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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | The Indian Eye 28

IACA Honors Late Natu Patel’s Legacy

With Lifetime Achievement Award

The Indo-American Cultural Association of Edison paid tribute to its former president and

trustee for more than three decades of community service.

NEERAJ DHAR
FORDS, N.J.
he Indo-American Cultural
Association of Edison, New
TJersey, honoured the legacy
of its former president and trustee,
the late Natu Patel, with a Lifetime
Achievement Award at a memorial
evening held at the Royal Albert Pal-
ace in Fords.
The event brought together phy-
sicians, pharmacists, community or-
ganisers, organisational leaders and recalled Patel’s contribution to the by Bipin Parekh of Gujarat Sam-
members of the Indian-American com- Indian-American community. aj NJ, Kaushik Vyas of Royal Rice,
munity from across the tri-state area The Sonalee Vyas Dance Com- Manish Parikh of the Taxi & Limo
to remember Patel’s more than three pany presented a dance showcase, Association, Prakash Patel of ICS of
decades of service and leadership. while musicians Azam Ali Khan and Union, NJ, Harish Vyas of Saptak
The evening was led by IACA Bina Kadarkhan of the Kalavant Group and Mukesh Kashiwala, a vol-
Trustee, pharmacist and commu- Center for Music & Dance in New unteer with Dwarkadhish Temple. role played by earlier generations of
nity leader Girish Soni, along with York performed musical renditions. An Appreciation Award was also Indian-American leaders in building
Pushpa Patel, wife of the late Chair- A series of speakers paid tribute presented to FISANA in memory of institutions and fostering cultural
man Dr. Rasikbhai Patel. Ronak to Patel’s leadership and community the late Natu Patel. The award was and community ties in New Jersey.
Jani served as emcee, while Trustee service. Those offering tributes in- accepted on behalf of the family by The event also reflected the as-
Krishnakant Sangani provided event cluded physicians Dr. Harish Bhatt, Mina Patel, Dhawal Patel and Deval sociation’s continuing effort to rec-
direction. Youth volunteer Aayush- Dr. Mukesh Solanki and Dr. Manoj Patel, alongside FISANA Secretary ognise individuals whose service has
man Jani handled backstage techni- Desai; pharmacist Manu Parikh; Yogesh Trivedi and past FISANA contributed to the development of
cal operations, including audio and community leaders Nalin Shah and presidents and committee members. the Indian-American community
video production. Nilesh Dasandi; Edison Council- The gathering also provided an across the region.
Nitin Vyas, who spearheaded the man Patil; AIA Past President Uma opportunity for friends, family and
event’s organisational leadership, co- Swaminathan; Mahesh Wani of the community members to reconnect About IACA
ordination and direction, was also Gandhian Society; Mukund Parikh of and share memories of Patel. At- The Indo-American Cultur-
recognised for his efforts in bringing the Indo-American Council of Senior tendees were served a specially cu- al Association of Edison, NJ, is a
the programme together. Citizens of Edison; Rajen Shah of rated plant-based dinner as part of non-profit organisation dedicated
The memorial evening featured Swajan; Yoga Guru Vijay Trivedi; and the evening programme. to preserving Indian heritage, sup-
cultural performances, musical pre- senior community leaders G.K. Pa- Through the memorial, IACA porting community welfare and fos-
sentations and tributes from commu- tel, Bhagwat Patel and Ratilal Patel. highlighted Patel’s longstanding con- tering cultural harmony across the
nity leaders and professionals who Additional tributes were shared tribution to the community and the tri-state area.

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