GOPIO NEWS BULLETIN
December 2006 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
NOTE: GOPIO News is a monthly newsletter of GOPIO International, based in the USA . If you do not wish to receive this newsletter in future, please go to the bottom and click the unsubscribe URL. If you feel the information contained here is useful, please forward this E-mail to your friends and relatives. One could also subscribe this newsletter FREE by visiting www.gopio.net and type in the e-mail address and other details.
CONTENTS
GOPIO CONVENTION 2007 IN NEW DELHI JANUARY 5TH AND 6TH PROGRAM UPDATE
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS - JANUARY 7-9, 2007 IN NEW DELHI
GOPIO SESSION ON ENGAGING PIOs FOR INDIAs DEVELOPMENT
INDIAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD ON KOLKATA JANUARY 11-13
GOPIO JOINS HANDS WITH NORTH GUJARAT UNIV. IN DIASPORA CONF. JAN. 2-4, PATAN, GUJARAT
US-INDIA PEACEFUL ATOMIC ENERGY COOPERATION AGREEMENT OF 2006
GOPIO INTL. AND CHAPTER NEWS
GOPIO- NEW YORK HOLIDAY PARTY AND DINNER/TALK WITH CONGRESSMAN PETER KING
GOPIO-CT SCHEDULES LUNCHEON MEETING FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE
NEW YORKER PRAKASH GOSSAI APPOINTED ADVISOR TO GUYANA PRESIDENT JAGDEO
FOUR INDIAN AMERICANS NAMED 2007 RHODES SCHOLARS
BRITISH INDIAN CHITRA BHARUCHA TO HEAD BBC
MISS BRITAIN AWARD GOES TO INDIAN BEAUTY
FOUR INDIAN AMERICANS WIN SIEMENS SCIENCE AWARDS
NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
US VISA CAN BE APPIED TO ANY THREE MISSIONS IN INDIA
GLOBAL MEET FOR BIHAR SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 19-21, 2007
THE FOURTH PRAVASI PUNJABI DIVAS SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 11, 2007
MALAYSIA ALLOWS OUTSIDERS TO BUY PROPERTY
INDIANS FORM LONDON S LARGEST GROUP
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
EDITORIAL BOARD
GOPIO CONVENTION 2007 IN NEW DELHI , JANUARY 5TH AND 6TH - PROGRAM UPDATE
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International)
GOPIO CONVENTION 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 Room, Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi
(Tel: 91-11 2373876070)
THEME
OVERSEAS INDIANS: Identity Preservation & Adoption of New Values in Pluralistic Societies
Friday, January 5th, 2007
FICCI Conference Room, New Delhi
9:30 am to 11:00 Noon GOPIO Executive Committee Meeting (Not open to public)
11:00 am to 5:30pm Registration
11:00 am to 1:00 pm GOPIO General Council Meeting (Not open to public)
1:00 pm. Lunch
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm GOPIO COUNCIL REPORTS (Open to Public)
GOPIO CHAPTER NRI/PIO AREA REPORTS (Open to Public)
North America Dr. Piyush Agrawal, GOPIO Coordinator, USA and Radha Krishan, Incoming President, National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), USA
South America and Caribbean Yesu Persaud, Executive VP GOPIO Intl., Ambassador Krishna Nandoe, President of GOPIO Suriname and Dr. Arnold Thomas, St. Vincent
Europe Sunil Prasad, President, GOPIO-Belgium Conference Report and
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, Hong Kong
Africa Sagie Naidu, GOPIO South Africa Coordinator
3:30 pm to 6:00 pm Indian & PIO MEDIA CONCLAVE
THEME: India & PIO Media Exchange and Deliberation
Chief Guest: To be announced
Moderator & Chair: Munish Gupta Chairman, GOPIO Media Council, Journalist, Media Entrepreneur, created India s first IPTV platform www.IndiaTVLive.com and first-ever channel for an expatriate population www.PIOTV.com
Co-Chair: San Jay Reddy MD & CEO, RJR BANCORP, GOPIO Los Angeles Chapter President
Session
A: 3.30 4.50 PM
India & Indian Media Today - Rapid and dynamic changes in Indian Media, its influence on politics, economy, socially & culture
Panelists:
K. S. Sarma - Fomer CEO Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India ) and now CEO MAA TV, Hyderabad .
Shekhar Gupta - Editor, Indian Express Group, Delhi .
Anil Srivatsa Chief Operating Officer, Radio Today Broadcasting Ltd. (India Today group) and a successful former Radio entrepreneur and RJ from USA .
Manoranjana Sinh Chairperson & MD of Northeast Media Group (Private satellite and cable television and FM Radio channels group)
S. Mitra Kalita Currently on leave of absence from The Washington Post helping set up a new business newspaper in Delhi .
Session B: 5.10 6.30 PM
PIOs in Media. Their Perception of India & Indian Media, and, their role in the global perception of India and bridging Indians and PIOs.
Panelists:
Indira Somani Former CNBC TV News Producer from New York , Ph.D. student and teacher of Broadcast Journalism at University of Maryland .
Raakhee Mirchandani Columnist, New York Post
Salil Tripathi Freelancer , Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune & Far Eastern Economic Review.
Tarun Basu Chief Editor, Indo-Asian News Service, New Delh & Washington, DC
Nawab Khan, Editor, INEP, Brussels
Vinod Dhawan, Chief of Bureau in New Delhi for India Post, San Francisco & New York .
Other Participants:
Overseas:
Steve Agarwal News Correspondent,
Page 3 Tabloid, Washington ,
DC
Gunjan Taneja Marketing Manager, Nirvana Woman Magazine , USA
Karan Bhatt Nirvana Woman Magazine, Delhi .
Raghbir Goyal India Globe, Washington , DC
India:
Basharat Ahmad, Deputy Director General, Doordarshan International.
Baleshwar Agarwal, Anthar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad
Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik, Community activist and leader
Dr. Kanak Sen Deka, Editor, Agradoot , Assam .
Rajendra Prabhu Veteran Technology Journalist & Columnist.
Shivaji Sarkar, Professor of Journalism, IIMC, Delhi .
K G Suresh PTI
Vinay Thakur The Hindu
Narendra Bhandari Jansatta
Arvind Singh Haribhoomi
Tapan Roy CEO, ATN Bangla
Atul Saraf CEO, Seven Star Health Channel
Guptas Sadhna TV
Subhash Sinha Media Advisor, Gujarat Samachar
O. P. Mehra Freelancer
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Formal Inauguration of GOPIO Conference 2007
Chief Guest: To be announced soon
Program:
Welcome: K.N. Gupta, Conference Chair and President GOPIO India, 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
Release of the book by Anand Mulloo
Recognition of Sponsors
Note of Thanks: Ashook Ramsaran, Secretary General, GOPIO International
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm Reception
Saturday, January 6th, 2007
FICCI Conference Room, New Delhi
Conference Theme:
OVERSEAS INDIANS: Identity Preservation & Adoption of New Values in Pluralistic Societies
9:30 am Registration Coffee/Tea
10:00 am to 11:15 am - Session I DIASPORA ISSUES AND PERSPECTIVES
Chair: Dr. Jagat Motwani, Chairman, GOPIO Academic Council
Co-Chair:
Speakers:
Dr. Kavita Sharma: "Limping marriages and holiday wives."
Dr. Gulshan Sharma "Breakup of NRI Marriages What role can community play?"
Ms. Sandhya Sinha, President, Political Forum for Women: "Diasporic influence on Indian
women."
Sunny Kulathakal , Bahrain , Civic and Human Rights Violations of NRIs in the Middle East
Prof. Anand Kumar, JNU, "Diasporic Course and Research in Indian universities."
Dr. M.K. Pandey, Prasar Bharti: "Indian Perceptions of NRIs, and Indians as
percieved by NRIs"
11.15 am to 11.30 am Coffee/Tea Break
11.30 am to 12.45 pm Session II - INDIAN DIASPORA - ASSIMILATION & PLURALISM
Chair: Ambassador Krishna Nandoe, President of GOPIO Suriname
Co-Chair: Dr. Shekhar Tiwary, Co-Chair GOPIO Roots Committee
Speakers:
Anand Mulloo, Diaspora in Plural societies
Prof. Parmatma Saran, Author and Professor of Sociology, City University , New York -- North American Experience
George Abraham, Singapore -- Asian Experience
Lord Diljit Rana, House of Lords, London European Experience
Dr. Arnold Thomas, St. Vincents Indian Heritage Foundation Caribbean Experience
12:45 pm to 1:45 pm Lunch
2:00 pm to 3:15 pm Session III - The NRI-PIO DIVIDE HOW TO BRIDGE THE GAP?
Chair: Ashook Ramsaran, Secretary General, GOPIO International, New York , NY
Co-Chair: Dr. Chandrashekar Bhat, Prof. of Sociology and Director, Indian Diaspora Institute, Univ. of Hyderabad
Speakers:
Prof Mohan Gautam, University of Leiden , Netherlands
Prof Ganesh Chand, University of Fiji
Prof. Rajen Anand, President, National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA)
P.S. Sahai, Former Ambassador of India , New Delhi
3.15 pm to 3.30 am Coffee/Tea Break
3:30 pm to 4:45 pm Session IV - NRIs/PIOs AND INDIA: DEVELOPING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE RELATIONS
Chair: Prof. Jai Rup Singh Ph.D, Vice Chancellor, GNU, Amritsar , Punjab , India
Co-Chair: Prashant Gupta, Chairman, GOPIO.Connect, Gurgaon , India
Speakers:
Madhu Yaskhi M.P., Member of Lok Sabha, New Delhi -
"Overview and Perspective from a Law Maker"
Dr. Y.S. Rajan - Scientist,
Technologist, Academic, Writer and Poet and currently Principal Advisor,
Confederation of Indian Industries, New Delhi, "People to People Relations
in Education and Technology Transfer."
J.C. Sharma, Former Secretary, MEA and currently Executive Trustee of Chiranjiv Bharti Trust, "NRIs/PIOs Networking with Business, Civic and Community Organizations in India ."
Dr.
Srinivasa Rao, Editor, The Catalyst,
New York, "NRIs/PIOs Networking with
Developmental Groups
Prof. Ram Mohan Roy, Professor of International Relations, CSUN, and
Senior Fellow Clairmont Graduate University,
"Role of NRIs/PIOs in improving Relations with
India and country of their Residence with particular reference to USA."
4:50 pm to 5:30 pm Wrap-up and Adoption of Resolutions
Chair: Dr. Piyush Agrawal, USA Coordinator, GOPIO International
Co-Chair: Gurmukh Singh, Toronto , Canada
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Reception and Grand Awards Banquet with the Presentation of GOPIOs Community Service Awards
Honored Guests: To be announced soon
Conference Registration
Conference Registration Fee: Rs. 1,000. Waived for those who register prior to December 25, 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 coordinated by GOPIO-India president Mr. K.N. Gupta, Tel: (91) 11-4164-2066/9811131588, e-mail: knguptas@hotmail.com Address: D-47 Gulmohar Park, New Delhi 110049
Sponsor opportunities are available for Indian businesses interested to reach out to PIOs/NRIs. Limited number of Tabletop Booths will also be available at the venue on January 6th. Contact Mr. Rajesh Chowdhury, World Premier Productions, Tel: (91) 11-41729540/9818208811.
TITLE SPONSORS OF GOPIO CONVENTION 2007
PLATINUM SPONSOR KINGFISHER AIRLINES owned by Dr. Vijay Mallaya
GOLD SPONSOR PIO TV (www.piotv.com)
COCKTAIL RECEPTION SPONSOR (following the Media Conclave) San Jay Reddy MD & CEO, RJR BANCORP. and President, GOPIO Los Angeles
KINGFISHER AIRLINES
A truly world-class airline in every sense
Efficient yet Warm. Stylish yet Comfortable
Brand new fleet incorporating the latest technology
A crew that has undergone rigorous training program
PIO TV (www.piotv.com)
The only channel for People of Indian Origin on internet
Live Feed 24/7 direct from India
RJR BANCORP
RJR Bancorp is an independent Merchant Bank and financial services holding company that is committed to helping its clients --middle-market and emerging-growth companies, small and large governments, and ultra high net worth individuals-- achieve their strategic and financial goals. Headquartered in Los Angeles , California , the firm provides Investment Banking, Investment Management, and Investment Advisory services.
Hotel and Internal Travel Arrangements
The Travel Corporation of India (TCI) Pvt. Ltd. has identified different types of hotels for GOPO delegates (visit: http://www.tciconferences.com/gopio/). Those wanting to go for site seeing trips in India , pre- and/or post-convention, TCI could make internal travel arrangements and accommodation. A very special rate of US$130 + Applicable taxes (12.5% of published rate) has been negotiated with Hotel Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi . Contact Narendra Saraswat, Manager - Business Development & E-Holidays, Travel Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd., 504 - 505, 5th Floor, New Delhi House, 27 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi - 110 001, Tel. +91-11-23317773, 23315834, Fax: +91-11-23316705, 23327468, Email - narendras@tci.co.in
For more information on GOPIO Convention 2007, 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
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS-2007 JANUARY 7-9, 2007 IN NEW DELHI
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. Over three dozen conference sessions (see details at www.pbd2007.org) are planned at the PBD 2007. GOPIO has been helping to put together one session as follows:
GOPIO SESSION ON ENGAGING PIOs FOR INDIA S DEVELOPMENT
A Joint GOPIO Working Session is planned at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2007. The theme is: ENGAGING PIOs FOR INDIA S DEVELOPMENT. The session is scheduled to be held on Sunday, January 7, 2007 from 1430 to 1600 hours at Vigyan Bhavan. The Chief Guest is Hon. Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, and the Guest of Honor is Minister Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Labor & Employment. The moderator is former Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan. Speakers are GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham (USA), GOPIO International Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran (USA), GOPIO President ( Mauritius ) Mahyendrah Utchanah, Netherlands PIO Institute Director Dr. Mohan Gautam, University of Fiji Professor Dr. Ganesh Chand.
For PBD registration, 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
DIASPORA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN KOLKATTA, JANUARY 11-13
Theme:
Organised by:
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata, in collaboration with Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), Government of India.
Venue: Oberoi Grand Hotel, Kolkata
With the late 20th Century migration of highly skilled Indian professionals, intellectuals and entrepreneurs the Indian Diaspora has come out of the shadows and is today one of the largest and most self-conscious Diaspora in the world. The Conference Away but not Apart: Evolving Relationships between India and her Diaspora aims to explore the changing interaction between India and her Diaspora with an intent to generate policy alternatives for the Government of India and is structured around the following eight themes.
Session 1 History of Indian Diaspora Formation
Session 2 Calcutta as a Metaphor in the Indian Diaspora
Session 3 - Indian Culture and the Diaspora
Session 4 - Indian Diaspora Nationalism
Session 5 - Indian Diaspora as a Development Agent
Session 6 Indian Diaspora as a Strategic Asset
Session 7 - Indian Diaspora and the War on Terror
Session 8 Mutual Expectations
34 Scholars from six countries would participate/present papers.
Among them are:
Prof. E. Sridharan: Academic Director, University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India , New Delhi ,
Prof. B. B. Bhattacharya: Honble Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University , New Delhi .
Prof. M.K. Gautam: Leiden University , The Netherlands
Prof. Amit Gupta: Air Force War College , Montegomery , Alabama , USA .
Prof. Chandrasekhar Bhat: Director, Centre for Diaspora Studies, Hyderabad
Suchita Ramdin: Head, Department of Folklore and Oral Traditions, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Mauritius
Dr. Pamela Gutman: Honorary Associate of the Dept. of Art History and Theory at the Univ. of Sydney
Selvarajoo Sundram: GOPIO, Malaysia
Dr. Thomas Abraham: Chairman, GOPIO International, Stamford , CT , USA
Shri Malay Mishra: Joint Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India
Professor D.P. Chattopadhyaya, Chairman Centre for Studies in Civilizations, Former Union Minister for Commerce and Former Governor of Rajasthan would deliver the Key note address.
Prof. Muchukund Dubey, Former Foreign Secretary, Government of India would deliver the valedictory address
Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi will inaugurate the Conference on Januauy 11 at 10 AM.
Interested participants may register on or before January 5, 2007. Contact: Dr. Binod Mishra
MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD INSTITUTE OF ASIAN STUDIES (An Autonomous Body under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India ), 5, Ashraf Mistri Lane , ( Lovelock Street Opp. Ballygunge Military Camp), Kolkata- 700 019, Telephone: (033) 2454 6581, Mob: 91+9830875066, Fax:(033) 2486 2049, Email: makaias@vsnl.net or makaias@cal.vsnl.net.in or visit http://www.makaias.gov.in
GOPIO JOINS HANDS WITH NORTH GUJARAT UNIV. IN DIASPORA CONF. JAN. 2-4, PATAN, GUJARAT
North Gujarat University at Patan is organizing International Conference on India and Her Diaspora in the South Pacific from January 2-4, 2007 in academic association with GOPIO International. The conference is jointly organized by the University Grants Commission and is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA).
Shri Vayalar Ravi , Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs will be delivering the inaugural address. Dr. Jagat Motwani, chair GOPIO Academic Council, Dr. Ganesh Chand, GOPIO Community Service Awardee will be felicitated among others. GOPIO International President Inder Singh would also address the conference.
Many prominent academicians, scholars and writers on diaspora from various parts of the world would be taking part in the three-day conference. Two persons from GOPIO, Inder Singh and Jagat Motwani would also be reading paper in the conference.
Dr. Adesh Pal of Centre for Indian Diaspora and Cultural Studies of North Gujarat University is the chief organizer of the conference. He can be contacted at adeshpalngu@rediffmail.com
US-INDIA PEACEFUL ATOMIC ENERGY COOPERATION ACT OF 2006
KUDOS to the Indian American Community
The House Bill (H.R. 5682) after going through several revisions, finally became "Henry J. Hyde United States- India Peaceful Atomic Energy cooperation Act of 2006" was passed by the US House of Representatives by a 330 Yeas, 59 Nays and 44 Not Voting late in the evening of Friday, December 8 and the US Senate passed it the early morning hours of Saturday by unanimous consent before the two Houses adjourned at the end of 109th Congress.
Once again, the Florida delegation topped the list in support of the bill by casting 100% of the votes.
On Monday, December 18 President Bush would be signing the bill. The signing Ceremony would start at 10:15 in the morning in the East Room of The White House. GOPIO would appropriately be represented by its Chairman, Dr. Thomas Abraham; U.S. National Coordinator, Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal, & New York Chapter President, Mr. Lal Motwani.
It is a matter of great satisfaction that several community activists gave their best to this cause. It could not have been done by a single person or a single organization. It was a joint effort and the participation of the community made it happen.
GOPIO, on its part, organized several town meetings with law makers and the community though out the country. GOPIO delegations also called on the several law makers in their own constituencies seeking support for the bill.
Though many individuals and organizations are claiming that it is they who made the passage of the bill possible, it neither seems possible nor feasible. However, an exception is warranted to thank Mr. Swadesh Chatterjee of North Carolina for his untiring effort of keeping the community involved in the process and connecting with the right people in the Congress.
The reaction in the Indian American Community is very positive and a sigh of relief is noticeable since their hard work finally paid off. Of course, certain section of the people would always complain that the bill does not totally represent what would have been the best for India , but they need to realize that in a partnership both parties have to watch for their interest. But, knowledgeable people insist that this bill represent the best possible compromise for both USA & India .
GOPIO thanks its rank & file that supported this bill to serve the best interests of their country of origin (Janma Bhoomi) and the country of their adoption (Karma Bhoomi).
GOPIO INTL. AND CHAPTER NEWS
GOPIO- NEW YORK SCHEDULES HOLIDAY PARTY AND DINNER/TALK WITH CONGRESSMAN PETER KING
GOPIOs New York chapter has scheduled its annual holiday party and dinner/talk with senior Republican Congressman Peter King in Sunday, December 17 starting at 5 p.m. Rep. King, who is the Chairman of the Internal Security Committee in the House of Representatives, will speak on the subject Global Terrorism.
For more information and registration, contact GOPIO New York President Lal Motwani 718-470-1026 or E-mail: lmotwani@nyc.rr.com.
GOPIO-CONNECTICUT SCHEDULES LUNCHEON MEETING FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
GOPIO-Connecticut has scheduled a luncheon meeting with PIO youth and young professionals on December 24th at Meera Restaurant in Stamford , CT. The theme is Networking and Sharing Experiences. Open to the age group 16 plus, admission is FREE.
Contact GOPIO-CT President Sangeeta Ahuja at 203-329-9744, E-mail: sangeetaahuja@aol.com or GOPIO-CT Secretary Bhaskar Majee at 203-391-0654, E-mail: bmajee@gmail.com.
NRIs/PIOs ARCHIEVE
NEW YORKER PRAKASH GOSSAI APPOINTED ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT JAGDEO
GOPIO New York Chapter will recognize the achievements of Shri Prakash Gossai, originally of Guyana , on Sunday, December 17, 2006 at a holiday party and dinner talk by Congressman Peter King and also attended by India s Deputy Consul General A. R. Ghanashyam. Shri Prakash Gossai will be awarded a special plaque of recognition by GOPIO New York Chapter, as well as a US Congressional proclamation initiated by GOPIO New Yorks efforts with the US Congress. The recognition accorded to Shri Gossai acknowledges his extra-ordinary contribution to preservation and promotion of Indian culture, Hinduism, humanitarianism, and inter-ethnic relations in the North America and the Caribbean .
Shri Prakash Gossai has been appointed to serve as a special advisor to Guyana s President Bharrat Jagdeo, which validates his high level of talent, wisdom and insights that can be useful to President Jagdeo and the people of Guyana . Shri Prakash Gossai is well renowned scholar, an acclaimed academic and active community leader among the large PIO population in the New York region. He is the leader of the Bhuvaneshwar Group of Mandirs, has accompanied groups of PIOs on Yatra visits to India , and contributes to Indian cultural preservation in Jamaica in the Caribbean .
FOUR INDIAN AMERICANS NAMED 2007 RHODES SCHOLARS
Four Indian-Americans are among the prestigious Rhodes scholars selected for 2007. They are: Shaan Chirag C. Gandhi from Case Western, Parvinda S. Thiara from Harvard, Maya Shanker, a Yale senior majoring in cognitive science and Amia P. Srinivasan, a philosophy major from Yale University .
The 32 men and women across the United States selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2007 will enter Oxford University in England next October.
The scholars were selected from 896 applicants endorsed by 340 colleges and universities, and will join scholars selected from 13 other jurisdictions around the world. Approximately 85 are selected each year. The scholarships provide two or three years of study, with the total value averaging about $45,000 per year.
Maya Shanker who has done research in psychology, language, visual perception and cognition - plans to do a Master's in experimental psychology at Oxford . She has also founded and currently directs a partnership between Yale and New Haven to revitalize the downtown area, and co-founded a publication devoted to social justice and human rights.
Amia P. Srinivasan, a playwright and publisher, has won national and Yale prizes for her work in ethics, philosophy and literature. She founded the Yale Philosophy Review. Amia plans to do D. Phil. in philosophy at Oxford .
Parvinda Thiara, from Rochelle , Illinois , who lost his grandfather in India due to consumption of contaminated water, is determined to find ways to purify water. He plans to study theoretical chemistry and water science policy and management at the Oxford . He is also a co-founder of an organization dedicated to improving water sanitation technologies, particularly in impoverished areas of the world.
Shaan Chirag C. Gandhi from Battel Creek, Michigan is a Goldwater Scholar who is deeply committed cancer research and has received research granrts from Memorial sloan Kettering and national Institutes of HealthA debator, he has been medical volunteer in India and Guyana. At Oxford , he plans to do a Masters in Integrated Immunology.
BRITISH INDIAN CHITRA BHARUCHA TO HEAD BBC
British Indian Chitra Bharucha, originally from Tamil Nadu, will head the worlds largest broadcasting corporation, BBC. Ms Bharucha will take over as the Chairman of BBC in January, though in a caretaker capacity following the sudden resignation of Michael Grade who has decided to join BBCs main terrestrial rival.
Ms Bharuchas appointment, even if short term, makes her the first woman and the first Indian to head BBC, the largest broadcasting Corporation in the world with a 26,000 strong staff in the UK alone and a budget of 4 billion pounds. Bharucha, a qualified hematologist has lived in Britain for 34 years and has held high profile jobs in hospitals in Northern Ireland .
MISS BRITAIN AWARD GOES TO INDIAN BEAUTY
Preeti Desai has become the first person of Indian origin in England to win the Miss Great Britain title, earning the honor of representing the UK in the Miss Universe contest. Desai replaced the original Miss Great Britain , Danielle Lloyd, after she was stripped off the Award for reportedly dating one of the contests judges. She was chosen on the basis of text messages and phone voting by readers of the SUN newspaper. Her mother, Hema, arrived in Britain just before Preety was born.
FOUR INDIAN AMERICANS WIN SIEMENS SCIENCE AWARDS
At the recently concluded Siemens Science Contest held at New York University , Madhavi Gavini, a senior at the Mississippi School of Mathematics and Science in Columbus , Mississippi won the second place and a $50,000 scholarship in the individual category. In her project, Gavini discovered that some herbs inhibited microbial growth under lab conditions, correlating with changes in bacterial gene expression. Govini hopes to become a biomedical researcher.
Indian American students also won two third places and a fourth place. Lexington High School ( Lexington , MA ) Arjun Ramamurti won third place in individual category and a $40,000 scholarship. Ramamurti helped to unravel the mystery of how 16 species of guenon monkeys evolved and migrated out of Central Africa over the last one million years. His techniques combined DNA analysis with traditional ways of analyzing physical and behavioral traits.
Sagar Indurkhya of North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham shared the third place in the team event with Nicholas Tang of the same school with their bioengineering research in the area of synthetic biology. It is an emerging interdisciplinary field related to systems biology that uses concepts based on living systems to design biological networks much like electronic networks. Their project explored methods, models and design patterns for the construction of complex artificial gene circuits at the theoretical level. They shared a $40,000 prize.
Vijay Jain, a senior at Herricks High School in New Hyde Park, NY shared the fourth place and a scholarship of $30,000 with Jinju Yi, a senior at Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview , NY . Thei project created bio-engineering mechanism for proteins and viruses.
NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs/PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
US VISA CAN BE APPIED TO ANY THREE MISSIONS IN INDIA
People seeking US visas can now apply for a visa interview at any of the consulates in Chennai and Mumbai and the American embassy and not necessarily in the mission under which the applicant's area comes. Announcing this at a press conference in New Delhi , US consul general Peter G Kaestner said that though the Kolkata consulate has not yet been included in this new scheme, applicants from the Kolkata region too can apply in any of the other three missions in the country. He said this new facility has been introduced to clear the huge backlog of visa applicants in the US fiscal year 2006 that ended on September 30. To avail of this new facility one has to check the US embassy website for the visa interview appointment availability.
Kaestner said that the US government is taking a number of steps to clear this backlog as well as to reduce the time gap between applying for a visa interview appointment and granting of the interview.
GLOBAL MEET FOR BIHAR SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 19-21, 2007
The Institute for Human Development, New Delhi and The Bihar Times, Patna in collaboration with the Government of Bihar are organising Global Meet for a Resurgent Bihar from 19 to 21 January 2007 at Patna. The overall objective of the Meet is to bring together on one platform, leaders of industry and trade, policy makers, scholars, development practitioners, and social activists to explore opportunities and partnerships for playing effective roles towards the development of Bihar . The Meet shall enable individuals and organisations, concerned with development, to appreciate the situation and forge partnerships for undertaking various initiatives for the development of the state.
More than 500 persons from various parts of the world are expected to participate in the Meet. Mr Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar is the Chief Patron and Mr Sushil Kr Modi, Deputy Chief Minister, is the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Meet. Details of the Meet and information about online registration can be obtained from the website www.globalbiharmeet.com .
Those interested top attend may email confirmation of participation at global.bihar@gmail.com to Mr Prem Chandra, Administrative and Programme Manager, Institute for Human Development, 3rd Floor, NIDM Building, IIPA Campus, I.P. Estate, New Delhi 110 002 (Phone: +91-11-23358166 / 23321610; mobile: +91-9810705500) with a copy to Ms Sujata, The Bihar Times at globalmeet@bihartimes.com (phone: +91-612-2278048).
THE FOURTH PARVASI PUNJABI DIVAS SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 11, 2007
The Govt. of Punjab, NRI Affairs Dept. & the International Punjabi Chamber for Service Industry (IPCSI) have planned the 4th Parvasi Punjabi Divas on Thursday, the 11th January, 2007 at Hotel Mount view, Chandigarh .
Chief Ministers of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, J&K, Administrator Chandigarh U.T, leading Corporate, eminent NRIs, investors, entrepreneurs, developers and other eminent dignitaries are expected to attend the Conference.
The Conference will provide a unique opportunity for exploring avenues for investment, joint collaboration and partnership with Indian corporate and state governments. It will be an excellent forum for business networking.
For more details, you may visit www.ipcsi.org or contact Dr Gulshan Sharma, Secretary General NRI Affairs, IPCSI, by email at invitation@ipcsi.org.
MALAYSIA ALLOWS OUTSIDERS TO BUY PROPERTY
Indians and other foreigners can now hope to buy an
offshore home away from their country. Malaysia, My Second Home program is
being promoted by the Government in Kuala Lumpur, which allows people from all
over the world who fulfill certain criteria to stay in Malaysia as long as
possible on a social visit pass. The Tourism Malaysia director, Roslan Abdullah said, Nature
lovers could spend their life in this natural paradise initially for a period
of ten years which could be renewed further.
INDIANS FORM LONDON S LARGEST GROUP
Official figures for the thriving British capital London which is home to 7.3 million people show that people born in India outnumber those from any other country living there. Indian-born Londoners numbered 206,000 in the three months ending June this year, said the Office of National Statistics 14, which is responsible for producing economic and social statistics, registering life events and building the decennial population census. It said, the figures represented a great leap forward in the number of Indian Londoners from 1997 when 144,000 India-born residents were living there. This year, the Irish are trailing both Indian and Bangladeshi Londoners in the population table. The number of British-born Londoners has fallen by 150,000, they still number more than five million.
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), Dr. Piyush Agrawal (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
Visit GOPIOs Official site at www.gopio.net or www.gopio.com