Page 18 - The Indian EYE 021425

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 14, 2025 | The Indian Eye 18

GOPIO International Team Sworn in with Community

Leader Prakash Shah as the New President

(From left to right): Prakash Shah, Umesh Chandra, Kewal Kanda, J. Nami Kaur, Ishwar Ramlutchman and Dhiraj Ahuja

OUR BUREAU and the thrust has been to promote and involve the er and president of GOPIO Qld and serves as a
Indian Diaspora in the larger society and local com- Trustees of GOPIO Queensland.
New York, NY
munities wherever they live,” said Dr. Abraham.
lobal Organization of People of Indian Outgoing president Lal Motwani spoke on Vice President – Kewal Kanda
Origin (GOPIO) conducted its election the activities done during his term and thanked his Kewal Kanda retired from Boeing Company
Glast month and the new team was sworn in team members. Dr. Abraham then administered after 26 years of service as production planner,
on January 31st at a virtual Zoom ceremony with the Oath of Office. principal analyst and planning manager. Commu-
veteran community leader from New Jersey Mr. In his acceptance speech, President Prakash nity service being his passion he is a member of
Prakash Shah as its president. Prakash Shah, former Shah said, “It is my ambition to try and activate many non-profit community organizations such
Chairman of New Jersey Development Authority, those regions and Chapters which are not active as Founder of Rajput Association of America
has been a Founder Life member from GOPIO now so that GOPIO does become a functioning (1984), Founder president of GOPIO-LA Chap-
inception in 1989 and was serving as the Glob- Network for the 38 million strong India Diaspora, ter, Treasurer of GOPIO International, and Pres-
al Ambassador and later as the Convener of the We need many Young Leaders to get involved in ident FIA-SC.
GOPIO Convention 2024 in New Jersey in his last the GOPIO to take GOPIO to a New Level. We Global Ambassador –
term. Others sworn in at the ceremony are media will officially relaunch GOPIO Chamber of Com- Nami Kaur, Yonkers, New York, USA
and community leader Mr. Umesh Chandra from merce and Industry (GCCI) in different parts of
Brisbane, Australia as Executive Vice President; the world. We are having our next Convention in J. Nami Kaur successfully completed her 32-
Los Angeles area community leader Kewal Kan- Brisbane, Australia March 28-30 2025 under the year Corporate professional career in Technology,
da as Vice President, and former IBM official and leadership of Umesh Chandra. Marketing and Communications at IBM. Since
New York Social Activist Ms. Jasbir “Nami” Kaur After the Oath ceremony, all elected officials 2009, she has had been actively engaged in the
as Global Ambassador. Also elected were Inter- spoke briefly on their plans for GOPIO. Many Non-Profit Sector, donating her time and skills
national Coordinators for Africa Mr. Ishwar Ram- GOPIO chapter presidents and other communi- pro-bono to New York Botanical Garden, Chil-
latchman and for South Asia Mr. Dhiraj Ahuja, ty leaders made remarks complimenting the new dren’s Hope India, Riveredge Cooperative Board,
The election was conducted according to the officials. and GOPIO (Global Organization of People of In-
GOPIO bylaws by a four-member committee ap- President – Prakash Shah, dian Origin).
pointed by the GOPIO Executive Council. It was Somerset, New Jersey, USA International Coordinator for Africa –
headed by Mr. Mridul Pathak along with Mr. Ishwar Ramlutchman, Durban, South Africa
Dinesh Mittal, Mr. Manohar Dev and Mr. Prashant Prakash Shah has been involved in Founding
Gupta providing technical support and was under a number of Leading Community Organizations Philanthropist and Humanitarian Prince Ish-
the supervision of GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas including Global Organization for the People of war Ramlutchman (Mabheka Zulu) has received
Abraham. The election was conducted for the po- Indian Origin (GOPIO), Asian American Hotel many awards. He is the first person of Indian Or-
sition Vice President using eballot.com platform. Owners Association (AAHOA), National Federa- igin to foster relations with the Largest African
All other positions were elected unanimously. tion of Indian American Associations (NFIA) and Tribe and become part of Zulu Royal Family. He
Since the officers come from the different the NYC based India Chamber of Commerce of is a former Executive VP of GOPIO International
continents of the world, the oath ceremony was America (ICCA). and the President and Founder of the Sivananda
conducted virtually and started with a universal Executive Vice President – World Peace Foundation.
prayer by Ms. Devika Gadhavi, who is a young pro- Umesh Chandra, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia International Coordinator for South Asia –
fessional working in New York City. Dr. Thomas Dhiraj Ahuja, New Delhi, India
Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International wel- Umesh Chandra is highly respected nationally
comed the participants from all continents and pro- and internationally. He was awarded OAM -the A self-made businessman, Dhiraj Ahuja has
vided a brief introduction to the birth of GOPIO highest civilian honour in Australia, in 2020. He an international network throughout globe and is
and many of its achievements in the last 36 years. is a founder member and board of trustee of the a member of Indian Press Club. He has been work-
“GOPIO chapters around the world have been Queensland Multicultural Council and serves on ing effectively as President of GOPIO-Delhi/NCR
doing a lot of organizational groundwork in many the police ethnic advisory group and Lord Mayors Chapter. Dhiraj is associated with a few prominent
countries to promote leadership in public service Multicultural round table. He has been the found- NGOs as well as business houses.

www.TheIndianEYE.com