CONTENTS

GOPIO CONFERENCE 2006, HYDERABAD, INDIA, JAN. 5^TH AND 6TH

INDIA TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

DIWALI CELEBRATED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, BRITISH PARLIAMENT, NEW YORK CITY HALL AND PARIS TOWN HALL

BRIDGING THE EAST-WEST INDIAN DIASPORA GAP

GOPIO CHAPTER NEWS

            GOPIO-FRANCE PARTICIPATES IN HOMAGE TO WORLD WAR VETERANS

NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE

MAHATMA GANDHI HUMANITARIAN AWARD GOES TO DR. MANI BHAUMIK

BARONESS USHA PRASHAR TO HEAD JUDICIAL COMMISSION

INDO-TRINDADIAN WINS PRESIDENTS MEDAL

K.P. SINGHS WORK EXHIBITED

TONY BLAIR APPOINTS BRITISH INDIAN HELEN GHOSH PERMANENT SECRETARY

PRESIDENT BUSH APPOINTS TWO INDIAN AMERICANS TO KEY POSITIONS

            TWO INDIAN AMERICANS WIN RAMANUJAM AWARDS

THREE INDIAN AMERICAN WINS RHODES SCHOLARSHIP

KOFI ANNAN PICKS RAJAT GUPTA AS UN REFORMS ADVISOR

TWO MORE BRITISH INDIANS APPOINTED AS LORDS

NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD

FIRST STATE FUNDED HINDU SCHOOL IN UK

DELHI HIGH COURT DISALLOWS NRI CLAIM FOR SUPERIOR STATUS

HINDU PRIESTS FOR UK ARMY

DIWALI FESTIVITIES RAISES 150,000 FOR INDIAN LITERACY PLAN

GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION

EDITORIAL BOARD

Global organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)

Cordially invites you to

GOPIO CONFERENCE - 2006

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS

THEME:

GLOBAL INDIAN DIASPORA: TODAY AND TOMORROW

Place: Hyderabad, India (venue will be announced in the next bulletin)

Date and Time: Thursday, January 5^th and Friday, January 6^th, 2006.

Program

Thursday, January 5^th, 2006

10.00 to 12.00 p.m. GOPIO Executive Committee Meeting (Not open to general public)

12.00 to 12.30 p.m. (Working lunch)

12.30 to 2.30 p.m.  GOPIO Council Reports -- open to general public

Academic Council --                   Dr. Jagat Motwani, USA

Business Council --                    Dwarkesh Shah, Germany

Cultural Council --                     Dharmatma Saran, USA

GOPIO.Connect --                     Prashant Gupta, USA

Human Rights Commission --        Ramesh Maharaj, Trinidad & Tobago and Dr. Parveen Chopra, USA

Philanthropic Council --               Prabodh Gupta, India

3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.      Session 1: Indian Diaspora - Mobilization of Indian Diaspora Resources for Common Goal

7.0 0 p.m. to 8.00 Formal Inauguration of GOPIO Conference 2006

Dignitaries to be announced soon

8.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.      Reception

Friday, January 6^th, 2006

9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m.    Registration/Coffee/Tea

10.00 a.m. to 10.45 a.m.   Opening Session

11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.    Session 2: Indian Diaspora - Opportunities in Business, Technology and Investments

1.30 p.m. to 3.00 p.m.      Awards Luncheon and Presentation  of Pravasi Bhartiya Community Service Awards

3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m       Wrap-up and Adoption of Resolutions

Sunday, January 8^th, 2006         

3.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.      NRI/PIO COMMUNITIES AREA REPORTS

(Open to Everyone)

North America, South America and Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, Far East and South East Asia and Pacific/Oceania

Conference Registration

Conference Registration Fee: Rs. 1,000. Total registration will be limited to 200 delegates. So, contact early to avoid disappointment.

Those from outside India, please contact GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran in the US at 718-353-1900 E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com.  The convention in Hyderabad will be coordinated by GOPIO Hyderabad Conference Chair Prof. Gan Bukta at 91-9848-194718 or by email at:profganbhuktagift@yahoo.com.

Sponsor opportunities are available for Indian businesses interested to reach out to NRI/PIOs worldwide.

Limited number of Tabletop Booths will also be available at the venue on both days, January 5^th and 6^th.

Contact Prof. Bukta at 91-9848-194718 or by email at profganbhuktagift@yahoo.com.

Procedure for Hotel Bookings - GOPIO is negotiating with two facilities and details will be sent out soon. In the meanwhile, please confirm your requirement with Prof. Bukta.

Suggestions for speakers at the various sessions

Please contact GOPIO President Inder Singh in USA at 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or Prof. Gan Bukta, GOPIO Hyderabad Conference Chair at 91-9848-194718 or by email at:profganbhuktagift@yahoo.com.

PRAVASI BHARATIYA 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 December 10, 2005 by e-mail to ramsaran@aol.com, The awardees will be honored on January 6^th at the Awards Luncheon.

 

Brussels - In light of increasing interest in economic and trade relations between the 25-member European bloc and India, a conference India EU Strategic Plan : Enhancing Trade and Investment was organized by the European Indian Chamber of Commerce ( EICC) in co-operation with Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) and Embassy of India in Brussels on 8-9 November 2005.

Nirj Deva, the Chairman of the EICC and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) welcomed a large number of  industrialists, businessmen, Members of European Parliament, diplomats and journalists at a dinner at the Sheraton hotel Tuesday, Nov. 8th.   Highlighting the importance of India and the EU as premier business partners in a safer world Deva  said, let this be a first step in a journey of many steps.

Ashok Sajjanhar, Charge dAffaires of the Indian Embassy in Brussels referring to Indias  economic growth said India  has emerged as a significant economic power house with a growth rate of 7-8% . Sighting Indias relative strengths in export, investment and mature capital markets, Sajjanhar noted Indias competitive edge over China, The Return on Assets (ROA) in India is higher than China.  More than half of the fortune 500 companies are present in India and half our population is less than 25 years old.

India and the EU are natural allies and strategic partners, we must find a way to give a quantum jump to India EU relations, stressed Sajjanhar who represented the Indian Ambassador currently in India.

Lord Dr. Diljit S Rana spoke about the importance of trade and commerce in the economic development and how Chambers of Commerce such as the EICC could play a role in bridging the economic distance between Europe and India. He also stressed upon the need for creating awareness about the European Union in India and how Europe and India can join together to create wealth for the benefit of the population. Lrd Rana hoped that EICC will provide services to members engaged in trade, industry and commerce and promote discussion with Indias economic organizations based in the EU countries and vice-versa.

Neena Gill, the President of the South Asian delegation for the European Parliament and the only Indian-born MEP, sighted the need  to further increase bilateral trade and economic cooperation  between Indian and the EU. Referring to a recent trip to Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra by an 11 member European Parliamentary delegation she observed India is a land of contrasts.  Underlying the spirit of optimism and enthusiasm is a degree of cynicism and red tape which obstructs the free flow of trade and investment within the country, observed Gill.

Dr. Prem Sharma, Patron of the EICC said that Europe and India share common values and approaches to many of the challenges and concerns facing the world today and the extensive dialogue between India and the European Union on trade, development, cultural relations, economic cooperation and other matters is underpinned by a common understanding on a wide range of political issues., which provide a solid basis for their cooperation. He said that the European Parliament being an effective institution can play an important role in bringing the business and trade bodies of EU and India closer. He said that there is also a need for greater interaction between the European Parliamentary Friends of India and the government of India.   

Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of the GOPIO International said that the Indian Diaspora and particularly the India business community can make effective contribution in strengthening the strategic partnership between EU and India. He stressed that GOPIO has in the past organized business summits which have proved very useful and hoped that the EICC will take lead in acting as a catalyst between EU and India in promoting better trade relations. Dr. Abraham also called upon the European Union and respective countries of Europe to give due recognition to the contributions of Indians in Europe and remedy the current imbalance of legal immigration of Indians to countries of Europe. Similar to what Indian Americans have contributed to the economic prosperity of America, especially in the new technology areas, the same thing could be accomplished in Europe, provided the Europe opens up its door for new talents., Abraham added.

Sunil Prasad, President of the GOPIO-Belgium and Secretary General of the EICC concluded the inaugural event with a heartfelt address to increase EU India co-operation. There are tremendous opportunities that lie on both sides to promote trade and investment he said referring to the business conference that was scheduled to take place at the European Parliament on 9 November. He stressed the EU need to tap into India to remain a major global economic power and mentioned that while India does have its own institutional weaknesses it offers large potential for investment in the sectors of IT, Pharmaceuticals and Bio Technology.

The business session of the day-long conference took place at the European  Parliament on Wednesday, November 9th. Participants at the business session of the conference unanimously agreed that although EU-India business relations witnessed considerable progress in recent years, the potential for further expansion was much bigger. To make this potential become a reality, they said, India would first have to concentrate on in infrastructure sector - like transport, power and telecommunication - a key weakness of India as compared to many of its competitors.

MEP Deva sparked the debate raising the issue of outsourcing and the fears by citizens of some EU member states about job security. He said the outsourcing phenomenon sprung more from the lethargy in innovation in the EU. Jobs are not being created because we have stopped innovating. In Europe we are regulating ourselves out of existence, he concluded referring to the inherent fear of job losses felt by EU member states.

Sanjay Dalmia, Chairman of the Dalmia group of companies, reminded the audience about general misconceptions over outsourcing. If India and China are rising up today, its because of their entrepreneurial skills and their ability to innovate, he said.

 Dr. Charles Tannock, a British MEP, told that although EU-India trade is increasing at an astonishing rate of 20 percent per annum the potential is still greater. He said some 400 Indian companies were present in the UK alone, out of which 332 from the IT sector. Dr. TAnnock is also the Chairman of Friends of India at the European Parliament and appealed to all NRIs and PIOs to strengthen this group.

Colette Mathur, Director, World Economic Forum (Switzerland) highlighted the similarities between India and Europe. India is more comparable to Europe than any other single country in the world due to is to its cultural diversity and shared values of democracy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms, she said.

Dr. Ajit Shetty, CEO of Janssen Pharmaceutica, Belgiums largest pharmaceutical company voiced his concerns about the lack of respect by India of intellectual property rights and patent laws which obstructs big pharmaceutical companies from entering India.

Another MEP, Erika Mann from Germany, said EU citizens shouldn't be afraid of emerging global powers such as India and China and should instead co-operate with each other in addressing common challenges of today's world in an internationalized context such as trade, terrorism, or development.   

Haleh Bridi, Director of the World Bank, referred to the disincentives that deter foreign investment into the country. An astonishingly glaring statistic highlighted by Bridi was the level of FDI in India which is only $5bn compared to $60bn in China, its rival which lacks adequate capital markets, a negligible banking system and judicial system.

Dr. Marc Van Montagu spoke about the huge opportunity that lie for India in the bio-tech sector and how both Europe and India and join together and take advantage.

Others who spoke were Dr. Mohan Kaul, Douglas Gregory, Dr. Avtar Lit, Geoffrey H Lipman, Chan Chowdhry, Miodrag Rankovic, Thierry Moulonguet, Ravi K Mehrotra, R. Veeramani, Ravi Shankar, Rutger Koopmans, Dr Jean-Joseph BOILLOT, Francisco De Paula Coelho and Surbhi Sharma.

Industrialists presented at the conference were rather pessimistic on Indias potential of attracting greater investment and warned that while India is on the right path, high expectations and the hype surrounding the India growth story could cause complacency amongst policy makers.

Attended by over 200 participants the conference session were chaired by MEPs Deva and Jacek Emil Saryuz Wilski and Lord Rana. During the discussion, it was observed that three impediments that are affecting foreign investment (FI) to the country and better EU-India trade and commerce relations are:  relatively poor infrastructure, lack of proper implementation of policies and hindrances in tax collection methods.

On infrastructure front, it was suggested that India needs to improve quality of power and road conditions. Because of bad conditions of road, many companies are very uncomfortable to open companies in India. Despite claims by the Indian government of opening up one-window clearance outlets, the policies were not functioning as per desired levels. There was need for policy orientation and implementation of policies like single window system and others.

The major impediments to Barriers to entry and FDI in the region are found to be:  particularly in the tertiary establishment, sector (e.g. financial services, telecommunications, media, transport)

ownership and control, taking Restrictions on foreign the form of maximum foreign equity holdings and Operational restrictions on mandatory partnering with domestic firms  firms (e.g. local content, foreign technology transfer and export requirements)

reporting requirements Authorization and (notifications, approvals, licenses)

of foreign investors in Discriminatory treatment establishment, ownership and control.

Governments need to pay greater attention to the interaction between trade, investment and technology policies.

Technology-related policies need to be linked to both FDI and trade policies.

Trade and competition policy must support competitive and outward-looking policies in order to support technological upgrading, deepen local linkages with foreign firms and encourage a longer-term, dynamic integration of affiliates into the local economy.

Government policies on FDI need to address the problems of information or co-ordination failures in the investment process and the inefficiencies which arise when the private interests of investors differ from the economic interests of host countries. 

With increasing influence of people of Indian origin around the world, Diwali was celebrated by city, state and national govt. institutions in many of the western world capitals. Here is a brief summary:

THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON DC

The White House invited about 70 community leaders of Indian origin along government officials from various agencies for an event on November 1^st.   The White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card lighted the Lamp and wished that Diwali brings hope and happiness to all.

Card expressed Presidents empathy on the recent bombings in New Delhi and then he drew parallel between the Oath the President took to Preserve, Protect and Defend the Constitution and the oath naturalized citizens take and between the implication of their respective duties.  He highlighted the sacrifices the people have to make to become naturalized citizens in relation to those born as citizens.  He compared the light of Diwali Diya as a sign of hope the way the torch of Lady Liberty is.

The emcee of the event was Neil Patel, Chief of Domestic Policy Affairs in Vice Presidents Office. Speakers included Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia, Dr. Rajeev Venkayya,  and AAPI Commissioners Dr. Akshay Desai and Joe Melookaran.   

Asked about thee events at The White House, Dr. Piyush Agrawal, expressed his extreme satisfaction with the continuity of the event.  He hoped that this tradition of celebrating Diwali at The White House soon would be institutionalized in a manner befitting the sanctity and significance of the occasion. The attendees included many from the second generation Indian Americans. "as an American of Indian origin I am very delighted to see our most sacred festival, Diwali being celebrated in the White House. By starting this tradition President George W. Bush has demonstrated that America welcomes people of all ethnic and religious traditions," said Rohun Khanna, a 16 year old high school student, currently in the United States Senate Page Program.]

NEW YORK CITY HALL

November 2, 2005 marked the second annual Diwali Celebration at in the Council Chambers of New York City Hall. The event was sponsored by the New York City Council and was open to all members and friends of the South Asian community. The large crowd in attendance was a mix of first, second and third generation immigrants from India and elsewhere. Distinguished city officials including Council Members John Liu, Alan Gerson, and Gale Brewer, along with the ommissioner of Design and New York State Assemblyman, contributed to the celebration of this memorable event.

A traditional invocation prayer dance was performed by two young students of the Sadhnalaya School of Dance, followed by the traditional diya lighting ceremony by city officials. The speech by NYC Council Member Liu focused on Indians in New York and his bill to suspend alternate side parking rules in New York City in honor of Diwali, a step towards official recognition of a major Indian holiday. Although the bill has been vetoed by Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Mr. Liu stated that the New York City Council is confident it will override the veto. Professor Madhulika Khandelwal, the Director of the Asian/American Center at Queens College, spoke about the history of Deepavali and its significance to millions of people. She acknowledged the holiday as a widely celebrated event enjoyed by people of different backgrounds all over New York

The Diwali Celebration at New York City Hall is another step the city has begun to further recognize the sizeable Indian Community within the city of New York. Other events such as the Diwali celebrations at South Street Seaport and in Jackson Heights, are additional ways that the community has come together and established a strong presence in New York. These events have been given extensive local and Indian media media coverage.

BRITISH PARLIAMENT, LONDON

Since 2002, the British Parliament has been celebrating Diwali. On October 27^th, a large number of British cabinet ministers, members of Parliament, and Lords and Baronesses participated in a colorful Diwali celebration in the House of Commons with colorful Indian dances, melodious music and food displays. The deities of Lord Rama, wife Sita and brother Lakshman took centre stage in the dining room of the magnificent Commons building.

Among those present were Lord Swraj Paul, non resident Indian industrialist and chairman of the London Olympics 2012 delivery committee, Keith Vaz, NRI leader and former minister for foreign and commonwealth office, Patricia Hewitt, health secretary, and Ranjan Mathai, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.

Sending across his best wishes on the occasion, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the festival celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. "It is a time when the family is centre stage. It's time, too, for reflection both on what has been achieved in the past and our hopes and ambitions for the future," he said.

"This festival has an important role. It gives every one of us a chance to reflect on the important contribution that your communities are making to Britain's success. This is something for us all to celebrate," Blair said.

Michael Howard said the fact that Diwali was celebrated across Britain showed once again that the country was immensely enriched by the diverse communities that live here. "We are are a stronger and better country as a result," he said.

Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general, Hindu Forum of Britain, said, "It is befitting that this festival is celebrated in the seat of British democracy - the Houses of Parliament. Britain after all, is the mother of democracy and India the largest. The countries enjoy a historical relationship built on friendship and trust."

Keith Vaz said four years ago members of Parliament together with the Hindu Forum of Britain organized the first ever Diwali celebrations at Westminster. "This unique event brings together Parliamentarians and the communities they are elected to serve in celebrating this important festival in Parliament," Vaz said.

Steve Pound, MP, chairman of the Labor Friends of India, said, "To celebrate this great festival of hope in the heart of the UK Parliament is not only a great achievement for the Hindu Forum of Britain but a signal to the world."

Londons Trafagar Square was a lighted with colorful lights making it 'Diwali in the Square', the trendy title given to celebrations. In Leister, the Indian-dominated city in the English Midlands, nearly 7,000 lights ablaze for the Diwali week.

PARIS TOWN HALL

For the first time in years the Mayor of Paris organized an evening to celebrate Diwali in the prestigeous Town Hall. It was done in cooperation with various NRI-PIO associations.

Dr. Vimal Khosla, President of GOPIO-France, along with Mrs. Khosla was invited to the event, which included classical and folk dances, music and songs from different parts of India followed by a cocktail.

The South Asian Journalist Association (SAJA) and Agenda 21, an organization spearheaded by East Indians from the West Indian Diaspora, hosted a friendly evening of rubbing shoulders with one and other. The event aptly titled, Bridging the Gap between the West Indian Diaspora and South Asians was held on Tuesday October 25, at the Indian Arts Gallery in New York City.

The panelists of the evening program were Rohit Jagessar, radio pioneer and writer/producer/director of the film Guiana 1838 We will meet again, Jamal Baksh and Raymond Ali of Agenda 21, Karna Singh of the Rajkumari Cultural Center and others.

The gathering of about seventy-five people was treated to the unique West Indian style pastries, spicy channa and mango chutney, all favorites of the Caribbean region.

After several generations, people Indian origin who were originally separated from India after the period of indentureship to the colonies of the Caribbean are now making an effort to foster unity and brotherhood among the large Indian population in New York metropolitan region. The organizers expressed enthusiasm and look forward to a continuation of this type of event.

 

GOPIO-FRANCE PARTICIPATES IN HOMAGE TO WORLD WAR VETERANS

Like every year France paid homage to the thousands of Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for this country in the First World War. The ceremony was held on November 10th at the memorial dedicated exclusively to the Indian soldiers at Neuve-Chapelle about 250 km north of Paris.

France was represented by the Prefect of the region and the Mayors of Neuve-Chapelle and Richebourg. He was accompanied by Tim Reeves, Director of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Major General A. K. Lamba flew specially from India to attend the ceremoney. He was accompanied by the Military Attach in Paris Brigadier Chander Parkash. Mr Ravi Shankar Aisola read the message from the Indian Ambassador H.E. Rangachari.

The ceremoney was followed by a cocktail at the town hall of Neuve-Chapelle where Major General Lamba presented souvenir gifts to the French dignitaries.

Dr. Vimal KHOSLA, President of GOPIO-France represented the expatriate Indians in France.

MAHATMA GANDHI HUMANITARIAN AWARD GOES TO DR. MANI BHAUMIK

Sir Ben Kingsley presented the Mahatma Gandhi Humanitarian Award to Dr. Mani Bhaumik at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.  The award, from The Indian American Heritage Foundation, was presented by the organization's President, Inder Singh for outstanding contributions to science and humanity, for promoting, recognizing and rewarding excellence among students, and for the many philanthropic activities in India and the US.

Dr. Mani Bhaumik is the co-inventor of the laser technology that made LASIK surgery possible.  Born in Bengal, Dr. Bhaumik survived oppression, epidemic and famine to earn a Ph.D. in physics from India's IIT and a Sloan Foundation Fellowship for postdoctoral work at UCLA.  His contributions to laser technology merited election by his peers as a fellow of the American Physical Society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.  He is the founder of the Mani Bhaumik Education Foundation, which is currently providing full scholarships to sixty seven underprivileged young men and women.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Bhaumik said, From my humble birth on a mud floor of a hut in a primitive village to this elegant evening in Beverly Hills, my journey sometimes seems unbelievable even to me. Having lived in the camp of Mahatma Gandhi, later having seen Sir Ben playing Gandhi in such an authentic way, and now receiving the Gandhi award presented by him gives me an overwhelming feeling that is hard to describe.

BARONESS USHA PRASHAR TO HEAD JUDICIAL COMMISSION

Queen Elizabeth has appointed Baroness Usha Prashar as the first chairperson of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). The new body of 14 Commissioners will be responsible for appointing judges in England and Wales. Prashars term is five-year term from its beginning in April 2006.

Prashars father migrated to Kenya from Punjab in 1930 and later to UK in 1967. Prashar was born in 1948 but studied in the UK. She is currently the Chancellor of De Montford University, Chair of the National Literacy Trust and Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society. She was awarded a CBE in 1994 and made a life peer in 1999.

INDO-TRINDADIAN WINS PRESIDENTS MEDAL

Amrik Singh Kochar topped the maths papers in this year's Advanced-Level Cambridge University International Examinations and came fourth in the physics paper. A former student of Hillview College, Tunapuna, Trinidad, Amrik has been awarded a national scholarship and the President's Medal. As the President's Medal Winner, his studies will be funded to the equivalent of the PhD degree to a maximum of seven years.

amrik, whose father Gurmohan Kochar is the Deputy Principal of the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, scored grades "A"s in mathematics, further mathematics, physics and general paper. In the November GCE Advanced Level, he scored "A"s in mathematics, further mathematics, physics and chemistry.

The son of parents who left India over 30 years ago and first went to the United States before making Trinidad their "home", he is enrolled as a first-year student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, majoring in Electrical Engineering. He has also represented Trinidad at mathematical Olympiads.

K.P. SINGHS WORK EXHIBITED

Editions Limited Gallery of Indianapolis, USA exhibited the work of K.P. Singh from October 20 thru November 9. Singh, in addition to being a prolific and accomplished artist, has been a tireless advocate and supporter of historic preservation, cultural diversity and the importance of arts to life and human spirit. K.P. considers community service as a major focus and commitment of his Sikh faith and as a civic responsibility.

"My artwork reflects my cultural and spiritual inspiration. The artistic legacy of master builders and craftsmen in different cultures stands as a living testimony of the high achievements of man over the centuries. We must create a place of honor for it in our national fabric," says Singh. "I hope that this book will inspire others to rediscover, know and enjoy their communities."

K.P. Singh is the founder of K.P. Singh Designs and specializes in pen and ink drawings of private residences and public institutions and his works are represented in many private and public collections throughout the world. He is also a regular contributor to the Indianapolis Star's

IN Touch feature column and other national ethnic publications and cyber sites. Educated in India and the University of Michigan, he has made his home in Indianapolis since 1967 where he lives with his wife, Janice.

"His style has been influenced by the Old Masters. He presents his subject in close-up, highlighting detail and splendor, challenging the viewer to explore the spirit of buildings' original creators."

For additional information, please visit his website: www.KPSinghDesigns.com

TONY BLAIR APPOINTS BRITISH INDIAN HELEN GHOSH PERMANENT SECRETARY

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has approved the appointment of Helen Ghosh to be Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Born in 1956, Ghosh was educated at St Hugh's college and Hertford College Oxford.

Ghosh joined the Department of the Environment in 1979 and served in several policy and Private Secretary posts through the 1980s and early 1990s. She was appointed to the Cabinet Office Efficiency Unit in 1995. Thereafter, Ghosh moved to a more operationally focussed role in the Government Office for London, where she worked as Director for East London Regeneration. This brought her into contact with a variety of EU bodies, in particular those administering regeneration funds. After a further spell in the Cabinet Office, she took up her current role as director General Corporate Services of HM Revenue and Customs.

PRESIDENT BUSH APPOINTS TWO INDIAN AMERICANS TO KEY POSITIONS

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an independent agency of the US government, has named Ananda K. Radhakrishnan as the director of its Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight (DCIO).

Prior to joining the CFTC, Radhakrishnan worked for seven years at the clearing house division of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc (CME) where he was responsible for strategic and risk management planning and project management for the CME clearinghouse.

Radhakrishnan also worked on initiatives such as cross margining and mutual offset arrangements and the clearing house credit facility. The DCIO plays a vital role in fulfilling the CFTC's regulatory mission. Radhakrishnan received his law degree from the National University of Singapore Law School and his graduate degree in Finance and Marketing from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.

President Bush has also appointed an Indian American to the President's Export Council (PEC), the premier national advisory committee on international trade. Prakash Puram, who has studied in Jamshedpur and Chennai, is head of the software company Ixmatch. He has been named a member of PEC, which promotes export expansion, advises the president on government policies and programmes and is a forum for discussing and resolving trade-related problems among business, agricultural, industrial, labor and government sectors.

Puram, 50, whose appointment was first announced by the White House in September, has nearly 25 years of management experience in the consumer and high-tech industries. He worked previously as the general manager of the Consumer and Retail Markets Software Business at Net Perceptions. He was also the director of Worldwide Strategy and Business Development for Honeywell's Home and Building Controls division. A graduate of Loyola College, Chennai, Puram has a business management diploma from Jamshedpur. He has an MBA degree from the University of Minnesota and a degree in competitive strategy from Harvard University. A private pilot, Puram was a torch- runner for the Atlanta Olympics.

The PEC includes 10 members of the US Congress, appointed to two- year terms, and the secretaries of commerce, agriculture, state, treasury, energy and labor - along with the US trade representative, the chair of the Export-Import Bank of the US, and the administrator of the Small Business Administration. Established by a presidential executive order in 1973, the PEC was initially made up only of business executives. In 1979, it was expanded to include leaders of the labor and agricultural communities, Congress and the executive branch.

TWO INDIAN AMERICANS WIN RAMANUJAM AWARDS

Two Indian mathematicians in American universities have been selected for the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize 2005 for their works on the number theory. Manjul Bhargava of Princeton University and Kannan Soundararajan of the University of Michigan will be conferred the annual $10,000 award, instituted by the Thanjavur-based Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy, also known as the SASTRA deemed university.

A professor at Princeton, Bhargava formulated the higher order composition law in the number theory. Soundararajan is an expert on analytical number theory and random matrix. The awards will be given away in December at Ramanujan's birthplace - Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu during an international number theory meet to mark his birth anniversary.

The award is named after noted mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan and is awarded to scientists who are not above 32 years. This is because he died at the age of 32, a university release in Chennai said.

THREE INDIAN AMERICAN WINS RHODES SCHOLARSHIP

Among 32 Rhodes scholars selected for 2006 includes three American Indians Rahul Satija, Shamsher Gill and Lakshmi Krishnan. The scholars, chosen from 903 applicants, will enter Oxford University in England next October. The scholarships fund two or three years of study. About 85 scholars from at least 14 nations are selected each year.

Rahul Satija, a Duke University senior who studies the smallpox virus while also teaching violin to inner-city children.

Samsher Gill, 22, graduated from the University of Chicago this year. Gill, of Edina, Minnesota, works at Media Matters in Washington, DC, where his research job involves fact-checking Fox News' 'The O'Reilly Factor.' Gill said he feels a sense of responsibility as a Rhodes Scholar.

Lakshmi Krishnan, of Sugar Land, Texas, attends Wake Forest University and is writing her senior thesis on vampires and blood contagion in 19th-century literature. She plans to major in English at Oxford. Her career goals don't involve vampires: "I would love to work as a physician studying medical issues in the developing world," she said in a statement.

KOFI ANNAN PICKS RAJAT GUPTA AS UN REFORMS ADVISOR

UN General Kofi Annan has handpicked top-notch McKinsey executive Rajat Kumar Gupta as his special advisor to help with urgent reforms of the world body. The high-profile appointment comes within days of a damning report on the colossal corruption and mismanagement in the UNs Oil-for-Food programme in Iraq. An Alumnus of IIT Delhi and the Harvard University, the Kolkata-born Gupta will advise Annan on reform strategies designed to make the UNs administration more effective and transparent.

The secretary general is grateful that senior worldwide partner of McKinsey, the global consulting firm based in New York, R. K. Gupta will get a token remuneration of a dollar a year in his prestigious new assignment, with his distinguished track record and deep knowledge of management reform issues, has agreed to help him drive forward the ambitious reform agenda, a UN statement said. Rajat Gupta will help to ensure that the overall management reform programme is in line with best global practice and provide focused, specialist assistance on key issues of concern.

TWO MORE BRITISH INDIANS APPOINTED AS LORDS

Sir Gulam Noon is among new members elevated to the House of Lords. The 69-year-old millionaire curry king is a Labour choice along with healthcare expert Chai Patel. The list, which Downing Street is expected to publish this month, will create 11 Labour peers, eight Conservatives, five Liberal Democrats, and three Democratic Unionists and one Ulster Unionist Party peer. Labours newfound position since May as the largest party in the Lords, giving it 221 peers to the Tories 216.

FIRST STATE FUNDED HINDU SCHOOL IN UK

First ever Hindu publicly funded primary school in the UK will be built in Harrow, which has large concentration of Hindus in the United Kingdom. The new school which could open in three years, will meet the needs of 40,000 Hindus, about 20 per cent of Harrow's population. The aim of the school will be to re-establish Hindu values, and to ensure that new generations will follow the tenets of the religion.

The new state school like all state schools, will teach the full national curriculum, but good behavior and character based on Hindu values, Hindu prayer and Hindu atmosphere will be prominent.

DELHI HIGH COURT DISALLOWS NRI CLAIM FOR SUPERIOR STATUS

A US-based NRI had challenged the impounding of his passport by the Ministry of External Affairs but the Delhi Court ruled that there was no infringement of any Fundamental Rights guaranteed under the Indian Constitution.

The NRI who is facing a non-bailable warrant in connection with a dowry case in a local court in New Delhi, claimed an unfair burden of proof because of his being a resident in the US.

HINDU PRIESTS FOR UK ARMY

For the first time, the British Government has appointed Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Muslim chaplains for its Armed forces personnel in an effort to reflect multi-culturalism.

The chaplains would provide spiritual, moral and pastoral support to service personnel and their dependents. They will also assist in promoting a greater understanding of their faith within the Armed forces.

At present, UK armed forces have about 230 Hindus, 220 Buddhists, 90 Sikhs and 305 Muslims and the appointment of priests from their communities could encourage more of British minorities to join UK Armed Forces.

DIWALI FESTIVITIES RAISES 150,000 FOR INDIAN LITERACY PLAN

Diwali festivities kicked off here by raising nearly 150,000 for an Indian literacy campaign at a charity gala. London Mayor Ken Livingstone lit the ceremonial lamp to mark the festival of lights celebration organized by the Loomba Trust. NRI businessman Raj Loomba in memory of his mother, who had become a widow at the age of 37 and single-handedly educated her seven children, set up the Loomba Trust. The aim of the Trust is to raise funds to provide scholarships for children of widows in India. The Loomba Trust is happy to have been able to make a difference to the lives of 500 children affected by the tsunami disaster with scholarships for up to five years.

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 $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.

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

Webmaster: Prashant Gupta (Chicago, IL, USA)

Contributors for this issue: Inder Singh (USA), Sunil Prasad (Belgium) and Ashook Ramsaran (USA)

GOPIO NEWS welcomes NRI/PIO related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer correspondent or reporter. Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, Tel: 203-329-8010, E-mail: gopio@optonline.net