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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 17, 2026 | The Indian Eye 20

Indian Diaspora Center Hosts 2026

Annual Symposium on the topic,

Indian TV – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

OUR BUREAU
Elmont, NY
he Indian Diaspora Center
at the Dr. Thomas Abraham
TLibrary, in collaboration with
the Global Organization of People of
Indian Origin–Manhattan Chapter
(GOPIO-Manhattan) and the Indian
American Kerala Cultural and Civic
Center, hosted its 2026 Annual Sym-
posium on Sunday, June 28, at the
Kerala Center in Elmont, New York.
The symposium, “Indian Televi-
sion – Yesterday, Today and Tomor-
row,” brought together distinguished
veterans of Indian television and
journalism for an engaging panel dis-
cussion and interactive session. The
panel featured former Doordarshan
news presenters Sheila Chaman and
Ramu Damodaran, former Indian
Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan, who
currently hosts the television program
Around and Inside on Asianet TV,
and Sree Sreenivasan, noted digital
media expert, journalism professor,
host of the Sunday NYT Readalong,
and co-founder of the South Asian
Journalists Association (SAJA).
The program began with a net-
working tea and coffee reception,
followed by opening remarks from
Kerala Center President Alex Esthap-
pan, who welcomed the audience and
expressed pride in the Kerala Center
serving as the home of the Dr. Thomas
Abraham Library and the Indian Di- India and its diaspora more accessible portunities, giving viewers a genuine remarked that the evolution from a
aspora Center. to the public. choice in what they could watch.” single government broadcaster to a
Dr. Thomas Abraham, Found- As June 28 also marked the birth Damodaran noted that Prime vibrant and diverse media ecosystem
er of the Indian Diaspora Center, anniversary of former Indian Prime Minister Rao recognized India’s mirrored India’s broader economic
spoke about the Center’s mission to Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, the greatest strength as its vast reservoir of and social transformation unleashed
preserve the history, achievements, symposium began with a special trib- human talent and professional skills. by the reforms of the early 1990s.
and contributions of the global Indi- ute delivered by Ramu Damodaran, Economic liberalization, he said, was Damodaran further observed,
an diaspora. He noted that the Cen- who had served in Prime Minister driven by the belief that Indians, both “Mr. Rao was perhaps the first Indian
ter houses an extensive collection of Rao’s office before joining the United at home and abroad, should have Prime Minister to fully appreciate how
books and publications on the Indian Nations. greater opportunities to innovate, effortlessly the United States attracted
diaspora, alongside works on India Paying tribute to the late Prime compete, and realize their full po- and benefited from the world’s finest
and Indian civilization. Dr. Abraham Minister, Damodaran observed, “P. V. tential. By opening the economy and minds. He believed that, irrespective
also highlighted GOPIO’s initiative to Narasimha Rao is rightly remembered expanding the media landscape, Rao of politics, India should learn from
establish India Collections in public for launching India’s economic liber- helped lay the foundation for India’s that example by creating an environ-
libraries across the New York metro- alization. Equally significant, however, emergence as a global center for tech- ment where talent could flourish and
politan area through book donations was his commitment to liberalizing the nology, entrepreneurship, and com- innovation could thrive.”
from the Consulate General of India human mind. One visible expression munications. Moderator Sree Sreenivasan
and members of the Indian American of that vision was opening Indian tele- Reflecting on the transforma- then introduced veteran Doordarshan
community, making information on vision to new channels and new op- tion of Indian television, Damodaran Continued on next page... >>

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