Atlanta’s Red carpet welcome for
Hon. Sanjiv Arora,
Consul-General of India in Houston
By Mahadev Desai
Pics.by Bharat Kotecha
The Indian-American community of Georgia was represented by
their respective leaders in full strength to meet and greet
India Consul General in Houston, Hon. Sanjiv Arora at the Palace
Restaurant on Saturday, December 13..
The Gandhi Foundation of USA (GFUSA) and the Asian American
Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) along with support from
numerous other organizations hosted the welcome luncheon
reception for Hon. Arora.
The Chairman of GFUSA, Subash Razdan who emceed the event,
greeted all and heartily welcomed the Consul General upon his
arrival. Hon Arora then patiently mingled with the guests. The
Executive Director, GFUSA, Antony Thaliath narrated, recalling
that when Hon. Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Government
of India, Vayalar Ravi was in Atlanta in July 2006, GFUSA in
collaboration with NFIA, had hosted a luncheon reception, when,
three Appeals/Resolutions/Petitions had been presented to him by
GFUSA. The petitions were for an independent India Consulate in
Atlanta, direct flight from Atlanta to India and for support by
the Government of India to GFUSA to spread the message of peace
and non-violence of Gandhiji across the world. On behalf of the
Indian American community in Georgia, Thaliath expressed his
thanks to the Govt. of India for its decision to open India
Consulate in Atlanta.(applause) and also its support for direct
flights between Atlanta and Mumbai by Delta Airlines.
He said that GFUSA, a national organization, now over 10 years
in existence, based in Atlanta, remains committed to spread the
message of peace and non-violence. In 1998, under the stellar
leadership of Razdan and the late Giriraj Rao, the Gandhi
Statue, the first statue on a Federal land in the USA, which
serves as a gateway for diversity in Atlanta was installed. The
life-size, resplendent statue attracts over a million visitors
from all over the world who come to express their love and
admiration, pay their respects and get inspiration from his
philosophy of non-violence and universal peace. (applause)
“GFUSA has many ambitious plans for the future including
launching a Gandhi Center in the proximity of Martin Luther King
Center and the Carter Center. The MLK Historic Site, presently
houses the King Center, the Gandhi Room and the Gandhi Statue.
Thaliath also referred to the recent historic celebration of the
passage of Senate (GA) Resolution 1248 (on Georgia-India
friendship) by the GFUSA and the Asian American Chamber of
Commerce of GA jointly with the help from Senator Judson Hill of
Georgia.
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with Ekal Vidyalaya members |
Razdan recognized President of Georgia Association of Physicians
of India, (GAPI) Dr. Pravin Patel who had come all the way from
Columbus, Georgia and invited him to address the gathering. Dr.
Patel said that GAPI, formed in 1987, has 600 members and serves
more than 1200 physicians in Georgia. It organizes health fairs,
projects on preventive health care and also provides merit and
need based scholarships for the youth.
Razdan recognized the Secretary of AAHOA, C.K. Patel who will in
the near future assume the coveted position of the Chairman.
AAHOA is the largest, richly endowed and most influential
organization nationally.
Razdan also recognized Global Mall owner and noted
philanthropist, Shiv Agarwal. “Global Mall, the largest
Indian-American mall in the nation has become a center of
attraction for frequent Indian and Asian American activities. He
has de facto created a flourishing India Center there”, quipped
Razdan.
Introducing India’s new Consul General to Houston, Chandrakant
Patel highlighted Hon. Arora’s credentials adding that Arora
joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1984 and has served in
various capacities in India –in Diplomatic Missions in Egypt ,
Saudi Arabia , Germany , Sri Lanka and Czechoslovakia
During1991-94, he dealt with Sri Lankan Affairs at the Foreign
Office. Arora is a graduate and MBA from Punjab University and
has briefly worked in the corporate sector and India’s Central
Bank before joining the Foreign Service.
Mrs. Sneha Mehta, a dedicated community activist, welcomed the
Consul General Arora with a floral bouquet.
In his brief remarks, soft spoken Arora said he felt very happy
to be visiting charming, vibrant, cosmopolitan City of Atlanta,
known for its southern hospitality and thanked the gathering for
its overwhelming hospitality. He requested all to observe a
minute’s silence for the innocent lives lost in the recent
Mumbai attack. He lauded the work done by Razdan and GFUSA
members in cementing the bond between the peoples of U.S. and
India and also legacies of Gandhi and Dr. King promoting
universal peace and brotherhood. “ It is befitting that on 15th
June 2007, U.N. General Assembly unanimously adopted a
resolution declaring 2nd October, the birth anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi, as the ‘International Day of Non-Violence,” he
said. He also referred to the recent Indo-U.S Civil Nuclear Deal
and the Senate (Georgia) Resolution 1248 (On Georgia-India
friendship). These show the strong and growing Indo-American
cooperation and friendship based on mutual benefit in trade, and
commerce, science, culture and field of education between the
two democratic and secular countries with pluralistic societies.
He alluded to the opening of the new Consulate office with a
staff of over 20 in Atlanta being a serious priority. He
concluded his speech by assuring the GFUSA and Indian community
in Georgia of his full support in implementing their goals.
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With IACA members |
A brief Q&A session following his speech covered broad based
issues from dealing with the aftermath of the terrorism, future
preparedness for similar attacks, to the deceptive coverage by
CNN showing map of India without Kashmir, and more responsive
and efficient handling of Visa and passport requests at the
Indian Consulate in Houston.
Razdan recognized and thanked dedicated volunteers, Mrs. Sneha
and Vasav Mehta, Organizing Secretary, and Asst. Treasurer
respectively of Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, S.E. region
for their help in organizing the event.
Razdan also recognized the media representatives and also Arun
and Manju Kothari of Palace Restaurant for sumptuous snacks and
luncheon.
Razdan concluded the welcome reception thanking Hon. Arora for
visiting Atlanta and wished him good luck in his new assignment.
The cross-section of the gathering of the community leaders
present at the luncheon once again reflected that the Indian
American community is vibrant, stands united and in solidarity
in the aftermath of Mumbai incident, while also striving for
improved Indo-Us ties!
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