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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 16, 2023 | The Indian Eye 20

Rahul Gandhi honors IOC USA Vice Chairman

George Abraham with Lifetime Achievement Award

OUR BUREAU He has completed 55 years in the
U.S. and kept his Indian citizenship.
New York, NY
In the U.S., too, he held the ideals of
ndian Overseas Congress Vice the Congress Party in his heart. Con-
Chair George Abraham, one of gress leaders who visited the U.S.
Ithe founders of the Congress or- were always welcomed by him and
ganization in America a quarter of received his hospitality. It was in the
a century ago, received the Lifetime late 90s that he, along with a few oth-
Achievement Award from Rahul ers from Kerala, came forward with
Gandhi in a rare honor. the idea of setting up an organization
The event was the IOC reception to support the party.
of Rahul Gandhi at the Terrace on During a visit of former Chief
Park in Queens, New York, on June 3, Minister Oommen Chandy in 1988,
ahead of his public meeting on June the former Kerala chief minister, an
4. To everyone’s surprise, IOC Glob- organization called ‘Indian Overseas
al Chair Sam Pitroda announced the Congress’ was launched. It is to be
honor and invited Rahul Gandhi to noted that the first planning meeting
present the plaque that lauded his for the organization was held at his
vision and commitment to the orga- house in New York. Later, it grew
nization. to become a national organization
The 300-plus party supporters known as INOC. Sonia Gandhi, for-
in the audience greeted it with thun- mer AICC President, inaugurated
derous applause. It was a proud mo- the organization upon her visit to the
ment for Abraham, who started his U.S. on June 25, 2001.
association with the Congress Party The award was a befitting rec-
during his school days. He worked ognition for a person for his vision,
in ‘All Kerala Balajana Sakhyam’ (a dedication, and hard work. His wife,
youth organization) and became the Lona Abraham, too, worked side by
state treasurer. Later he worked in side with him for the organization.
the Kerala Students Union (KSU) Abraham retired as a Chief tech-
before moving to the U.S. nology officer at the United Nations.

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