GOPIO NEWS BULLETIN
November 2006
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CONTENTS
MINISTER KAMAL NATH, PITRODA AND DR. KARAN SINGH TO ADDRESS EICC AND GOPIO CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS
GOPIO CONVENTION 2007 IN NEW DELHI JANUARY 5TH AND 6TH
PIO UNIVERSITY COMING IN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE
DIASPORA ENCYCLOPEDIA LAUNCHED
STATUS REPORT OF US-INDIA NUCLEAR AGREEMENT
PBD2007 SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 7-9, 2007 IN NEW DELHI
DIWALI CELEBRATED AT THE WHITE HOUSE
MINISTER VAYALAR RAVI TO ADDRESS NFIA BIENNIAL CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES
GOPIO INTL. AND CHAPTER NEWS
GOPIO-NAIROBI CHAPTER LAUNCHED
GOPIO-AMSTERDAM ORGANIZES SEMINAR ON MEDICAL TOURISM TO INDIA
GOPIO-INDIA HOSTS MEETINGS WITH GOPIO INTL. CHAIRMAN ABRAHAM
GOPIO ACADEMIC COUNCIL TO INITATE PROGRAMS IN INDIA
NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE
SUPRIYA BANERJI HONORED WITH OBE TITLE
INDIAN AMERICAN PROF. MURLI SHANKER HONORED BY KENT STATE ALUMNI ASSO.
LORD PAUL IS NEW CHANCELLOR OF UNIV. OF WESTMINSITER, HONORED BY HOUSE OF COMMONS
ATA AIRLINES TO BE HEADED BY SUBODH KARNIK
AUTHOR KIRAN DESAI WINS MAN BOOKER PRIZE
BRITISH HEMATOLOGIST CHITRA BARUCHA APPOINTED BBC TRUST CHAIR
SOCIETY WOMEN ENGINEERS HONORS ALKA PATEL
THREE INDO-CANADIANS GET CANADA-HOPE ACHOLARSHIPS
AUSTRALIAN UNIV. APPOINTS DR. MARTAND JOSHI AS CULTURAL ADVISOR
MALASIAN NRI STUDENT TOPS CAMBRIDGE INTL. EXAMS
TRINIDAD GIRL MAKES HER MARK ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE
NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
SIKH SCHOLARS AT GLOBAL MEET OF WORLDS RELIGIONS
NRI-PIO BUSINESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR NEW DELHI ON JANUARY 10TH
COBRA BEER TO SET UP 3 MORE PLANTS IN INDIA
FOREX RESERVES SURGE BY $1.1 BN TO $ 166.45 BILLION
NONSTOP NEW YORK AND MUMBAI FLIGHT
SPECTACULAR NEW YORK DIWALI CELEBRATIONS 2006
SUNLIZ PUBLICATION WINS GLOBAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
MAURITIUS WANTS INDIAN PROFESSIONALS
GUYANESE INDIANS TRAVEL ON YATRA CELEBRATE DIWALI IN INDIA
RISING CRIME AGAINST INDIANS IN MANILA
AIR INDIA EXPRESS STARTS DUBAI-MANGALORE AIR SERVICE
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
EDITORIAL BOARD
MINISTER KAMAL NATH, PITRODA, DR. KARAN SINGH AND TO ADDRESS EICC AND GOPIO CONFERENCE IN BRUSSLES
Brussels is all set to host a major Conference on EU-India Partnership on 8-9 November 2006. Indias Trade Minister Kamal Nath will address the inaugural session of this high level Conference on 8 November 2006. The inauguration of the Conference will take place in the Hotel Sheraton on 8 November evening and the business sessions will be held in the European Parliament (Room P3C050) on 9 November. The Conference is being organized in association with the Embassy of India in Brussels. The EU Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs will deliver the inaugural address and Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission of the Government of India will deliver the inaugural Keynote address. This is the first visit of Indias Commerce Minister to Brussels since the collapse of the WTO negotiation in Geneva in July and therefore this visit assumes high significance. Minister Nath is likely to speak about the current stalemate in the WTO and give some tips on how the negotiation could be started.
According to Sunil Prasad, the Secretary General of the Europe India Chamber of Commerce and President of GOPIO Belgium, in addition to global energy security and EU-India energy co-operation, the Conference will discuss, within the context of growing EU-India relations, economic and business climate including financing operations in India, steps India should take to attract foreign investment and including corporate experiences of doing business in India, etc. The Conference will bring together the global business stakeholders including Ministers and senior government officials from India to highlight, discuss and debate various business opportunities that are appearing on Indias horizon. In essence, the Conference will discuss the tremendous opportunities that lie on both sides of the continents Europe and India - for promoting trade and investment, the institutional weakness in Indias investment policies including tariff structure and need for India and the European Union to strengthen the existing partnership framework by making trade and investment as the corner stone for EU-India relations.
The Conference will be attended by more than 250 industrialists, business and community leaders from Europe, India, USA, representative of multinational corporations, European Parliamentarians, officials of the European Commission, representatives of various diplomatic Missions and also representatives of various Chambers of Commerce in Europe. Speakers include Dr. Karan Singh, Lord Diljit S Rana, Members of European Parliament Ms. Neena Gill, Ms. Erika Mann, Mr. Robert Sturd; Nayan Patel, President, Indian Merchants Chamber; Phillipe De Buck, Secretary General, UNICE; Inder Singh, President of GOPIO International; Dr. Mohan Kaul, Director General, Commonwealth Business Council; Anton van der Lande, Vice President, UPS; Francisco De Paula Coelho, Director, European Investment Bank; John West, OECD, Dr. Anna Tavis, Head of Global Talent Management, NOKIA and Herve Jouanjean, the Dy. Director General of the External Relations (European Commission).
Although registration of the 2days Conference is free, all participants are required to register for attending the event. On-line registration is also available and interested persons can visit the EICC website: www.eicc.be to register. The Chair of the Conference and Secretary General of the EICC Sunil Prasad can also be contacted on Tel. & fax: 0032 2 469 2677 GSM: 0472-207 338, E-mail: info@eicc.be or sunil.prasad@coditel.net.
GOPIO CONVENTION 2007 IN NEW DELHI, JANUARY 5TH AND 6TH
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International)
GOPIO CONFERENCE 2007
January 5th & 6th, 2007 New Delhi, India
In Conjunction With
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2007
Venue: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Conference Hall and Auditorium, (91-11 2373876070)
Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi 110001
THEME
OVERSEAS INDIANS: Identity Preservation & Adoption of New Values in Pluralistic Societies
Tentative Program
Friday, January 5th, 2007
FICCI Auditorium, New Delhi
10:0 am to 12:00 Noon GOPIO Executive Committee Meeting (Not open to public)
12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm. Lunch
1:00 pm to 1:30pm Registration
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm GOPIO General Council Meeting (Not open to public)
3:30 pm to 5:30 pm GOPIO COUNCIL REPORTS (Open to Public)
GOPIO CHAPTER NRI/PIO AREA REPORTS (Open to Public)
North America Dr. Piyush Agrawal, GOPIO Coordinator, USA
South America and Caribbean Yesu Persaud, Executive VP GOPIO Intl.,
Krishna Nandoe, President of GOPIO Suriname
Europe Sunil Prasad, President, GOPIO-Belgium Conference Report
Raj Lakha, President GOPIO UK Chapter Reports
Middle East Sunny Kulathakal (Bahrain), GOPIO Intl. VP for Middle East
Pacific/Ocenia Noel Lal, GOPIO Australia Coordinator, Sydney, Australia
Far East K. Sital, GOPIO South East Asia Coordinator
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Formal Inauguration of GOPIO Conference 2007
Chief Guest: Confirmation Pending
Program:
Welcome: K.N. Gupta, Conference Chair and President GOPIO New Delhi
Welcome: Inder Singh, President, GOPIO International
Greetings: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International
Inauguration Ceremony: Lighting of the Lamp
Chief Guests Speech
Release of the Conference Souvenir
Recognition of Sponsors
Note of Thanks: Asho0k Ramsaran, Secretary General, GOPIO International
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm Reception
Saturday, January 6th, 2007
FICCI Auditorium, New Delhi
Conference Theme:
OVERSEAS INDIANS: Identity Preservation & Adoption of New Values in Pluralistic Societies
9:00 am to 10:00 am Registration Coffee/Tea
10:00 am to 12:30pm Session 1:
Preservation of Identity in the Global Indian Diaspora
Chair: Sunil Prasad, President of GOPIO Belgium
Co-Chair: Dr. Adesh Pal Singh, Patan University
Speakers: To be assigned
12:45 pm to 1:45 pm Lunch
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Session 2:
Embracing and Adopting New Values in Pluralistic Societies
Chair: Krishna Nandoe, President of GOPIO Suriname
Co-Chair: Dr. Shekhar Tiwary, Co-Chair GOPIO Roots Committee
Speakers: To be assigned
Wrap-up and Adoption of Resolutions
Chair: Dr Ganesh Chand, Co-Chair, GOPIO Cultural Council
4:30 pm to 5:15 pm Wrap-up
5:15 pm to 6:00 pm Adoption of Resolution
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Reception and Grand Awards Banquet with the Presentation of GOPIO COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS
Honored Guests: To be announced upon confirmation
Conference Registration
Convention Registration Fee: Rs. 1,000. Waived for those who register prior to December 15, 2006.
Prior registration is mandatory. Total registration will be limited to 200 delegates. Limited number of Jan. 6th banquets only registration available at Rs. 600 per person. Those from outside India, please contact GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran in the US at 718-353-1900 E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com.
The conference in Delhi will be coordinated by GOPIO-India president Mr. K.N. Gupta, Tel: (91) 11-4164-2066/9899910803, e-mail: knguptas@hotmail.com
Sponsor opportunities are available for Indian businesses interested to reach out PIOs/NRIs. Limited number of Tabletop Booths will also be available at the venue on January 6th. Contact Mr. K.N. Gupta.
TITLE SPONSOR OF THE CONFERENCE: PIO TV (www.piotv.com)
GOPIO COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS
GOPIO is seeking nominations from the Indian communities all over the world to submit nominations of those who stand out in providing services to the NRI/PIO community. Send the nominations with background information by November 30, 2004 by e-mail to Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran at: ramsaran@aol.com
The awardees will be honored on January 6th at the Awards banquet.
For more information, please contact: GOPIO President Inder Singh in USA at 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran at: 718-353-1900 or by email at ramsaran@aol.com
PIO UNIVERSITY COMING UP IN SPECIAL ECONOMY ZONE
The ministry of overseas Indian affairs
(MOIA) is finalizing a policy to set up a PIO varsity, spread over 100
hectares, in a special economy zone (SEZ) in the country. While, the status of
the deemed university, fully funded by the NRIs/PIOs, will be governed by the
provisions of the Sec 3 of the UGC Act, the investors will be exempted from IT,
customs duty, excise duty, sales tax etc, since it will be in the SEZ. It will
be a major step towards developing a comprehensive bilateral educational links
with the Indian Diaspora.
This was announced by minister for overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi. The proposed varsity will cater to the needs of these people and will be at par with the best universities of the world. Officials feel besides attracting investment in the country, students can become brand ambassadors for India and help in the countrys development. "Nearly 25% seats will be reserved for resident Indian students," says a senior MOIA official.
The varsity will conform to the UGC, AICTE, MCE standards but will be fully autonomous. Faculty appointments, curriculum design, financial matters, fee structure and intake of students will be their own decision.
Initially, courses like medicine,
engineering, dentistry, business administration, IT, bio-tech will be included.
New courses will be added depending on future demand.
DIASPORA ENCYCLOPEDIA LAUNCHED
An encyclopaedia charting growth of the Indian diaspora and consolidating their achievements and contributions to global culture, business and arts was launched in New Delhi. The book, "Encyclopedia of Indian Diaspora" which was launched by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, surveys the worldwide spread of the Indian communities that set out to maintain their 'Indian-ness' in a range of ways - through music, language, religion and dress.
It is edited by Professor Brij Lal of the Australian National University and published by Editions Didier Millet. Peter Reeves and Rajesh Rai, both from the National University of Singapore, are the executive and assistant editors respectively. The project has been funded by Citibank. The encyclopedia has been priced at Rs.2,500.
According to Timothy Auger, Editorial Director, Editions Didier Millet, it took years with contributions from over 60 academics and experts in the field from over 15 countries. Apart from an exhaustive text, the encyclopedia has over 800 photographs of great artistic and historic value, including over 450 in color and over 140 maps, tables and figures.
STATUS REPORT OF US-INDIA NUCLEAR AGREEMENT
Though the US Senate was expected (with high hopes from the Indian Community) to take up the Senate Bill S 3709 on US-India Civic Nuclear Agreement before it was to adjourn on Friday, September 29, the political games played between the Republicans and the Democrats killed the possibility of its passage before it adjourned until the mid-term elections.
Despite the fact that the results of mid-term elections are uncertain in terms of which party would control The House and/or The Senate, the Leadership of the Indian Community has received a "veiled" assurance that during the lame duck session US Senate would definitely favor the passage of the bill S 3709.
GOPIO and other Indian community groups are hoping that the lame duck session will pass the legislation. GOPIO is appealing Indian Americans to call their Senators to impress upon them the urgency and the importance of this bill to be brought to the Senate Floor would help the mutual interest of USA & India. Become active immediately after the November 7 elections to push for the passage of S 3709.
PBD-2007 SCHEDUELD FOR JANUARY 7-9, 2007
The ministry of overseas Indian affairs (MOIA) is organizing PBD 2007 in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Delhi state government.The theme of PBD 2007 has been decided to be 'Rooting for the roots', and will focus on education, healthcare, women, youth and investment.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas aims at bringing the expertise and knowledge of the Indian overseas community to India and integrating it into India's development process. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is focused to highlight networking opportunities and collaborating them to confer a mutual developing platform. Generating this synergy to excel together towards a bright India along with the Indian overseas community is what Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2007 proclaims with its head held high.
HOTEL TARIFF WAIVED FOR PBD DELEGATES
The shortage of hotel accommodation has caused hotels in Delhi to be very expensive. The Delhi Government has decided to waive off the 12.5 percent luxury tax on hotel tariff to make it economical for delegates attending the 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) to be held for January 7-9, 2007.
Contact: Ms. Rekha Sethi, Senior Director & Head-Special Events, Confederation of Indian Industry, Tel: 91 124 4014086; 4014060-67, Fax: 91 124 4014080, Email: rekha.sethi@ciionline.org, pbd2007@ciionline.org or Mr. Nitin Kumar, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), Akbar Bhawan, New Delhi 110 021, Tel: 011 24674141, Mobile : 09868035028, Email: usfs@moia.nic.in OR VISIT www.pbd2007.org
DIWALI CELEBRATED AT THE WHITE HOUSE
During George W. Bushs Presidency, it was the fourth occasion, on Thursday,
October 19, 2006 to hold a Diwali celebration at The White House. As President
Bush was on a campaign trail, Karen Hughes, Under Secretary for Public
Diplomacy, and one of Presidents closest and most trusted advisors for more
than a decade represented President at the event. She eloquently
described the growing warm relationship between India and the USA and how much the President values this relationship. Karen identified Diwalis
festivities with hope and compassion and wished all homes around the world to
be full of light during the Diwali festivities. She affectionately
extolled the success and the contribution of the Indian Community to the USA. She asked the Indian community to continue their efforts in getting the US
Senate to pass the US-India Civic Nuclear Agreement related legislation.
Jay Hein, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives brought the importance of religion in daily life and connected it with the social responsibilities of any civil society. The events like Diwali remind us of our duty of empowering the people for the common good.
The lighting of the Diyas ceremony was led by Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal, an Indian community activist and the National Coordinator of the Global Organization of Peoples of Indian Origin and Mr. Jay Hein and were joined by Ambassador Bhishma Agnihotri, Commissioner Akshay Desai and Indian American Republican Council Chair Dr. R. Vijaynagar.
Commissioner Rudy Pamintuan, Chairman of The White House Initiative on Asian American & Pacific Islanders made the concluding remarks by connecting Diwali with prosperity and thanked Michelle Lee of The White House and Dr. Piyush Agrawal for organizing this event.
MINISTER VAYALAR RAVI TO ADDRESS NFIA BIENNIAL CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES
The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), an umbrella organization of various organizations representing over 2.5 million Americans who trace their roots to India will hold its 14th biennial convention on November 17-19, 2006 in Los Angeles. Delegates from member associations from all over the United States will converge to Long Beach for three days to discuss, debate and deliberate contemporary issues facing the community and will attempt to find solutions to address those concerns. They will also be addressed by prominent political leaders from India and the United States as well as Indian Diplomats. The chief guest is Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi. A Bollywood style entertainment program is also being planned for the attendees.
The theme for this years convention, CHERISHING OUR ROOTS AND EXPANDING OUR WINGS, signifies the organizations commitment to preserve Indian Cultural heritage and, at the same time, continue to increase the professional, economic and political clout of the community in the United States.
The convention will open on Friday November 17 with an NFIA Board meeting followed by a cocktail hour at 6 and the inauguration of the gathering at 7 p.m. The dinner and entertainment will be held after the official inauguration. The evening will end with live entertainment. Seminars on US-India Relations, Pioneers of the Indo-American community, Immigration Policies, Threat of Terrorism, concerns of the Youth and women will be held all day Saturday. Prominent experts in each area will initiate the discussion followed by a panel to explore possible solutions to each challenge facing the community. Also planned is an Indian American Leadership Summit to which prominent leaders of the community are being invited.
On Sunday, an NFIA business meeting will be conducted at which the activities of the organization will be reviewed and new officers elected.
Readers may get further information regarding the NFIA convention by calling Chandu Patel at (714) 393-3999, Rajen Anand at (571) 230-7288, E-mail: ranand2@cox.net or Sachin Amin at (714) 360-3081.
GOPIO INTL. AND CHAPTER NEWS
GOPIO-NAIROBI CHAPTER LAUNCHED
GOPIO-Nairobi (Kenya) chapter was officially launched on Saturday June, 10th with a ceremony at the Indian High Commissions Apa Pant Auditorium, Nairobi. The function started at 6.30 pm and was followed by dinner. The chief guest on this occasion was the Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Surinder Kumar. Over 100 people participated. The Master of Ceremonies, Mrs. Divya Bector, began the program with the national anthems of Kenya and India. GOPIO-Nairobi President Dr. Markandey Rai in his welcome address gave a brief introduction of GOPIO, its aims and objectives. Dr. Rai highlighted the importance of an organization like GOPIO that could promote the interests and aspirations of the Indian communities around the world and of specific groups residing in various countries of their adoption. GOPIO would also promote common cultural heritage and therefore create a binding relationship. GOPIO would further help in interaction between PIOs and other communities at a global level in promoting world peace, progress and ecological harmony.
Dr. Rai then invited the Chief Guest of the evening His Excellency Surinder Kumar to address the audience. In his speech the High Commissioner praised the efforts of the group and made observations and gave some valuable suggestions regarding the smooth running of the association.
Other speakers who spoke on this important occasion were the Hindu Council Chairman Mr. Chitnis, Hindu Council representative Mr. Pattni, Hindi Samiti Chairman Dr. Heda, SSD Vice Chairman Mr. O.P. Bij and Indian Citizens Welfare Association of Kenya Chairperson Mrs. Kapila Dhingra.
The President Nairobi Kenya Chapter Dr. Rai assured that this GOPIO Nairobi Chapter is not for the sake of launching an another organization to add one more rather it is launched due to demand for it and it is different than others because it is based on some achievable programs and commitment of members to execute them. The Committee members are not looking for some gain rather they have accepted with commitment to sacrifice in the service of peoples of Indian origin in Kenya with selfless motive. He assured the gathering that a general meeting of registered members will be called when there will be sufficient members for a proper election as per the constitution through secrete ballot. The office bearers should be elected on purely merit and their commitments.
The Ad-hoc committee members are: Dr. Markandey Rai, President; R. Dhingra, 1st Vice President; S.K. Ajmani, 2nd Vice President; K. Dhingra, Secretary; S. Vashisth, Jt. Secretary; M. Agrawal, Treasurer. The evening was concluded with discussions and clarifications followed by dinner.
Contact GOPIO Nairobi President Dr. Markandey Rai, E-mail: Markandey.Rai@unhabitat.org
GOPIO-AMSTERDAM ORGANIZES SEMINAR ON MEDICAL TOURISM TO INDIA
On Friday October 6th, 2006 GOPIO-Amsterdam and the Dutch Society for Business Process Innovation (NSBPi) jointly organized a seminar in Amsterdam on the emergence of Medical Tourism to India.
GOPIOs Chapter president Rajindre Tewari opened the seminar by stating that the Indian IT hype was being succeeded by a new phenomenon, namely medical sourcing.
Riva Ganguly Das, Consular of the Indian Embassy was a keynote speaker and stressed the fact that Medical Tourism will follow the IT sourcing phenomenon as a major opportunity for India to promote itself as a sourcing location in the world. She stressed the fact that Indian provided not only a cost control opportunity but also an access to technologically advanced treatment facilities by highly qualified professionals with a dedicated patient centric approach.
A special presentation was given by a team from the Rotterdam School of Management with the results of their fact finding mission to India with issues such as Shorten waiting lists, Reduce costs and Enhance quality. Various challenges were identified such as the treatment protocols, quality and safety standards and negative stereotyping of patient treatment (hygienic conditions, safety regulations, language barriers etc.).
Whats next? Based on the strong attendance of medical and other professionals the seminar showed that there is a serious interest in exploring the opportunities of medical tourism for European patients. A special attention was given to the medical treatment based on Ayurvedic principles. A speaker from the Himalayan institute as well as an Insurance professional explained the pros and contras of medical tourism to India. Finally communication was again defined as a vital issue between demand and supply of medical treatments. This was shown in the effort from the GOPIO team to invite the prominent Hospital chains from India to showcase their services for this event. It took weeks for these chains to even answer any requests for information! So, opportunities are ahead but service upfront will remain a big challenge. Still medical tourism is about to become a big phenomenon from the Indian Subcontinent.
Contact: Rajindre Tewari, President, GOPIO Amsterdam, E-mail: tewari@india.com.
GOPIO-INDIA HOSTS MEETINGS WITH GOPIO INTL. CHAIRMAN ABRAHAM
GOPIO-India headed by K.N. Gupta organized a meeting for visiting GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham with GOPIO members on September 30th at the Hotel Ashok in New Delhi. It was also attended by members of Anthar Rastriya Sahayog Parishad and PIO-India Chamber of Commerce.
Welcoming the guests, Gupta said that GOPIO-India has become very active with several chapters already launched in different parts of the country. GOPIO-India will host the GOPIO-Convention 2007 in New Delhi on January 5th and 6th and requested participants to take active role in its organization. Gupta further said the PIO-TV has become a great media to reach out to PIO communities around the world.
Dr. Abraham was in New Delhi at the invitation of Govt. of India (Ministry of Commerce) to deliver a talk at the International Congress and Expo on Trade in Services organized by Federation of Indian Export Organization (FIEO). Dr. Abraham spoke on the global opportunities in advanced materials and nanotechnology and potential trade in services opportunities for India.
Dr. Abraham also called on to President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Dr. Karan Singh, Dr. L.M. Singhvi, former PM Inder Gujral, Uttranchal Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari and Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and discussed role of NRIs/PIOs for Indias development especially in the new technology areas.
Contact: GOPIO-India President K.N. Gupta, E-mail: knguptas@hotmail.com.
GOPIO ACADEMIC COUNCIL TO INITATE PROGRAMS IN INDIA
GOPIO Academic Council headed by Dr. Jagat Motwani plans to involve some of the Indian universities such as JNU, Delhi Uni., Baroda Uni., Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidya Peeth, and the North Gujarat Univ. at Patan, and the University Grant Commission with two objectives: (i) introduce of a Diaspora-related course at graduate level, and (ii) Diaspora-related research on two burning issues condition of wives and elderly parents left behind in India by NRIs. Drs. Motwani and Adesh Pal of North Gujarat University would prepare curriculum and questionnaire and hopes to have the program initiated in Gujarat universities.
Dr. Motwani has established close relationship with the NRI Parents Association (NRIPA), Baroda, to conduct research, based on the questionnaire, prepared by him. At meeting of its members, numbering about 50, Dr. Motwani explained how the NRIPA and GOPIO can work together. The Baroda NRIPA has contacts with a few other similar associations in India.
GOPIO Academic Counicl has also been working with an NGO Political Forum for Women in connection with some legislation to redress the problems of the deserted wives of NRIs.
Contact: Prof. Jagat K. Motwani, Ph.D., Chair, GOPIO Academic Council, 8 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills, NY, 11746, USA., Tel:631-421-4688/Fax:631-423-2898,
e-mail: acacouncilgopio@yahoo.com
NRIs/PIOs ARCHIEVE
SUPRIYA BANERJI HONORED WITH OBE
Supriya Banerji, Senior Director of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been honored with the award of the prestigious "Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)" by the British Government. The award has recognized once again, the contribution of the Indian Industry in furthering the Indo - British ties.
Supriya has headed CII's UK Office for close to eight years. She has also served as Head of the CII Southern Region, and the International Division of CII. As head of the UK Office of CII, and later as head of CII's International Work, Supriya Banerji led multiple initiatives, which helped improve Indo-British business linkages.
Of particular importance were her roles in putting together the institutional structure to Indo-British Partnership, institutionalizing formal collaborative ventures such as the Warwick Manufacturing Group, (Warwick University) & Indian Industry, the Commonwealth Business Council, the Asia House amongst others.
The CII's UK office today is its oldest overseas operation, which CII opened 25 years ago, recognizing the importance of trade ties with Britain. An innovative vehicle for increasing trade and investments was the Indo - British Partnership (IBP) initiative, unique at that time with its focus on a specific country, set up in 1993.
The first target set in 1993 of doubling the trade between India and UK was surpassed by the efforts put in by the IBP. CII was nominated the Secretariat for the IBP by the Government of India
INDIAN AMERICAN PROF. MURLI SHANKER HONORED BY KENT STATE ALUMNI ASSO.
Indian American professor, Murli Shanker, will be conferred the 'Distinguished Teaching Award 2006' by Kent State University, Ohio. Shanker, an associate professor in Management and Information, along with two fellow professors, will be given the award on November 3 by the Kent State University Alumni Association.
Shanker, who has been teaching at the university since 1990. The award, instituted in 1961, is given to professors who have been employed by any of the Kent State campuses for at least seven years.
Kent State University is a public research university and is the third largest in Ohio, after Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati.
LORD PAUL IS NEW CHANCELLOR OF UNIV. OF WESTMINSITER, HONORED BY HOUSE OF COMMONS
In a rare distinction, the House of Commons congratulated NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul on his appointment as the first Chancellor of the prestigious University of Westminster.
In an Early Day Motion moved by Labor MP
and former Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Keith Vaz and three
others, the House also applauded Lord Paul for becoming the first person to be
Chancellor of two Universities simultaneously - Westminster and Wolverhampton.
The motion read "That this House
congratulates Lord Paul of Marylebone on his appointment as Chancellor of Westminster
University; notes that this is his second Chancellorship of a University;
further notes his achievements in other fields including receiving the Padma
Bhushan Award and the Bharat Gaurav Award from the Indian Merchant's Chamber;
and wishes him well in his tenure as chairman of the London 2012 Olympic
Delivery Committee."
Besides Vaz, others who tabled the
motion were Bob Spink, Mike Penning and Peter Bottomley.
The Westminster University has some
24,000 students including many from India and other 150 countries.
ATA AIRLINES TO BE HEADED BY SUBODH KARNIK
Times of India News Service reports that effective January 2007, Subodh Karnik, a Mumbai native, and graduate of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani and the University of Michigans Ross School of Business, will become president and chief executive of ATA Airlines. Karnik follows in the path of Rono Dutta and Rakesh Gangwal, both alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), who went on to head United Airlines and US Airways respectively. ATA is a far smaller outfit compared to those two biggies.
But while both Dutta and Gangwal left their jobs amid a downward spiral in the
airline business in the months after 9/11, Karnik is credited with rescuing ATA
after being brought in as CFO from Delta Airlines (where he was senior
vice-president). He was later made COO.
Subodh joined ATA in May 2005 and played a significant role in ATA's revival.
The Indianapolis-based ATA entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2004 and
emerged last February as a smaller company operating 29 airliners, compared to
64 before the bankruptcy. The airline employs 2700 people worldwide, including
700 in Indianapolis.
AUTHOR KIRAN DESAI WINS MAN BOOKER PRIZE
London-based India-born novelist Kiran Desai has won the 50,000 pound Man Booker prize with her second novel, 'The Inheritance of Loss', a story rich with sadness about globalization and with joy at the small surviving intimacies of Indian village life. The 35-year-old author, daughter of well-known Indian novelist Anita Desai -- to whom 'The Inheritance of Loss' is dedicated -- is the youngest woman to win the award, eclipsing the works of five other short-listed authors. Kiran won the 50,000 pounds prize for her second book described by reviewers as a radiant, funny and moving family saga and the best, sweetest, most delightful novel.
Kiran beat fight contenders to emerge as the unanimous choice of judges, a rare occurrence in the history of the Booker Prize. Three novels by Kirans mother, Anita Desai, had earlier been short listed for the prize but failed to make it. Kiran is the third Indian to win a Booker arguably one of the most literary honors of the English-speaking world after Salman Rushdie and Ms Roy. The later got the prize in 1997 for The God of Small Things.
BRITISH HEMATOLOGIST CHITRA BARUCHA APPOINTED BBC TRUST CHAIR
Leading NRI haematologist Chitra Bharucha, has been appointed as Vice Chair of
BBC Trust, which replaces the news organization's Board of Governors on January
1, 2007.
Bharucha has served for almost 20 years as Deputy Director of the Northern
Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and Consultant Clinical Haematologist at Belfast City Hospital. Bharucha was a board member of the Independent Television
Commission also.
SOCIETY WOMEN ENGINEERS HONORS ALKA PATEL
Alka Patel has been named as the winner of the 2006 Distinguished New Engineer
Award by the American Society of Women Engineers (SWE). An attorney with Pepper
Hamilton, LLP, Patel's specialized field is intellectual property rights. The
award honors women engineers who have been actively engaged in engineering and
demonstrated outstanding technical performance.
THREE INDO-CANADIANS GET CANADA-HOPE ACHOLARSHIPS
Three Indian researchers have received the prestigious Canada-Hope scholarships
for their study on healthy aging, organ damage and stroke research.
Sabu Aliyar from the Centre for Development Studies received the scholarship
for his ongoing research on healthy aging while Denis Xavier, of the
Bangalore-based St John's Academy for Health Sciences, won it for his study on
different types of stroke.
Biju George, from the Health Action by People, who is pursuing his research at
the University of Western Ontario to identify biomarkers for early detection of
organ damage, also received the scholarship. The Canadian Institutes of Health
Research and Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc support the scholarship.
AUSTRALIAN UNIV. APPOINTS DR. MARTAND JOSHI AS CULTURAL ADVISOR
Australia's Central Queensland University (CQU) has appointed Dr. Martand Joshi, former honorary consul of India in Melbourne, as its international cultural advisor.
CQU is Australia's largest publicly funded regional university. While its main
campus is in Queensland, it has campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the
Gold Coast besides an overseas campus in Fiji.
Joshi's new appointment will base him in the university's Sydney and Melbourne
campuses where more than 8,000 students from 40 countries study.
MALASIAN NRI STUDENT TOPS CAMBRIDGE INTL. EXAMS
Chennai born Pooja Bharat, 16, a class 10 student at an International School which follows the British curriculum, achieved 10 "A stars" in her IGSCE exams
denoting the highest marks a child can achieve.
Pooja is the only girl to have scored the highest marks in English Literature
worldwide. She was honored by Malaysia's Deputy Higher Education Minister Ong
Tee Keat for being the top scorer from Malaysia.
TRINIDAD GIRL MAKES HER MARK ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE
Nineteen year old Preeya Mohan is the darling of Upper Level Educational Institute in Chaguanas, Trinidad, for having placed seventh in the world in sociology at Cambridge A-Level examinations. She also copped an additional national scholarship in the business GCE A-Level category. Her success was also an historic milestone for that academic institution. Preeya, who is pursuing economics at University of West Indies at St Augustine, was on the honor roll. The other three successful students were Vinash Marajh, Dominic Nelson, and Kimberly Harkoo.
From the time she entered Upper Level, principal Bedasie claimed to have seen star potential in the young woman. I was so excited when I heard the news, said Preeya, as she accepted a steady stream of congratulations. You need to have a plan. Then, you need to be disciplined. I would get up at 3 am and study. She also gave kudos to the staff, including sociology teacher Sadia Safy for their support during the two years. Preeya did not forget her friends, including best friend Rishi Rampersad, a medical student at Mt Hope.
NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs/PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
SIKH SCHOLARS AT GLOBAL MEET OF WORLDS RELIGIONS
Montreal hosted the Global Meet of Worlds Religions after 9/11, leaders of all religions coming from every country participated. The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions was a patron of the conference.
Sikhism does not allow religion to be an excuse to kill any one. Five centuries ago Guru Nanak gave an impetus to interfaith dialogues and meditation as guards against religious conflicts. Accordingly Sikhs are motivated to be at the forefront in abating religious fanaticism. Thus spoke Dr. Harbans Lal at the morning observance of the Sikh meditation at the Global Congress of Worlds Religions held in Montreal on September 11-15, 2006. The conference program focused on the theme "Can religion be a force of good?" Nearly a thousand delegates from all over the world attended. Dr. Lal also presented a Paper on Guru Granth Theology of One Spirit One World.
Dr. Manohar Singh, Chairperson of World Sikh Council American Region-said forgiveness and humility are part of the Sikh ethics. Professor Pwiter Singh Bhandari another scholar narrated several steps of how Guru Arjan took to create religious harmony among people. He said that those pioneering steps might provide gudelines for peace and understanding among the world religions. Kashmir Singh Randhwa, a community activist and businessman of Montreal, recited hymns of Guru Arjan on universal kinship and love. Taking part in the Global Congress were Dr. Jarnail Singh, Devender Singh Chahal, Harbans Lal, Professor Manjit Singh, and Ms. Harlivleen Kaur Bajwa.
On September 13, members of the Sikh delegation attending the Congress met to determine future strategy of Sikh scholars in representing Sikh viewpoint on global platforms. Ms. Bajwa presided. It was resolved to constitute a Sikh Scholars Group that is committed to make use of all potential opportunities to represent Sikhs and Sikhism wherever and whenever it can be done. This group may particularly fill in when mainstream Sikh organizations are unable to shoulder this responsibility. Dr. Bhai Harbans Lal was asked to coordinate this group.
Contact: Harbans Lal, PhD., D.Litt (hons), Guru Granth Studies, Tel: 817-446-8757, Email: japji@comcast.net.
NRI-PIO BUSINESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR NEW DELHI ON JANUARY 10TH
INDIA EMPIRE, a monthly magazine catering to worldwide NRI/PIO community in partnership With RAJIV GANDHI FOUNDATION is organizing NRI-PIO Business Conference on January 10, 2007, at Jawahar Bhavan, New Delhi. The whole day event starts at 9 a.m and will cover the following subjects:
Real Estate: Building Ties with NRIs
Banking and Finance: Bank on India
Hospitality, Tourism, Infrastructure: India Beckons
Networking
Fashion Show / Cocktails
There will be a nominal registration Fee of $30 for NRIs and PIOs which includes snacks, lunch, fashion show and cocktail. For further enquiries, please write to sayantanc@gmail.com or call 91-9899117477.
COBRA BEER TO SET UP 3 MORE PLANTS IN INDIA
UKs leading Cobra brand of beer manufacturers is going to open three more breweries in India. Cobra Beer CEO Lord Karan Bilimoria said that these plants are being set up in the north, west and east of the country.
Speaking about Cobra Beer, Lord Bilimoria said when the branch was launched in Bangalore in 1987, it exported its entire production to the UK where it set up a plant and commenced production in 1997. But this time they will brew in India for the Indian market which according to him has an enormous market.
FOREX RESERVES SURGE BY $1.1 BN TO $ 166.45 BILLION
Indias forex position, as per the weekly statistical supplement released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), revealed that the foreign currency assets grew by $1.152 billion during the week to settle at $159.152 billion as on Sept 1, 2006 compared with $158 billion in the preceding week. The countrys position under special drawing rights (SDRs) remained static at $1 million during the reporting week.
NONSTOP NEW YORK AND MUMBAI FLIGHT
Delta and Kingfisher Airlines plans to launch nonstop flights from New York/JFK to Mumbai. From Mumbai, Kingfisher Airlines will connect to other destinations in India.
SPECTACULAR NEW YORK DIWALI CELEBRATIONS 2006
New York areas Indians joined together to celebrate Diwali in grand style and much appreciation for the many superlative qualities that the festival signifies, such as peace, harmony, goodwill, brotherhood, sharing and giving among families, friends and neighbors. Diwali or Deepavali, which is popularly known as The Festival of Lights, was celebrated on Sunday, October 8th by Association is Indians in America with a grand program and a fire works at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan. Hindus are attaching special importance to the Diwali festival comparable to Thanksgiving which is celebrated a month after Diwali or the Christmas or Jewish Hanukah seasons in the U.S.
The Hindu organizations in the Richmond Hill, Queens, a community of predominantly Indians from the Caribbean region, organized a grand Diwali Motorcade to usher in the beautiful celebration of Lights. The motorcade started on the famous Liberty Avenue a busy commercial strip, lined with many businesses owned and operated by East Indians who migrated from Guyana, Malaysia, India, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, and who brought their rich culture and heritage with them. Many Mandirs in the Hindu community participated in the motorcade and parade. It was a spectacular night with many beautifully decorated, well adorned and lighted vehicles cruised by one after the other. It was the Parade of the Lights.
In Nov. 2005, New York City Council passed a bill adding Diwali to its long list of major holidays on which it suspends alternate-side-of the street parking (i.e, no street cleaning that day, so cars that are street-parked need not be moved by owners to allow the cleaning trucks to come through). Hinduism was the largest religion not to be represented on the list. The bill (420-A, introduced by Council Member Gale A. Brewer) was passed unanimously by the City Council's Transportation Committee on Tues, Sept. 20. On Wed, Sept. 28, the bill was passed unanimously by the City Council, 45-0. The bill was eventually passed over Mayor Michael Bloomberg's veto, and the first observation was on Oct. 21, 2006.
SUNLIZ PUBLICATION WINS GLOBAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Sunliz Publications W.L.L., the Bahrain-based publication company has won an international award for quality and excellence. for its publication titled Gulf Who's Who Directory , which has been selected by Madrid-based Business Initiative Directions (BID) to receive the International Star Award for Quality in the Gold category. The award was presented during the BID world congress in Geneva on October 30.
"This prestigious award, given to leaders by leaders, is sponsored by 17 media publications, all oriented towards changes and trends in global markets, focused on innovation, technology, new products, business news and finance," said BID President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Prieto.
"Sunliz was selected for the award on the basis of a voting process carried out among all the participating former awardees.
"The criteria for selection included customer satisfaction, communication strategies, benchmarking, information and data analysis, and leadership."
Sunliz Managing Director Sunny Kulathakal , who is the Vice President of GOPIO (Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin), Middle East Region expressed delight at the international recognition to his publication.
MAURITIUS WANTS INDIAN PROFESSIONALS
Mauritius plans to provide long-term visa to Indian professionals that will allow then to work there for years. There will be no limit on their stay in terms of duration. Mauritius plans to grant them all privileges except the right to vote. Indian professionals working in Mauritius would also be allowed to purchase property after putting in certain years of work, according to Madan Dulloo, the Mauritian minister for foreign affairs and international trade.
The visa liberalization program would be part of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) that is being negotiated between the two countries. The move would allow Indians to explore the opportunities available in the southern and eastern parts of Africa as Mauritius has strong economic relations with countries in the region. Besides, Indian companies setting up business in Mauritius will also enjoy the freedom to hire from India without restrictions. The move would be subject to reciprocal benefits for Mauritian professionals in India.
GUYANESE INDIANS TRAVEL ON YATRA CELEBRATE DIWALI IN INDIA
A group of 63 Guyanese Indians who have settled in New York celebrated Diwali in India in the Pink City of Jaipur. This is the largest number of Guyanese to visit India as a group. The Guyanese group left New York last Monday for a 17-day tour of their ancestral homeland. They arrived in Delhi on October 17 and have visited several holy cities in Northern India via bus tours. They were in Jaipur to celebrate Diwali with local groups that hosted them before flying off to other cities. The group is in India on an organized tour arranged by Kali Travel of Jamaica, New York. Kali Tours and Travel, owned and operated by Ramesh Kalicharan, a founding GOPIO life member, is the only Caribbean tour operator accredited by the Government of India Tourist Board. Kali, a very experienced and respected tour organizer, has been sending semi-annual yatras (pilgrimage tours) to India over the last fifteen years. Kali Travel is the pre-eminent Caribbean pioneer of tours to India.
In an interview prior to leaving for India, Kali said his group "will visit Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Christian shrines. They are also visiting historic sites such as museums, palaces, famous tombs including Taj Mahal, and the film studios of Bombay where Hindi films are produced". The group paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by visiting the crematorium where he was cremated which is now a shrine lit with an eternal flame. They also took nature walks and baths in the holy Ganges and were entertained by a medley of cultural artistes and Bollywood superstars in major cities. A reception has been planned for their last evening in Mumbai with a galaxy of Bollywood personalities.
RISING CRIME AGAINST INDIANS IN MANILA
The crime against Indians in Manila is rising and the Indian embassy in the Philippines is concerned over the increasing number of killings and kidnappings. As many as 29 people of Indian origin have died during the year and all of them were Punjabis.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is expected to take measures to discourage Indians from migrating to the Philippines. The Punjab government has been asked to warn those who are planning to migrate to Philippines.
AIR INDIA EXPRESS STARTS DUBAI-MANGALORE AIR SERVICE
Air India Express flight started Dubai to Mangalore putting Mangalore on the international aviation map. The Mangalore Chambers of Commerce and Industry estimates that there are about 200,000 NRIs from the coastal districts of Karnataka and Kerala living in the Gulf, who can benefit from the new air service. About 80,000 passengers could fly in and out from the new airport annually.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel has assured Mangaloreans that the thrice weekly service would soon be converted to a daily flight. Simultaneously, Air India Express also launched a three-a-week service from Dubai to Amritsar, Punjab.
GOPIO, LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
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 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)
Webmasters: Prashant Gupta (Gurgaon, Haryana, India) and Abu Thomas (New Rochelle, NY, USA)
Contributors of this issue: Inder Singh (USA), Sunil Prasad (Belgium), Ashook Ramsaran (USA), Bina Mahabir (Trinidad), Vishnu Bisram (USA), Dr. Piyush Agrawal (USA), Rajindre Tewari (The Netherlands), Dr. Jagat Motwani (USA), Sunny Kulathakal (Bahrain)
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 GOPIOs Official site at www.gopio.net or www.gopio.com