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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | The Indian Eye 20

GOPiO, aaPi, aia, nFia & aSEi Jointly host Discussion on the Book,

“kamala harris and the rise of indian americans”

nity development, mobilization and the World of Science” presented how
promoting the diverse interests such Indian Americans have come to lead
as education, political involvement, research and scientific innovations
entrepreneurship, business and ser- across the United States.
vice industry are covered in this new The importance and high es-
book,” Dr. Abraham said. teem with which physicians of Indian
While acknowledging the success heritage are held by their patients is
story of Indian American physicians, self-evident, as they occupy critical
Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, President positions in the healthcare, research
of AAPI said, “The success story of and administrative policy positions
Indian American Doctors has been across America, including the nom-
arduous. As Ajay Ghosh, who has ination of the US Surgeon-General,
been working for AAPI for nearly Dr. Vivek Murthy.
a decade has aptly summarized this In his presentation, Ajay Ghosh
long and difficult journey: “While In- who has portrayed the rise of the In-
dian American physicians play a criti- dian American physicians as a strong
cal role, serving millions of patients in and influential force in the United
the United States, leading the policies States, chronicling their long journey
and programs that impact the lives of to the United States and their success
millions today, it has been a long and (Clockwise from left): GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, GOPIO Academic Council Chair story, in a Chapter titled, “Physicians
arduous journey of struggles and hard and Sanchi university Vice Chancellor Neerja Arun Gupta and Book Editor Tarun Basu of Indian Heritage: America’s Heal-
work to be on the top of the pyramid.” ers” spoke about the four distinct
Dr. Gotimukula pointed out, areas, he has covered in the book:
“Indian American Doctors, who have Indian American Physicians Being
been recognized for their compas- recognized as Covid Warriors who
sion, skills, expertise and skills in car- work as frontline healthcare workers
ing for their patients, leading research treating millions of patients: Initial
that brings solutions to health issues struggles of Indian American Physi-
and at the table making policies that cians; Their Achievements; and, Con-
benefit the world, are at the at the tributions to Healthcare in India and
forefront around the world as shining the United States.
examples of meeting the needs of the After the presentation by the
hour.” She congratulated Tarun Basu, authors, a question/answer session
Shobit Arya and the 16 veteran jour- followed and was moderated by the
nalists who have contributed to the co-host and Chair of the GOPIO Aca-
book. demic Council Dr. Neerja Arun Gup-
Dr. Ravi Kolli, President-Elect ta who is currently the Vice Chancel-
of AAPI spoke about how the Covid Dr. Thomas Abraham and former Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan lor, Sanchi University for Buddhist
pandemic has impacted all and how and Indic Studies. A few quest5iiobn
the physician community who has Ajoy Dube said, “National Federa- Dr. Urmilesh Arya, President related to Indian community groups’
borne the brunt of this epidemic is tion of Indian American Associations of Association of Indians in Ameri- relations with India with government
coping with the stress and the nega- (NFIA), the largest non-profit um- ca (AIA) spoke about the objectives of India. The organizers said that the
tive effects, while providing critical brella organization of Indian associa- and activities by AIA for the past community groups work closely with
care to people diagnosed with Covid tion, established in 1980, aims to unify several decades. “AIA is a grass root Indian missions for India’s and com-
virus. Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Treasur- the diverse Indian American commu- national organization of Indian immi- munity interest, however, groups have
er of AAPI and Dr. Sampat Shivangi, nity by coordinating and promoting grants in the United States, fostered also been critical, when things were
President of Indo-American Political the activities of its member associa- on the democratic principles of “one not moving in India.
Forum and NFIA past presidents tions. NFIA has been in the forefront member one vote”, with chapters and Authors who have contributed to
Subash Razdan and Sudip Gorak- of activities in US-India relations for membership spread across the USA.” the Book include: former Indian am-
sharkar were others who had joined over four decades.” Journalist Arun Kumar who bassadors TP Sreenivasan and Arun
in the discussions. Describing the many contribu- wrote a Chapter in the Book on “All K. Singh; Deepak Raj, chairman
Former Ambassador TK Srini- tions and objectives of ASEI, Piyush the President’s People: Trust in the of Pratham USA; businessman Raj
vasan, who had served as the Deputy Malik, the current president said, Corridors of Power” spoke about the Gupta; hotelier Bijal Patel; Pradeep
Indian Ambassador to the US and as “Since its inception in 1983, ASEI has increasing number of Indian Ameri- Khosla, Chancellor of UC San Di-
Governor of India to the Internation- strived to strengthen the Indo-Ameri- cans how have come to occupy critical ego; scholar-professor Maina Chawla
al Atomic Agency in Vienna, shared can relationship, institute a channel of roles in the US administration, start- Singh; Sujata Warrier, Chief Strategy
with the audience, his own experienc- communication between technical or- ing with President Ronald Regan and Officer for the Battered Women’s
es with the Indian Diaspora and how ganizations within the United States currently having as many as 50 Desis, Justice Project; Shamita Das Dasgup-
they have contributed to the larger and abroad, lend a helping hand to who occupy important positions in ta, co-founder of Manavi; and jour-
goals of cementing stronger relation- charitable organizations, provide as- the Biden administration. nalists Arun Kumar, Mayank Chha-
ship between India and the United sistance to engineering students at the Mayank Chaya, another author ya, Suman Guha Mozumder, Ajay
States. Local and National levels, and orga- who wrote on: “At the Center of Ex- Ghosh, Vikrum Mathur, and Laxmi
In his remarks, NFIA President nize networking events.” cellence: Seminal Contributions in Parthasarathy.

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