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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 20, 2026 | The Indian Eye 26

American Punjabi Society Honors

Padma Bhushan Sant Singh Chatwal with

Punjabi Ratan Award 2026

Mint and Pearl Appreciation Dinner, Punjabi Ratan Award Ceremony, and Gary S. Sikka’s

Birthday Celebrated at Pearl Banquet Hall Harry Singh Bolla presents medal; Ed Cox presents

trophy; Gary and Babli Sikka present commemorative plaque

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY
n evening of appreciation,
recognition and celebration
Abrought together business
leaders, physicians, philanthropists
and members of the Indian-Amer-
ican community at Pearl Banquet
Hall on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The gathering combined three occa-
sions: a Mint and Pearl Appreciation
Dinner thanking customers, business
associates and friends; the American
Punjabi Society (APS) presentation
of its Punjabi Ratan Award 2026 to
Padma Bhushan Sant Singh Chatwal;
and a birthday celebration for Gary S.
Sikka, owner of Mint and Pearl and
Global President and CEO of APS.
Distinguished guests included
Harry Singh Bolla, founder and CEO
of Bolla Oil Corporation, APS Patron
and inaugural recipient of the Pun-
jabi Ratan Award in 2025; Ed Cox,
Chairman of the New York Republi-
can State Committee and an attorney
with a longstanding record of public
service; Dr. Krishan Kumar, Presi-
dent-Elect of the American Associ-
ation of Physicians of Indian Origin
(AAPI); Kamal Dandona, Chairman
of the Bollywood Group of Compa-
nies and founder of the Bollywood
Awards; Dr. Pailla Malla Reddy,
pharmaceutical entrepreneur and
founder of Bactolac Pharmaceutical
Inc. and ScieGen Pharmaceuticals;
and Naveen C. Shah, President and
CEO of Navika Capital Group, a hos- an opportunity to thank customers, about learning the business from his Sant Singh Chatwal’s international
pitality and real estate entrepreneur. business associates and friends for father and thanked him for his guid- hospitality career and contributions
Mohinder S. Taneja, Senior Vice their continued loyalty and support— ance. He closed by wishing everyone to India–United States relations, and
President of APS, introduced Rubal whether through celebrating family light, health and happiness for Diwali. recognized Harry Singh Bolla as the
Sikka, Managing Director of Mint milestones at the venues, recom- Gary S. Sikka welcomed the gath- award’s first recipient in 2025. Sikka
Restaurant and Pearl Banquet Hall mending them to others or returning ering and spoke about the purpose of thanked the selection board, directors,
and CEO of Storytellers Entertain- to enjoy a meal. the Punjabi Ratan Award: recogniz- organizers, volunteers and supporters
ment Company. Rubal opened the Rubal also offered a personal ing outstanding individuals of Punjabi who helped bring the ceremony to-
evening with Diwali greetings on tribute to his father, Gary S. Sikka, de- heritage whose achievements, leader- gether, while reaffirming APS’s com-
behalf of Mint and Pearl, explaining scribing him as “a great teacher, and ship, philanthropy and service inspire mitment to cultural heritage and com-
that the Appreciation Dinner was a loving father.” He spoke warmly the wider community. He praised Continued on next page... >>

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