Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 20 - The Indian EYE 080726
P. 20

    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                               AUGUST 07, 2026      |  The Indian Eye 20

                          Historic DAR Constitution Hall Event

            Showcases the Growing Leadership and Unity

                            of the Indian-American Community

            NEERAJ DHAR                       community and commending the  also attended the celebration. Their  engagement and create opportunities
                                              organizers for bringing together or-  participation  was  coordinated  by  for future generations.
            Washington, D.C.
                                              ganizations from across the country  Ambassador Pradeep Kapur.          Rajender Dichpally, Secretary
                    ore than 40 Indian-Amer-  to mark the occasion.                 Throughout the evening, speak-  of the Indian-American Committee,
                    ican organizations from       Congressman Raja Krishna-     ers highlighted the opportunities  highlighted the contributions Indian
            Macross the United States  moorthi, Congressional Co-Chair  America has provided to immigrants  Americans have made in medicine,
            came together under a single plat-  of the celebration, and Congress-  and acknowledged the contributions  technology, business, education, en-
            form to celebrate America’s 250th  man Shri Thanedar were among the  of Indian Americans in healthcare,  trepreneurship,  scientific  research,
            Anniversary at the historic DAR  Members of Congress who attended  technology, business, education, en-  defence, public service and philan-
            Constitution Hall in Washington,  the event.                        trepreneurship,  scientific  research,  thropy. He said the celebration rec-
            D.C., in what organizers described    Other distinguished guests in-  national security, public service and  ognized both America’s 250-year
            as a landmark event highlighting the  cluded Uttam Dhillon, former Act-  philanthropy.                journey and the role Indian Ameri-
            growing unity and leadership of the  ing Administrator of the U.S. Drug   Addressing the gathering, Ra-  cans continue to play in shaping the
            Indian-American community.        Enforcement  Administration  and  mesh Viswanath Kapur, Co-Founder  nation’s future.
                Organized by the Indian-Amer-  former Deputy Counsel and Dep-   and Co-Chair of the Indian-Ameri-     The cultural programme fea-
            ican Committee in partnership with  uty Assistant to President Donald  can Committee, emphasized the need  tured performances by Grammy
            over 40 organizations, the celebra-  Trump; Arjun Mody, Deputy Com-  to build a stronger and more positive  Award-winning singer Falu Shah and
            tion brought together Members of  missioner of the Social Security Ad-  public image for the Indian-Ameri-  her ensemble, the internationally ac-
            Congress, diplomats, senior govern-  ministration; Ashok Pinto, a senior  can community. He announced plans  claimed Penn Masala and a Bhangra
            ment officials, business leaders, phy-  technology executive who has served  to engage a professional public re-  dance troupe.
            sicians, veterans, academicians and  in leadership positions supporting the  lations firm to promote the achieve-  The event was emceed by Priya
            community leaders to commemorate  White House and the U.S. Congress;  ments of Indian Americans through  Samant and Anju Preet Poddar. Alok
            America’s enduring values of free-  former NASA Administrator Dr. Mi-  mainstream and digital media.  Srivastava coordinated the partici-
            dom, democracy and opportunity  chael  D.  Griffin;  global  aerospace   Dr. Suvas Desai, Co-Founder  pation of local organizations in the
            while  recognizing  the  contributions  leader Dr. Vivek Lall; internationally  of the Indian-American Committee,  Washington metropolitan area, while
            of Indian Americans to the country.  renowned oncologist Dr. Dattatreyu-  stressed the importance of bringing  Manish Sood of Intense Entertain-
                The event began with the Unit-  du Nori; American Association of  Indian-American organizations to-  ment served as Event Manager.
            ed States National Anthem sung by  Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)  gether under one umbrella to create   Organizers described the cele-
            Medha Shanbhag.                   President Dr. Meher Medavaram;  a unified voice capable of effectively  bration as one of the first major Indi-
                The audience also received video  Asian American Hotel Owners Asso-  advocating for community interests  an-American community-led events
            messages from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi  ciation (AAHOA) Chairman Rahul  and  strengthening  engagement  with  in the nation’s capital commemo-
            Shankar, Founder of the Art of Liv-  Patel; academic and business lead-  policymakers on Capitol Hill.  rating America’s 250th Anniversary.
            ing Foundation, and Sadhguru Jaggi  er Prof. Rajendra Srivastava; Indi-  Celebration Co-Chairs Narsim-  They said the participation of more
            Vasudev, both of whom emphasized  an American Veterans Association  ha Koppula and Deepak Raj reaf-   than 40 organizations representing
            the importance of unity, service and  Founder and President Chris Aryan;  firmed  the  Committee’s  commit-  diverse regions, languages, faiths,
            responsible citizenship. U.S. Sena-  and U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Pilot  ment to strengthening collaboration  professions and generations reflected
            tor Steve Daines sent a congratula-  Arun Ayyagari.                 among Indian-American organiza-   the growing unity, influence and civic
            tory  message  recognizing  the  con-  More than 15 serving and former  tions nationwide. They said greater  engagement of the Indian-American
            tributions of the Indian-American  ambassadors and senior diplomats  cooperation would help expand civic  community.

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 |