers are expected to participate in enlightening the audience on these topics and providing intellectual stimulation to the attendees, remarked Abraham. The sessions are organized in such a way that there will ample opportunities for audience participation, Abraham added.

 

A gala banquet will be held on Saturday evening at a very posh place, Terrace at the Park, located at the 111th Street and 52nd Avenue in Queens, NY. The Tri-State Indian community is excited that NFIA is coming back to its birth place to celebrate its 25th, said Motwani. The participants at the banquet will not only enjoy the sumptuous food, but will feel relaxed by the beautiful view of the park and city, commented Motwani. I promise a good time and great networking opportunities for every one attending the 25th anniversary celebration, Motwani added. An exotic entertainment program is also being planned for the evening.

 

A colorful souvenir will be published on the occasion. We are seeking sponsors for the event and advertisements and articles for the souvenir, that should be mailed to 237-50 Fairbury Ave., Bellerose NY 11426 before May 1, 2005, explained Motwani.

 

Special arrangements have been made for the guests to stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the special rate of $109 per room. Call the hotel at 718-457-6300.

 

It is going to be an event people will remember for a long time, observed Radha Krishnan, the president-elect of NFIA. I strongly urge all Indian American associations, Federation of Indian Associations in various cities, well wishers and those who want to be involved in the community affairs to attend the grand celebrations.

 

Sponsoring opportunities are available for businesses and professional practitioners. Exposition booths are also available.

 

Contact: Lal Motwani, Tel: 718-470-1026, E-mail: lmotwani@nyc.rr.com or NFIA President Dr. Rajen S. Anand (562) 537-1077, E-mail: ranand2@csulb.edu NFIA encourages Indian Americans to join in this celebration and call on the youngsters to participate in the youth forum.

 

PIO WORLD BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM IN STUTTGART, GERMANY JULY 9-12, 2005

GOPIO BUSINESS COUNCIL GOPIO is a worldwide organization of people of Indian origin (PIOs) established in 1989 in New York. GOPIO established its Business Council in 2000 to network and interact among the business community of PIOs/NRIs, the countries they live in and India. GOPIO Business Council organized the Third Global Indian Entrepreneurs Conference in New York in 2002. Dwarkesh Shah of Stuttgart, Germany, who is current chairman of GOPIO Business Council, will also serve as the chairman of the PIO World Business Symposium scheduled to be held in Stuttgart, Germany.

 

PIO World Business Symposium

 (Proposed program subject to change!)

Networking PIO Businesses Worldwide with businesses of India & Germany/ Europe

AND

Fourth Global Indian Entrepreneurs Conference

July 9 -12, 2005

Organized by Business Council of GOPIO Intl. (New York) and Indo-European Foundation e.V. (under registration)

The Symposium will be held in English!

Expected participants: PIO businesses worldwide, PIO politicians such as prime ministers, ministers/ opposition leaders including members of the House of Lords (GB), apex-bodies and EU/ German/ Indian businessmen and authorities, business organizations, research institutions, etc. Indian business forums and Chambers of Commerce from countries with large PIO populations such as  Mauritius, Guyana, Surinam, India, United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, and India.

Patrons & Supporters

(as on March 31st, 2005)

 

The following organizations have agreed either to be patrons or supporters for the PIO World Business Symposium, which will take place in Stuttgart/ Germany from July 9-12, 2005.

 

1. BGA, Federation of German Wholesale & Foreign Trades (German apex body as patron of this event)

2. IMC, Indian Merchants Chamber (Mumbai, India)

3. Asia Pacific Forum of German Businesses (APA of BDI), Berlin (expected)

4. Invest in Germany Berlin (German investment promotion authority Berlin, to be confirmed soon)

5. Ministry of Economics & Works (State of Baden-Wrttemberg/ Germany)

6. Baden-Wrttemberg International (state business promotion authority)

7. City of Stuttgart

8. Chamber of Commerce & Industry Stuttgart

9. Several industry specific German associations are also joining and supporting this symposium

10. Several chambers of commerce and industry of PIO have agreed to cooperate in this symposium. GOPIO Business Council is in contact with several chambers of commerce and associations in India for their support. Those chambers and business organizations interested in co-sponsoring or participating in the PIO World Business Symposium should contact GOPIO Business Council below.

**

Contact: Dwarkesh Shah, Indo-European Foundation, & GOPIO Business Council, Julius-Hlder-Str. 46, 70597 Stuttgart/ Germany, Tel.: +49 (0) 711 722 2071, Fax: +49 (0) 711 722 2939; www.gopiobiz.com E-Mail: info@gopiobiz.com

 

GOPIO SURINAME TO HOST INDIAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE OF THE WESTERTN HEMISPHERE, AUGUST 22-25

 

GOPIO Suriname is hosting the INDIAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE in Suriname. The conference with the theme World Peace, Development and Integration Through Indian Diasporic Cultural and Commercial Linkages, will be held on August 22 through August 25, 2005 in Paramaribo, Suriname. The focus of the conference is to promote peace, development and integration on a global level through active linkages in culture and commercial enterprises throughout the Indian Diaspora. The conference is the first of its kind in the Caribbean region and will focus on crucial aspects of people of Indian origin (PIOs) who live and conduct businesses in multi-ethnic societies as in the Caribbean area, and other newly settled countries as well. The program includes four separate and appropriately structured sessions of presentations and panel discussions on topics pertinent to the theme.

 

This conference has the full support of the government of Suriname, with several of the highest levels of government officials participating in the events, together with invited officials of the Government of India and many prominent regional and international political, business, academic and entertainment notables. Delegates will be hosted with evenings of dinner with full cultural presentations by local and international performers. Arrangements have been made for visits and trips by delegates during their stay in Paramaribo to religious and other sites of interest. The conference will be conducted in English.

 

The detailed program and information on participants, registration, accommodation and travel will follow in the next GOPIO newsletters. Contact: Harold Ramdhani, Secretary, GOPIO Suriname at Harold.r.ramdhani@ramsholding.sr

 

ASIAN INDIAN ANCESTRY RAISES RISK OF DIABETES

 

PEOPLE OF ASIAN INDIAN ancestry are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, even if they are not obese, according to articles in the December 2003 and June  2004 issues of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and  Metabolism. The researchers found that people of Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi ancestryall considered "Asian Indian" for these studiesare metabolically and genetically different from those of European descent. (Traditionally, anthropologists have classified Asian Indians as "Caucasians In these studies, however, those descended from Europeans are referred to as "Caucasians") Scientists already knew that insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are common in India. The new research studied people living in the United States.

 

In the December 2003 study, the research team looked at whether two genes suspected to cause insulin resistance occur more often among people of Asian Indian ancestry than among Caucasians. They also investigated whether people who had these genes were more insulin resistant than those who didn't.

 

For the full article, visit http://gopio.net/publications.htm

 

NRI NGOs MEETING HELD IN NEW YORK

 

A meeting to provide a platform for networking of NRI NGOs to develop common action-oriented plans was convened by the American Indian Foundation (AIF), Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO.Connect) and India Development Coalition of America (IDCA) in New York on 19th. Hosted by the AIF at its office in Manhattan, the meeting was attended by seventeen delegates representing thirteen organizations in the New York Tri-State area, namely, AIF, IDCA, GOPIO.Connect, the Kerala Center, Pratham, ASHA for Education Stamford, Association for Human Development, Friends of Seva Mandir, The George Foundation, Helena Kaushik Womens College in India, Share & Care Foundation, ASHA-New York and Heart and Hand for Handicapped

 

AIF Executive Director Pradeep Kashyap, welcomed the participants. After giving a brief summary of AIFs activities, Kashyap stressed how the NGO Network can be used as a platform for building awareness among NRIs, cooperation between different NGOs and also to achieve convergence among common programs.

 

Bhamy Shenoy, an activist of Pratham and IDCA moderated the brain-storming session on two objectives: 

(1)  Gathering information about NRI NGOs involved in developmental activities in India and

(2)  Providing opportunities to NRIs to get involved  in developmental activities particularly for those who are getting ready to retire or those who have already retired.

 

ASHA-Stamford representatives Periakaruppan Chidambaram and Suniti Maheswari initiated the discussion. Dr. Surendra Kaushik founder of Helena Kaushik Womens College pointed out that there is a new trend in countries with large NRI/PIO populations where the government is expecting NRIs/PIOs to contribute to Indias development. For example, the UK government is expecting NRIs to take greater interest in Indias development activities as UK cuts developmental funds to India. Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO suggested that IDCA could take up activities which affect all NGOs such as Government of India regulations including Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) or free custom clearance for donated goods for NGOs. This work will provide wider exposure for the good work done by various NGOs and NRI activists, and support the adoption and implementation of development and educational policies benefiting the poor in India.  Dr. Abraham George, President of the George Foundation suggested preparation of position papers on various topics concerning developmental activities in India. D.P. Ahuja of AIF informed the gathering that they were several attractive projects for helping the handicapped and requested the participating organizations to review them.

 

Dr. Abraham George moderated the session on band-aid vs. systemic change in developmental activities. Pratham activist Srikant Lanka initiated the topic and discussed synergies with respect to the long-term goals that need systemic change.  Dr. George advocated the use of land and cultivation as a means to long-term and systemic change in India as the vast majority of people in rural India were untouched by developmental programs and their major skills were limited only to cultivation.  Some ideas were discussed to tap the resources of multi-national companies (MNCs) working in India to support programs by NGOs in India.

 

Dr. Thomas Abraham initiated and moderated the session on how to generate synergies through a networking platform for NRI NGOs.  A magazine for India development activities was proposed by IDCA activist Dr. Srinivasa Rao. A web-based magazine will be debuted to provide information on ongoing  activities of various NGOs. The meeting also decided to organize a one-day meeting of all NRI NGOs working in India to present their activities to the larger Indian community. This conference will be organized in New York City in September 2005.

 

The meeting passed a resolution pertaining to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and charitable donation of goods by NRI NGOs for Indias developmental and educational activities. The participants felt that the current procedures of Indias Ministry of Home Affairs and the agency handling FCRA clearances were unnecessarily long, time-consuming, secretive, bureaucratic and costly, thereby discouraging necessary development and educational aid flows to the motherland. The meeting urged the Government of India to encourage overseas Indians to finance Indias development by immediate simplification of rules, regulations and procedures relating to FCRA so as to expedite FCRA approvals through a streamlined fast track mechanism for acceptance of funds by the applicant organizations and their affiliates, branches, and subsidiaries in India. The group also urged the Government of India and its Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs to create a coordinating group to draft simplified and donor-contributor friendly rules and procedures to streamline custom clearance for goods that are shipped by overseas Indians and other support groups to India for charity, humanitarian or developmental purposes. The new rules and procedures should lead to a quick, duty-free, hassle-free, and friendly release of goods to the intended private, nonprofit beneficiary/recipient person, institution, organization or government body such as schools and colleges, clinics and hospitals.

 

GOPIO.Connect can be reached at pg1619@yahoo.com and IDCA can be reached at srao@shanthabiotech.com

 

NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE

 

LAKSHMI MITTAL RICHEST MAN IN BRITIAN

 

Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal will be named Britain's richest man on April 3, leaving behind Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and the Duke of Westminster in the list of the UK's top earners in the Sunday Times Rich List.

 

RITA SHARMA RICHEST ASIAN WOMAN IN LONDON

 

Rita Sharma, a Punjabi woman who owns a travel business, has emerged as the richest Asian woman in London. Her net worth is estimated to be 95 million. In 1986, Rita started her travel business that now employs about 100 people with an annual turnover of 50 million.

 

NAYAN CHADA RECIPIENT OF PRESTIGIOUS SHORENSTEIN AWARD

 

Nayan Chada, a former editor of Far Eastern Economic Review and currently editor of Yaleglobal Online was presented the prestigious Shorenstein Award last month. The Shorenstein award honors a journalist who has helped American audience to understand complexities of Asia. The award is presented biennially by Walter H. Shorenstein Forum for Asian Pacific Studies at Stanford and Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard.

 

FIFTEEN INDIAN AMERICANS NAMED SOROS FELLOWS

 

Paul and Daisy Soros New American Fellows for 2005 include fifteen Indian Americans among the thirty selected this year. Fellows receive up to $20,000 stipend plus half of their tuition for as many as two years of graduate study at any institution of higher learning in the U.S.

 

The awardees are Chirag Bains (Chelmsford,MA), Dave Choksi (Baton Rouge, LA), Meera Deo (Long Beach, CA), Prabhjot Dhadialla (Zionsville, IN), Rajesh Gupta (Acworth, GA), Meenaskshi Gupta (Slingerlands, NY), Ulcaa Joshi Hanson (Millington, NJ), Prashant Jayaram (Lisle, IL), Arun Mohan (Monroe, GA), Siddharth Mohan (Cambridge, MA), Gautam Mukunda (Elmwood Park, NJ), Jasmin Sethi (Elmwood Park, NJ), Ankur Shah (Burlingame, CA), Nirav Shah (Mayfield, KY) and Devi Sridhar (Coral Gables, FL).

 

US REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE AWARDS SANTOSH C. VERMA  

 

In continuation of our reporting on Suresh U. Kumar bagging the Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal (GOPIO News March 2005), GOPIO News has learned that Santosh C. Verma of Diamond Bar, California was also presented with the 2004 Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal Award. This was announced by NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds (R-NY) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). Verma was selected based on his outstanding leadership in business and for displaying an unyielding commitment to President Ronald Reagan's vision for an entrepreneurial America.

 

Verma had also recently published a book titled How to Achieve Worldwide Prosperity.

 

GOPIO CHAPTER NEWS

 

GOPIO-TRINIDAD HOSTS FORUM ON KIDNAPPINGS


A forum was hosted by GOPIO of Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday, April 3, 2005 in Chaguanas, Trinidad, to examine and analyze the alarming increase in kidnappings taking place in Trinidad and Tobago. The primary presenters were anthropologist Dr Kumar Mahabir and sociologist Roger Seepersad.

 

The forum focused on the record number of 163 reported abductions for the year 2004, Indian businessmen being the primary targeted population segment, the high risk geographical areas, the ransoms being extracted and likely trends. The analyses were based on statistical compilations and showed that 71% of kidnapping victims were Indians and 75% were male between the ages of 31 and 40 years, with huge amounts of ransom demanded and paid to the kidnappers. The forum concluded with recommendation that law enforcement agencies of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago Government implement necessary steps to arrest and eliminate this recent criminal development that is threatening the safety of nationals in the country.

 

Contact Devant Maharaj, President, GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago, E-mail: Devant@tstt.net.tt

 

GOPIO SOUTHEAST LONDON, KENT & ESSEX CHATPER DEBUT RESCHEDULED

 

Preparations are in full swing for the inauguration of the GOPIO Chapter in UK. The Chapter will be opened on Saturday, May 27th or June 3rd, 2005 and will be called GOPIO SE London, Kent & Essex. This will be the second Chapter of GOPIO in UK. It will provide a forum for the 40,000-strong Indian community for social and business networking and fill the gap for a long desired institutionalized entity for the community. The Chapter will, through its activities, promote better understanding and fraternity between different Diaspora groups in the region and collaborate in creating an identity for the Indian community as an important factor in the development of the region.

 

The Convener of the new chapter Raj Lakha can be contacted at 0044-1474 329985 (T), 01474 329986 (F) 0044 7768 685 397 (GSM) E-mail: r.lakah@netsite.co.uk

 

GOPIO CHICAGOLAND HOLDS TSUNAMI FUNDRAISER IN A PACKED HOUSE

 

GOPIO Chicagoland, Indian Dental Association, Indian Pharmacy Association & Nartan organized a dinner and an entertainment program to benefit Tsunami victims on March 5th held at the Plainfield High School Auditorium in Plainfield, Illinois.

 

Contact: Mr. Sameer Shah, President GOPIO Chicagoland at 847-508-7426 or samshausa@netscape.net

 

GOPIO-SURINAME MOURNS THE DEATH OF EFFENDI KETWARU

 

Effendi Ketwaru of Suriname, one of the recipients of GOPIO's 2005 Pravasi Community Service Award, passed away on March 22 in Suriname. A well-known musician, Ketwaru had participated in many music festivals and used this talent to raise money for various community causes. Ketwaru, in particular enriched the lives of PIOs in Suriname with his contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Indian heritage in Suriname and elsewhere. GOPIO International Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran has sent condolences to Ketwaru family and GOPIO Suriname.

 

NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs/PIOs AROUND THE WORLD

 

PUNJAB GOVT. WOOS NRIs

 

Capt. Amarinder Singhs government is trying to make Punjab an NRI friendly state. The government has amended the relevant laws to enable NRIs to take possession of their residential, commercial and agricultural properties through the process of summary proceedings. An NRI Police Helpline has been established and is working effectively. The state would soon have special fast-track courts in order to secure quick judicial redressal to NRIs problems. The government would soon appoint NRI Nambardars in villages from where more than 20 families have migrated to foreign countries to take special care of the properties in their absence. The state also would make an initial provision of Rs. 500m to woo Punjabi NRI investments in Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB).

 

ZIMBABWE INDIANS ARE CONSIDERED AS LOCALS

 

Zimbabwe Minister of Industry and International Trade Sam. C. Mumbengegwi, who was visiting India, was asked about the Indian population in Zimbabwe. The minister said, "We do have people of Indian origin, who are roughly one percent of the population. But we do not think of them as Indians as they have been there for a very long time and are very active in local politics."

 

LONDON HAS ABOUT 10,000 INDIAN-OWNED BUSINESSES

 

India is the second largest investor in the UK and Indian-owned businesses account for five per cent of London's economy. There are about 10,000 Indian-owned businesses with a turnover of 14.4 billion American dollars according to a report entitled 'Indian Communities in London' released by Think London, a partner agency for UK Trade and Investment.

 

According to Michael Charlton, CEO of Think, "One in every ten people in London originates from the Indian subcontinent. London attracts half of all Indian investment into Europe."

 

London is a home to about 450,000 PIOs including 173,000 NRIs. About 4000 students from India are enrolled in the university and in colleges. London is a popular destination for Indians. Every week over 60 flights carry a passenger load from or to London airports and that number is destined to grow.


PIOs OPPOSE RENAMING OF ROAD AFTER GANDHI

 

The Indian community in South Africa is opposing the government decision to rename 'Point Road' in Durban city after Mahatma Gandhi. The Point Road area is where the first Indians had settled. However, the street is now notorious for prostitution and drugs and the Indian community objects to the Mahatma's name being used to replace Point Road.

 

Amichand Rajbansi, a Minister in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government is also opposed to Gandhi's name being used for the Point Road. Ashwin Desai, a local activist, thinks, Gandhi practiced as a lawyer in West Street and if anything, the main street should have been named after Gandhi." However, Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo defended the decision, saying "the re-naming has been done after a great deal of thought and research."


But Ela Gandhi, a granddaughter of the Mahatma and former Member of Parliament for the ruling ANC, said there was no cause for concern. "Gandhi would have settled in Point Road to change people's immoral ways. My only concern is that he should have been given one of the more important roads, given his contribution to the non-violent movement in South Africa."

 

As the renaming of the street has run into controversy, the government has decided to consult the Indian community and the Mahatma`s family before picking another street for renaming after Gandhi.

 

PAKISTANI AMERICAN PHYSICIANS ADOPT INDIAN VILLAGE

 

The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Origin of North America (APPNA) has decided to adopt an Indian village close to the Wagah border check post, and take care of the healthcare needs of the village people.

 

The physicians were moved by the poor healthcare and sanitation facilities in the border villages, and decided to set up a healthcare center at Kumri village near Amritsar city. Hussain Malik, president of AAPNA association, said that the Escorts Heart Institute will provide the manpower for sanitation and healthcare facilities to about 5,000 Kumri villagers and the association would be responsible for the funding.

 

Malik said that they were inspired by the free treatment of Pakistani children in Indian hospitals when they had visited India some time ago.

 

RAMNAVAMI CELEBRATED BY UK HOUSE COMMONS

 

For the first time, the Indian festival of Ramnavami was celebrated at the House of Commons in UK. Tony McNulty MP, the Minister of Transport and Abhay Lakhani, Parliamentary Advisor on Community Issues, were the prime movers behind the celebration. The function was organized on Tuesday March 15, 2005. Several members of the cabinet, shadow cabinet and the Liberal Democrat party and other dignitaries participated in the celebration.


Ramanvami is observed by over one billion Hindus in the world. The festival is one of the most popular celebrations in Hinduism and is observed with great fervor by British Hindus.

 

CANADIAN MAYOR VISITS LUDHIANA


Doug, Mayor of Surrey (Canada) for the last nine years, visited Ludhiana along with 12 Punjabi NRIs and had a meeting with the municipal councillors, the Mayor and Commissioner. In talking to reporters, Doug said that twenty-five per cent of the population of Surrey was Punjabi and that the teaching of Punjabi was part of their school curriculum.

 

CANADA FACILITATES GRANT OF TEMPORARY VISAS

 

The Canadian High Commissioner in India has opened nine visa application centers to facilitate grant of temporary visas to visitors, tourists, students, business travelers and temporary workers. The nine centers are located in New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata.

 

Temporary visas are issued for six months, but can be extended to five years in certain situations. Punjabis account for the largest number of applicants while the Gujratis make up about 10% of all applicants.

 

The applicants for permanent visa will continue to apply either at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi or at the Canadian Consulate General in Chandigarh.

 

TWO NRIs GIFT LUXURY CAR TO NAMDHARI GURU

 

Two NRIs, Tarsem Chand Aggarwal and Ranjeet Singh, of Derby in UK have gifted multi-crore car to Satguru Jagjit Singh of the Namdhari sect who resides at Bhaini Sahib, near Ludhiana, Punjab. The NRIs had imported MAYBACH, the high-end luxury car of Daimler Chrysler from London.

 

The luxury car, third in India, is priced at Rs 5.18 crore. The other two owners are Ambani group and Manik Chand group.

 

RICH ASIANS IN EUROPE  


Lakshmi Mittal, is the richest Asian not only in the UK but also in Europe with an estimated wealth of 13.5 billion Pounds.
S P Hinduja and G P Hinduja, of the Hinduja Group are the second richest Asians in Britain with a wealth of 2.1 billion Pounds.
Jatania Brothers, 3rd with 650 million Pounds.

Anil Agarwal, 4th with 620 million Pounds.

Vijay and Bhikhu Patel 5th with 444 million Pounds.

Gulu Lalvani 6th with 400 million Pounds.

Tom Singh and family, 7th with 361 million Pounds.

Jasminder Singh, 8th with 350 million Pounds.

Lord Swraj Paul and family 9th with 275 million Pounds.

Dr Mo Ibrahim , 9th with 275 million Pounds.
Sir Gulam Noon, 34th with 65 million Pounds; and

Avtar Lit, chief of Sunrise radio, 34th with 65 million Pounds.

 

PM SINGH INAUGURATES CYBER TOWER IN MAURITIUS

 

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the US $42-million, 12-storeyCyber Tower in Mauritius, constructed entirely with Indian assistance and architecture in late March, 2005. Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Vivekananda International Convention Centre, constructed with $18 million Indian assistance.

 

As many as 68 per cent of the Mauritian population comprises of people of Indian origin. The Prime Minister said he was overwhelmed to be among people close to our hearts, thousands of miles away from India.

 

The Prime Minister also visited the Aapravasi Ghat where plantation workers from India were brought by ship and disembarked. I bow my head in homage to those who climbed these steps in the centuries gone by, and through their toil created a jewel in the ocean that shines bright today and will shine even brighter in the years to come, he wrote in the visitors book.

 

NRI TO BUILD INDIAS LARGEST SHOPPERTAINMENT MALL


A NRI builder in Oman PNC Menon is embarking on his new venture - Sobha Global Mall in the heart of Bangalore city at an estimated cost of Rs.15 billion ($345 million). According to Menon, it will be the largest in India, spread over 17 acres with a built up area of 2.8 million sq. feet. The mall complex is being developed on the site where old Minerva Mills of the National Textile Corporation (NTC) was located. It was bought for Rs.660 million ($15 million) in an open auction.


Apart from a shopping complex, an amusement park, 192-room plush hotel, convention centre, multiplex and smart offices, the mall will boast of an Olympic size ice skating rink, the first of its kind in the sub-continent.

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World-renowned architect and design consultant Neil Jeffrey is associated with the project, which is expected to create about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs when fully operational.


The Rs.10 billion ($230 million) Sobha group has built Infosys' campuses across the country, including its latest corporate leadership institute in Mysore.

 

GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION

 

GOPIO Individual Life membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO. The one time fee is $1,000 for those from developed countries and $500 for those from developing countries or Rs. 25,000 for those from 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 President Inder Singh, Tarzana, California, USA, Tel: 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net

 

GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran, Fresh Meadows, New York City, Tel: 718/939-8194, E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com

 

To become a Life member of GOPIO, visit http://www.gopio.net/membership_form.htm, print and fill up the form and send it with a check to: GOPIO, P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA.

 

EDITORIAL BOARD

 

Chief Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO (Stamford, CT, USA)

Webmaster: Prashant Gupta (Chicago, IL, USA)

Contributors for this issue: Inder Singh (USA), Ashook Ramsaran (USA), Dr. Rajen Anand (USA), Dwarkesh Shah (Germany), Devant Maharaj (Trinidad and Tobago)

 

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

Visit GOPIO’s Official site at www.gopio.net or www.gopio.com