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The San Diego Indian American Society
was founded on January 14, 1984 by Professor M. C. Madhavan with
the support of Mrs. and Mr. Arjun Waney, Mrs. and Dr. Maneck Wadia,
Mrs. and Mr. Harry Singh Jr., Mrs and Dr. Krishan Bharadwaj and
others with the objectives of:
(a) establishing Mahatma Gandhi
Memorial Scholarship to recognize Gandhiji’s contribution to the
world and to benefit San Diego area high school graduates;
(b) undertaking projects to serve
people in India and San Diego;
(c) recognizing meritorious service
to the society by an individual in any field in the United States
and in India;
(d) furthering the relations
between India and the United States. The Society has tax-exempt
status under section 501 (c) (3) of the IRS code on May 5, 1986.
Dr. Sanjay Jha,
Chief Operating Officer, Qualcomm is the President of the Society
since January 2005 and Mr. Mukesh Assomull, partner, Arlen
Capital, Vice-president.
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Mahatma Gandhi Lecture and
Scholarship Awards
Every year since 1984, the Society
has organized Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lecture and Scholarship award
function. World renowned scientists (Jonas Salk, Roger Revelle,
Herb York, Inder Verma, and V. Ramanathan), Pandit Ravi Sankar,
Indian Ambassadors and American Diplomats, Gandhiji’s grandson, Arun
Gandhi, Professor C.K. Prahalad, United States Congressmen and
Congresswoman and elected officials have delivered
the memorial lectures and leaders of San Diego community have
participated in them. To date, over 350 area high school graduates
have received U.S. Congressional Certificates recognizing them as
Mahatma Gandhi Scholars and cash awards of up to $ 4000 each. In
2006, Ambassador Nirupam Sen, India’s Permanent
Representative at the United Nations, New York delivered the Mahatma
Gandhi memorial address. In 2007, Ambassador Jeff Davidow,
President, Institute of the Americas and Career Ambassador, US State
Department delivered the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial address. A total of
37 students in both years received cash awards of $75,000. These are
funded by the interest earned from the trust fund and annual
contributions made by Indian Americans. The typical recipient of
the award had a GPA over 4.0 and SAT score over 1400 and was
selected from the students nominated by the high schools in San
Diego County. The Chairs of the Awards committee were Dr. P. K.
Patel (1984 - 1989), Dr. Shyam Inamati (1990 – 1994), Dr. Purna Patnaik
(1994 - 2004), Dr. Manmohan Trivedi (2005 - 2006) and Dr Ramesh Rao (2007 - Present).
Mahatma Gandhi scholarship is
unique in the sense that it was perhaps the first time an immigrant
community in California established scholarships for the benefit of
all, irrespective of their origin. This has brought recognition to
Indian American community. To date, nearly 75 persons have
contributed to the trust fund ranging from $11 to over $30,000,
including those from Judy and Arjun Waney, Fiona and Dr. Samjay
Jha. Priya and Mukesh Assomul, Dr. John Kapoor of Chicago, Lata and
Ashok Israni, Harry Singh Jr, Dr.M.C. and Nacha Madhavan, Kanta and
Dr.P.K. Patel, Francoise and Salim Shah, Vera and Anil Kriplani,
Krishna and Bonnie Arora, Gloria and Datta Walavalkkar and
Sonu Advani. The trust fund now stands at over $240,000. We
need to increase the trust fund to make it easier for succeeding
generations to continue this worthwhile activity.
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Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship for
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Students
The Society has begun a new program
since 2005 to support students from families without college
education who have very good potential to succeed in furthering
their educational objectives. This project is implemented with
assistance from San Diego County Office of Education. Dr. P.K. Patel
is the chair of the selection committee with Dr. Bharat Lal, Dr. M.C.
Madhavan and Mr. Jugesh Saxena as members this year. Each student
will receive $4,000. To-date, we have helped 11 students under this
program.
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The Chakra Award
It is an award given to an
individual or a group by the Society for channeling one’s energy to
achieve distinction in the chosen field of endeavor and to
contribute to the betterment of humankind in general, India and
United States in particular.
The first Chakra Award saluted the
pioneers of India Origin posthumously, honoring Paramahansa
Yogananda, Congressman Dalip Singh Saund and Harry Singh of San
Diego. Ambassador Prabhakar Menon was the Chief guest. The second
annual Chakra Award was a salute to Indian Entrepreneurs. Dr.
Amar Bose, Chairman, Bose Corporation and Professor at M.I.T, Arjun
Waney, Chairman, Beeba’s Creations, Dr. John Kapoor, Chairman,
E.J. Financial Enterprises were the recipients of the awards. Lalit
Thapar, Chairman, Thapar Group was the chief guest, and Ambassador
Sati Lambah was the guest of honor. The Third Annual Chakra Award
saluted Maestros Pundit Ravi Shankar and Zubin Mehta. Dr.
Jonas Salk was the chief guest and Francoise Gilot–Salk was the
guest of honor.
On October 5, 2006, Nobel
Laureate Professor Amartya Sen was honored with the Chakra Award
in the Great Hall, University of California, San Diego.. Dr. Irwin
Jacobs, Chairman, Qualcomm presented the award. Congressman Bob
Filner, San Diego City Council President Scott Peters and Dr. Sanjay
Jha felicitated Dr. Sen. It was a very memorable occasion. The
Chakra, 10 inches in diameter, is a replica of Konarak Wheel and
was made of pure silver with gold overlay.
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Unity in Diversity Annual
Program
Every year, the Society organizes a
unique program of Indian classical dance and music, folk music and
dance, and drama in 16 different Indian languages by professionals
and professionally trained artists. This program was inaugurated by
Ambassador Lalit Mansingh in 2004 with Mrs. Mansingh
and Consul General Viswanathan as honored guests.
Congressman Dr. Bob Filner and Consul General B.S. Prakash were
honored guests in 2005. In March 2006, over 800 people attended
this program.
On March 3, 2007 Unity in Diversity
2007 was held in Poway Center for Performing Arts, Poway with great
success. Dr. V. S. Ramachandran, recipient of Padma Bhusan
award by Government of India in 2007 was the guest of honor.
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Symposia and Lectures
To improve understanding of India
among San Diegans, the Society has organized over 75 symposia and
lectures, in collaboration with San Diego State University’s
Department of Asian Studies, World Affairs Council of San Diego,
World Trade Association and other organizations on many topics,
including Indian economic and political conditions, Investment
Opportunities in India, Indian Thought in World Perspective,
Continuing Relevance of India’s Vision, India’s Contribution to
Science and Mathematics, India’s Role in World Affairs, Indian
American Entrepreneurs and others. Generally, a meeting was
scheduled during 1990 - 1999 on the second Saturday of each month
during the fall and spring semesters in the International Student
Center, San Diego State University. Indian music and dance programs
by internationally acclaimed Indian artists such as Alarmel Valli
were also organized.
Recently a partnership has been
developed to offer lectures on India and India - U.S. related topics
under the auspices of OASIS program. About six lectures a year are
held in Mission Valley Robinson - May stores third floor.
Also, every quarter a distinguished
person or a group of people is invited to address an issue of great
significance and the meeting is held at Qualcomm auditorium, 6455
Lusk Blvd, San Diego. The first meeting in this series was held at
3.00PM on Saturday, the March 26, 2005 when Professor Ramesh Rao,
Qualcomm Professor of Engineering, UCSD spoke on I.T and its
applications. Dr. Inder Verma, American Cancer Society
Professor at Salk Institute spoke on Bio-Technology Scene in India
on Saturday, the July 23, 2005.
On September 24, 2005, Indian
Paintings was subject. Dr. Derrick Cartwright, Director, San
Diego Museum of Art discussed unique Binny collections that are
housed in SDMA. This is one of the largest in the world. An art
competition for elementary and high school students will also be
held on the theme Peaceful Co-existence.
Evolving India-Pakistan Relations
was the topic for the town hall meeting on December 3, 2005.
Professor Stanley Wolpert, Distinguished Historian form UCLA
moderated the program, Consul General B.S. Prakash of India
and Professor Vali Nasr of Monterrey Institute of
International Relations participating.
The Uniqueness of Brain was the
subject matter for a lively discourse by Dr.V.S.
Ramachanmdran, Professor at U.C.S.D and a very well-known
authority in the world in the area of brain research. This was held
on February 12. 2006.
Dr. D. Balasubramaniam and Dr.
Venkateswaralu, very well-known scientists from India and Dr.
Suresh Subramani, Dean, Biological Sciences, U.C.S.D
participated in a very interesting and informative symposium on
“World Class Institute for Bio-science Research in India” on May 10,
2006. This attracted over 150 scientists from San Diego area and was
co-sponsored with San Diego Association of Physicians of India
Origin.
On September 17, 2006,
Gandhiji’s grandson Arun Gandhi, Azim Khamisa, founder of a
foundation to spread non-violence among youth in United States and
Dr. Dipak Gupta, Fred Hansen Professor Peace Studies
and Professor of Political Science, San Diego State University
discussed in depth the application of non-violence to find solutions
to terrorism related issues, under the title, “Non-violence: A Way
to Combat Terrorism”. It was a very rewarding experience for over
150 people who attended the program.
Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen
spoke on India-United States Nuclear Agreement and Beyond on January
19, 2007 in a function jointly organized with University of
California held in the Atkinson Hall.
On October 20, 2007, Dr. Ramesh
Jain Distinguished Professor, University of California-Irvine
spoke on Indian Technology in the Flat World.
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Projects in India
The Society has so far funded
twenty projects in India. These include:
Construction of a hall in an
engineering college in Patiala (funded by Judy & Arjun Waney);
Renovation of a high school in
Gujarat (funded by Dr. P.K and Kanta Patel);
Computer facilities in a college in
Orissa (Funded by Dr. Debei Misra);
High school construction project in
Orissa (Funded by Dr. Surya Pattanaik);
Eye hospital in Orissa (funded by
Dr. Debei Misra);
Bharat Integrated Social Welfare
Agency ( funded by Orissa Founadation);
UNNAYANA ( funded by Orissa
Foundation);
Jaganath organization for global
awareness Orissa foundation);
Ravenshaw Collegiate Scholl,
Cuttack (Orissa Foundation);
Support for Kalinga Health,
Education and Research Foundation (funded by Dr. Santosh Mohanty);
Adivasi Development project in
Gujarat (funded by Narmad Dave);
Sustainable Economic and
Educational Development Society (funded by Orissa foundation)
A science lab project in Bihar
(funded by Dr. Ed Henry);
Elementary school expansion project
in Andhra Pradesh (coordinated by Dr. Seenu Reddy);
Reconstruction of a secondary
school destroyed by cyclone in Orissa (funded by Dr. Purna and Gopa
Patnaik);
Community hall construction project
in Tamil Nadu (Funded by Dr. Subbu Nagappan);
Scholarship and cancer patient-care
project in Tamil Nadu (funded by Peri Alagappan);
Orphanage and School project in
Tamil Nadu (funded by Sridevi Jaganathan).
Sri Sarada Devi
Seva Sangh, Chennai (Revathi Subramaniam and Rajshree Mudaliar)
Sri J.C. Roy
Memorial Scholarship in Honor of Holy Mother Sarada Devi in
Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Kanpur ( Kunal and Neelam Roy)
The total funds
transferred to India to date amount to over $250,000 in 2007
dollars.
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Other Projects
The Society has contributed to a
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund established at San Diego State
University, education of deserving, physically challenged students
at the undergraduate level and also participated in food for
homeless project in San Diego county. We have also funded the
healthcare of one of our community members with a grant of $30,000.
Thanks to a generous support
received from Arjun Waney, the Society gave a grant of $15,000 in
2005 to a deserving student from India to do his M.B.A. program in
Duke University.
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The Society
welcomes ideas and active participation by members of Indian
American community to initiate new projects that will help people in
San Diego and India. If you would like to support the Mahatma Gandhi
Scholarship Trust Fund expansion or any other project, you may draw
a check favoring San Diego Indian American Society and mail it Kunal
Roy, 13613 TorreyHill Court, San Diego, CA 92130.
For more
information, please call Madhavan (619- 698 5058), Vera Kriplani
(858-658 4212) Kunal Roy (858 – 793 5496), Salim Shah (858 – 755
1311) or P.K.Patel (760 436 4327).
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