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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 06, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 20

                      GOPIO-CT Launches 20th Anniversary

             Celebrations and Marks India’s Republic Day

            OUR BUREAU
            Stamford, CT
                  he Connecticut Chapter of the
                  Global Organization of People
            Tof Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT)
            officially  launched  its  20th  Anniver-
            sary celebrations with a planning
            meeting  held  on  January  24,  2026,
            followed by a special program com-
            memorating India’s Republic Day.
                During the meeting, members
            outlined plans for a 20th Anniversary
            Awards Banquet to be held in Spring
            2026.  GOPIO-CT,  one  of  the  most
            active  chapters among GOPIO’s
            100-plus  chapters  worldwide,  was
            inaugurated  on  March  24,  2006,  in
            the presence of then U.S. Congress-
            man Christopher Shays and A. R.
            Ghanashyam, then Deputy Consul
            General of India in New York.
                Over the years, GOPIO-CT has   GOPIO-CT Trustees, Executive Committee, and Board Members with Senator Dr. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox and singer Srinivas Gunupuru, who were pre-
            supported more than a dozen char-  sented with commemorative First Day Covers issued by the U.S. Postal Service for the first GOPIO Convention in 1989. From l. to r.: Deepender Gupta,
            itable  organizations  in  Connecticut,   Nandu Kuppuswamy, Past President Shailesh Naik, Jayashri Chintalapudi, Singer Gunupuru, Senator Dr. Gadkar-Wilcox, President Mahesh Jhangiani,
            sponsored fundraising efforts for the
            Bennett Cancer Center to assist can-  Vice President Sonali Gannu, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Meera Banta, Manish Maheshwari, Secretary Mirat Joshi, Prasad Chintalapudi and Anita Mathur
            cer  patients  and  their  families,  and
            regularly hosted soup kitchens at the   tutional Law at Quinnipiac Universi-
            New Covenant Center in Stamford.  ty, who delivered a talk titled “India’s
            A  20th  Anniversary  Celebration   Constitution and Its Significance.”
            Committee was formed, with Sec-      “India’s Constitution is among
            retary  Mirat  Joshi  appointed  as  its   the most remarkable in the world,”
            Chairman.                         Senator Gadkar-Wilcox said. “It
                Following the planning session,  uniquely  integrates  civil  and  politi-
            attendees observed India’s Republic   cal rights with social and economic
            Day with the playing of the Indian   rights  through Fundamental Rights
            national anthem and a Republic Day   and Directive Principles. Drafted
            address by Dr. Thomas Abraham,  under global scrutiny, its architects—
            Chairman of GOPIO International.  most notably Dr. B. R. Ambedkar—
            Dr.  Abraham  reflected  on  India’s   drew upon lived experiences while
            democratic journey, noting that at   thoughtfully incorporating elements
            the  time  of  independence  in  1947   from other constitutional traditions,
            and the adoption of the Constitution   including those of the United States
            in  1950,  many  doubted  whether  In-  and Ireland.”
            dia—grappling with poverty, illiter-  She added that the Constituent
            acy, and social divisions—could sus-  Assembly  Debates  reflect  the  plu-
            tain itself as a democratic republic.  ralism and diversity of thought that
               “India not only withstood those   shaped the Constitution. Her pre-
            challenges,” Dr. Abraham said, “but   sentation was followed by a lively
            emerged as the world’s largest func-  and  engaging  question-and-answer   Connecticut State Senator Prof. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox addressing attendees at the GOPIO-CT
            tioning democracy. India’s journey   session.
            over the past 76 years has been like   The program concluded with                           Republic Day Celebration.
            iron  tested  in  fire—emerging  stron-  patriotic songs performed by vocalist
            ger—and the nation will continue   Srinivas Gunupuru. The event was   and global engagement of people of   tural, educational, and youth-fo-
            to progress as a major player in the   chaired by GOPIO-CT President   Indian origin, GOPIO is a non-prof-  cused programs; facilitating dialogue
            global economy.”                  Mahesh Jhangiani, while Secretary   it, non-partisan, and secular organi-  with policymakers and thought lead-
                Dr.  Abraham  then  introduced   Mirat Joshi delivered the closing re-  zation. For more than two decades,   ers;  and  collaborating  with  partner
            Connecticut State Senator Dr. Sujata   marks and vote of thanks.    GOPIO-CT has remained a highly    organizations to strengthen commu-
            Gadkar-Wilcox, Professor of Consti-   Founded to advance the interests   active chapter, organizing civic, cul-  nity engagement and public service.

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