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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                               AUGUST 28, 2026      |  The Indian Eye 26

                              GOPIO Celebrates Indian

                          Independence Day with Flag

              Hoisting Ceremony at Govt. Center

            OUR BUREAU
            Stamford, CT
                  he Global Organization of
                  People  of  Indian  Origin–
            TConnecticut Chapter (GO-
            PIO-CT) commemorated India’s
            Independence  Day  on  August  15
            with a flag-hoisting ceremony at the
            Stamford Government Center, cel-
            ebrating India’s 79th Independence
            Day and the enduring contributions
            of Indian Americans to Connecticut
            and the United States.
                The chief guest was Connecti-
            cut State Senator Bob Duff, Senate
            Majority  Leader.  Also  attending
            were Janeene Freeman, Director of
            Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and
            representative of Stamford Mayor
            Caroline Simmons; Nitin Mhatre,
            President  and  CEO  of  First  Coun-
            ty Bank; Pilar Pelaez, President of
            the Stamford Mayor’s Multicultural
            Council; GOPIO leaders; communi-
            ty  representatives; and members of
            the Indian-American community.
                During the ceremony, the Amer-
            ican flag was raised by Senator Duff
            as the U.S. national anthem was sung.
            This was followed by the singing of                            First County Bank President Nitin Mhatre raising Indian flag
            the Indian national anthem and the
            raising of the Indian tricolor by Nitin   Independence Day Luncheon    comed the attendees and expressed   He further spoke about the re-
            Mhatre.  The  Connecticut  state  flag      and Lecture             appreciation  to  the  elected  officials,  cent launch of the GOPIO Chamber
            was raised by Janeene Freeman.        Following  the  flag-hoisting  cer-  community  leaders,  sponsors,  volun-  of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)–
                Following   the   flag-hoisting,  emony, attendees gathered at the   teers, and members of the community   Connecticut Chapter at the Connecti-
            Senator  Duff  and  Ms.  Freeman  ad-  Hampton Inn & Suites for a luncheon   who  participated  in  the  celebration.  cut  State  Capitol.  The  chapter  was
            dressed the gathering and praised   and an address by Dr. Sunil Purush-  Dr.  Thomas  Abraham,  Chair-  launched following the signing of the
            GOPIO-CT for organizing programs   otham, Associate Professor of Histo-  man of GOPIO International and an   Connecticut-India Trade Commission
            that preserve and celebrate Indian   ry at Fairfield University. A historian   Advisor and Trustee of GOPIO-CT,  legislation by Governor Lamont. Dr.
            heritage while strengthening the   of  modern  South  Asia,  Dr.  Purush-  highlighted GOPIO’s longstanding   Abraham encouraged Indian-Amer-
            community’s engagement with the   otham’s research focuses on the his-  international  presence.  Founded  in   ican small and medium-sized busi-
            broader Stamford and Connecticut   tory of sovereignty and democracy in   New York in 1989, GOPIO has grown   ness  owners, entrepreneurs, and
            community.                        India, Indian political thought, and   into a global organization with more   professional practitioners to become
                The ceremony brought togeth-  global  intellectual  history.  His  book,  than 100 chapters in over 30 countries.  involved with GCCI, emphasizing
            er  elected  officials,  community   From  Raj  to  Republic:  Sovereignty,   Dr.  Abraham  also  highlighted   its potential to connect businesses
            leaders, business representatives,  Violence and Democracy in India,  the recent establishment of the Con-  and professionals locally, national-
            and Indian American community     was published by Stanford University   necticut-India Trade Commission,  ly, globally, and with India. He also
            and friends to honor India’s inde-  Press in 2021.                  legislation for which was signed by   introduced  GCCI Treasurer  Prasad
            pendence while celebrating the        Sushanth  Krishnamurthy,  Chair   Governor  Ned  Lamont.  He  noted   Chintalapudi.
            diversity, democratic values, and   of the GOPIO-CT Independence    that  GOPIO  had  played  an  import-  A central message of the celebra-
            shared aspirations that connect the   Day Program, opened the luncheon   ant role in supporting the legislation,  tion was that Indian Americans can
            Indian-American community with    program and introduced GOPIO-CT   including by providing testimony in   be “proud to be Americans and proud
            the United States.                President Mahesh Jhangiani, who wel-  support of the initiative.           Continued on next page... >>

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