NEW YORK LAUNCH OF “DAUGHTERS OF THE EMPIRE” BY DR. LAKSHMI PERSAUD
Highly acclaimed Trinidad born PIO and Indian Diaspora novelist Dr.
Lakshmi Persaud launched her latest novel “Daughters of the Empire” at
two events on May 26 – May 27, 2012 in New York following successful
launches in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Toronto, Canada. She is also
author of ‘Raise the Lanterns High’, ‘For the Love of my Name’, ‘Sastra’
& ‘Butterfly in the Wind’. She was born in Trinidad in the
Caribbean, of Indian descent. Her novels explore many ideas using a
combination of high drama, romance and gentle humor. Though her work is
usually set in the Caribbean, her themes appeal to all.
Launch Event of 26th May: This was sponsored by the Association of Artists and Writers in collaboration with the Indo-Caribbean Council, New York. The event, held at the Faith Assembly Hall, 101 Avenue was chaired by Lal Bachan Harricharran and among those attending were District Leader Taj Rajkumar and the NY Consul-General of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Nan Ramgoolam, who made the welcoming address. In addition to readings by Lakshmi Persaud and reviews of the book by Dr. Lisa Outar, a literature professor, and Rev Seopaul Singh, the program was further enriched by an invocational classical dance by accomplished dancer Natalie Poonam Phagoo, who also introduced Lakshmi Persaud and a rendering of two songs, including the Pledge of Allegiance by school girl Victoria Labban.
A notable feature of the Program was an award ceremony for writers and authors by the Indo-Caribbean council. Those receiving awards were Lakshmi Persaud, Balkrishnan Naipaul, novelist, Gora Singh, (posthumously) for promoting the Indian classical dancing and Kaar Dyal, sculptor and painter; Dr Basdeo Mangru, historian.
Launch Event-27th May: This was sponsored by the Rajkumari Cultural Centre (RCC) in Richmond Hill and associated with the theme 174 years of East Indian women in the Diaspora. It was held at the Queens Museum of Art, in Meadows Corona Park, Queens. The program which was organised by Pritha Singh , chief Executive of the RCC and the associated Jahajee Sisters, culminated in readings by Lakshmi Persaud from “Daughters of Empire” and her other novels around the theme of challenges facing Indo-Caribbean women in the Diaspora, followed by a lively questions and answers session.
The program was moderated by Taij Moteelal and Shivana Joriwar, who also with other Jahajee sisters spoke on the challenges facing Indo-Caribbean women. It started with enriching cultural items such as singing and storytelling, and interpretive dance and music presentation by American Betis.
Lakshmi Persaud resides in the UK and was a speaker at the GOPIO Women’s Conference held on October 24, 2010 in London, UK.
Launch Event of 26th May: This was sponsored by the Association of Artists and Writers in collaboration with the Indo-Caribbean Council, New York. The event, held at the Faith Assembly Hall, 101 Avenue was chaired by Lal Bachan Harricharran and among those attending were District Leader Taj Rajkumar and the NY Consul-General of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Nan Ramgoolam, who made the welcoming address. In addition to readings by Lakshmi Persaud and reviews of the book by Dr. Lisa Outar, a literature professor, and Rev Seopaul Singh, the program was further enriched by an invocational classical dance by accomplished dancer Natalie Poonam Phagoo, who also introduced Lakshmi Persaud and a rendering of two songs, including the Pledge of Allegiance by school girl Victoria Labban.
A notable feature of the Program was an award ceremony for writers and authors by the Indo-Caribbean council. Those receiving awards were Lakshmi Persaud, Balkrishnan Naipaul, novelist, Gora Singh, (posthumously) for promoting the Indian classical dancing and Kaar Dyal, sculptor and painter; Dr Basdeo Mangru, historian.
Launch Event-27th May: This was sponsored by the Rajkumari Cultural Centre (RCC) in Richmond Hill and associated with the theme 174 years of East Indian women in the Diaspora. It was held at the Queens Museum of Art, in Meadows Corona Park, Queens. The program which was organised by Pritha Singh , chief Executive of the RCC and the associated Jahajee Sisters, culminated in readings by Lakshmi Persaud from “Daughters of Empire” and her other novels around the theme of challenges facing Indo-Caribbean women in the Diaspora, followed by a lively questions and answers session.
The program was moderated by Taij Moteelal and Shivana Joriwar, who also with other Jahajee sisters spoke on the challenges facing Indo-Caribbean women. It started with enriching cultural items such as singing and storytelling, and interpretive dance and music presentation by American Betis.
Lakshmi Persaud resides in the UK and was a speaker at the GOPIO Women’s Conference held on October 24, 2010 in London, UK.
CANADIAN SIKHS LAUNCH ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN AGAISNT LA SALLE MINOR SOCCER ASSOCIATION
An advocacy campaign was launched after La Salle Minor Soccer
Association decided not to allow Sikhs with turban and patka to
participate in soccer games in Canada.
”We have written to the president of the Soccer Club Authority Sofio Pagliaro, and also to the technical director. The response received from their secretary clearly indicates that they do not have jurisdiction in offering exemptions to FSQ, CSA & FIFA regulations,” said Sukhwinder Singh, Director of United Sikhs, which launched the campaign. “We have made it clear to the president that this decision is against the basic principles of human rights and is hence a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights.”
The decision was taken a few weeks ago and they have not only banned these aspiring players to play but also went a step further and canceled their registration and returned their registration money. Feedback from the local community of Quebec indicated that there haven’t been any such issues in the past.
”We have written to the president of the Soccer Club Authority Sofio Pagliaro, and also to the technical director. The response received from their secretary clearly indicates that they do not have jurisdiction in offering exemptions to FSQ, CSA & FIFA regulations,” said Sukhwinder Singh, Director of United Sikhs, which launched the campaign. “We have made it clear to the president that this decision is against the basic principles of human rights and is hence a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights.”
The decision was taken a few weeks ago and they have not only banned these aspiring players to play but also went a step further and canceled their registration and returned their registration money. Feedback from the local community of Quebec indicated that there haven’t been any such issues in the past.
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ELECTS INDIAN AMERICAN MEMBERS
Three Indian American academics were elected among its 84 new
members were recognized for their distinguished and continuing
achievements in original research: Jagdish N. Bhagwati, Columbia
University, New York City; Sabeeha Merchant, University of California,
Los Angeles; and Subra Suresh, National Science Foundation, Arlington.
Membership in the National Academy of Science is one of the highest
honors given to a scientist in the United States. Among its most
renowned members have been Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, Thomas
Edison, Orville Wright and Alexander Graham Bell.
Bhagwati is a Senior Fellow in International Economics at the
Council on Foreign Relations. He has been Economic Policy Adviser to
Arthur Dunkel, director general of GATT; Special Adviser to the UN on
globalization; and external Adviser to the WTO. He has served on the
Expert Group appointed by the Director General of the WTO on the Future
of the WTO and the Advisory Committee to Secretary General Kofi Annan on
the NEPAD process in Africa. Five volumes of his scientific writings
and two of his public policy essays have been published by MIT press.
Bhagwati’s latest book “In Defense of Globalization” was published by
Oxford University Press in 2004 to worldwide acclaim.
Merchant was the lead author on a three-year, 115-scientist
research project reporting a “gold mine” of data on a tiny green alga
called Chlamydomonas, with implications for human diseases. She was
honored with a major award from the National Academy of Sciences in
2006, the Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal, awarded only once every three
years, for her exceptional scientific research. She has been awarded
research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the U.S.
Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Air
Force Office of Science Research.
Suresh was nominated by President Barack Obama and unanimously
confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the National Science
Foundation in September 2010. As director of this $7-billion independent
federal agency since October 2010, he leads the only government science
agency charged with advancing all fields of fundamental science and
engineering research and related education. Prior to assuming his
current role, Suresh served as the Dean of the School of Engineering at
MIT.
SAM KANNAPAN APPOINTED TO TEXAS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS BOARD
SAM KANNAPAN APPOINTED TO TEXAS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS BOARD
Former president of GOPIO Houston, Texas chapter, Sockalingam (Sam) Kannapan PE, was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve on Texas Professional Engineers Board for the term expiring on September 26, 2017. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett administered the oath of office on Friday June 15 with wife Meenakshi Kannappan holding Bhavad Gita during the ceremony.
Former president of GOPIO Houston, Texas chapter, Sockalingam (Sam) Kannapan PE, was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve on Texas Professional Engineers Board for the term expiring on September 26, 2017. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett administered the oath of office on Friday June 15 with wife Meenakshi Kannappan holding Bhavad Gita during the ceremony.
The Texas Professional Engineers Board licenses qualified engineers,
enforces the Texas Engineering Practice Act and regulates the practice
of professional engineering in Texas. Ramesh Kannappan, Director of
Enterprise Systems, Texas A&M system introduced the guests and
Abirami, IT Consultant at Chevron also spoke at the ceremony. Attendees
include: Glen Emmett (wife of presiding judge Ed Emmett), Pearland Mayor
Tom Reid, Consul General of Germany Roland Herrmann; Consul Anil K
Matta, Consulate of India at Houston; Sugar Land City Councilman Thomas
Abraham, Dr. Kamlesh Lulla, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston; Mike
Clements, Market President, Frost Bank.
Sam Kannapan is senior design engineer SNC Lavalin Hydrocarbons and Chemicals. He is a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Gas Pipeline Safety Research, a board member of the Society of Piping Engineers and Designers, and an advisory board member of the Asia Society of Texas. Tamil born Sam Kannapan is co-founder of the Shri Meenakshi Temple in Houston.
PRESDIENT OBAMA NAMES INDIAN-AMERICAN AS FEDERAL JUDGE
Indian-American legal luminary Srikanth ‘Sri’ Srinivasan has been nominated by President Barack Obama to the US court of appeals for the American capital. Noting that “This important court is often called the Nation’s second-highest court,” he said: “Srinivasan will be a trailblazer and will serve the court with distinction and excellence.”
Srinivasan, 45, last year was named Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the US, succeeding Indian American, Neal Kumar Katyal, which created history in becoming the first South Asian to be ever nominated to the circuit court. “Sri Srinivasan is a dedicated public servant who will bring tremendous experience, intellect, and integrity to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit,” Obama said.
Srinivasan began his legal career by serving as a law clerk for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering US National Security in 2003 and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence in 2005.
Srinivasan was born in Chandigarh and grew up in Lawrence, Kansas. He received his BA with honors and distinction from Stanford University and his JD with distinction from Stanford Law School. He also holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Sam Kannapan is senior design engineer SNC Lavalin Hydrocarbons and Chemicals. He is a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Gas Pipeline Safety Research, a board member of the Society of Piping Engineers and Designers, and an advisory board member of the Asia Society of Texas. Tamil born Sam Kannapan is co-founder of the Shri Meenakshi Temple in Houston.
PRESDIENT OBAMA NAMES INDIAN-AMERICAN AS FEDERAL JUDGE
Indian-American legal luminary Srikanth ‘Sri’ Srinivasan has been nominated by President Barack Obama to the US court of appeals for the American capital. Noting that “This important court is often called the Nation’s second-highest court,” he said: “Srinivasan will be a trailblazer and will serve the court with distinction and excellence.”
Srinivasan, 45, last year was named Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the US, succeeding Indian American, Neal Kumar Katyal, which created history in becoming the first South Asian to be ever nominated to the circuit court. “Sri Srinivasan is a dedicated public servant who will bring tremendous experience, intellect, and integrity to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit,” Obama said.
Srinivasan began his legal career by serving as a law clerk for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering US National Security in 2003 and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence in 2005.
Srinivasan was born in Chandigarh and grew up in Lawrence, Kansas. He received his BA with honors and distinction from Stanford University and his JD with distinction from Stanford Law School. He also holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
PROMINENT CARDIOLOGIST DR. VIVIAN RAMBIHAR RECOGNIZED BY PEERS
PROMINENT CARDIOLOGIST DR. VIVIAN RAMBIHAR RECOGNIZED BY PEERS
Prominent cardiologist Dr. Vivian Rambihar was honored on May 19,
2012 by the Queen’s College Alumni Association of New York for his
exemplary global contribution. He attended Queens College in the 1960′s
and is a Guyana Scholar, who has made global contributions in medicine
and in complexity science. He taught mathematics at Queens College
before immigrating to Canada to pursue studies in medicine at McMaster
University where he specialized in cardiology. Dr. Rambihar has been in
practice in Toronto since 1980. His family has had exemplary
contributions and he credits his parents, friends, mentors and family
for helping him achieve success.
Dr. Rambihar is currently Co-Chairman of GOPIO’s Health Council and
is recognized for this award for his visionary and pioneering work in
the field of ethnicity and health and also the field of complexity
science. He is also an author, an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the
University of Toronto and a community activist. He has been an advocate
for improving the health of Canadians for two decades and did some of
the early research on Immigrant health. He was the first in Canada to
raise awareness of the need for addressing heart disease and diabetes in
South Asians. He is currently developing the concept of “Global Heart
Hour” with his daughter Vanessa Rambihar, a recent graduate in medicine
from the University of Toronto, advocating creating a culture of health
across the Diaspora.
SPECIAL AWARD TO SUN MARK LTD (UK) BY INSTITUTE OF EXPORT
The Institute of Export hosted a splendid Gala Dinner to honor
those businesses who have been conferred The Queens Awards for
Enterprise in International Trade in this Jubilee year 2012. The dinner
was attended by over 150 prominent members of society including HRH
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO who is also patron of the
Institute.
Sun Mark Ltd received special recognition from the Institute for
winning the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade for four
consecutive years, a unique of achievement in the history of the Queen’s
Awards. The award was presented by Mr Doug Tweddle, National Chairman
of the Institute of Export to Dr. Rami Ranger MBE, the founder and
Chairman of Sun Mark Ltd. Dr. Rami Ranger MBE, upon receiving the award
put his success down to the British sense of tolerance and fair play
where an ordinary immigrant like him could realize his ambitions and
become an asset for his family and adopted country.
Photo:Dr. Rami Ranger (left) receiving the special award from Mr. Doug Tweddle
He also paid tribute to the staff of Sun Mark for sharing his
vision for the company and working hard to provide excellent customer
service. He is delighted with the company’s standing and the significant
increase in its sales and profits, given the economic downturn in
global markets. The company exports British supermarket products to over
100 countries and its motto is “we only succeed when our customers
succeed”.
More Immigrants endorse from UP & Bihar
LESSER IMMIGRANTS FROM TAMIL NADU, KERALA MARK CHANGE IN SOCIAL PROFILE
Breaking a 15-year trend and indicating a change in social profile, the number of emigrants with ECR (Emigration Check Required) endorsement from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has surpassed Kerala and Tamil Nadu, so far the largest aggregate for overseas employment.
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs reported Uttar Pradesh and Bihar sent the largest number of workers abroad with ECR endorsement in 2011. “It only shows a shift in social profiling in the southern states. This could mean that more workers from Tamil Nadu and Kerala are qualifying themselves educationally and do not need ECR endorsement anymore,” a senior ministry official said. On the other hand, more workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar might increasingly find overseas employment attractive.
While Tamil Nadu saw a decline in numbers from 1,55,631 in 2006 to 68,732 in 2011, Bihar saw an increase from 36,493 persons in 2006 to 71,438 persons last year. Kerala sent only 86,783 persons last year, as against 1,20,083 in 2006, while the numbers from Uttar Pradesh went up to 1,55,301 last year from 66,131 in 2006.
Of desired destinations, Saudi Arabia continues to attract more Indian workers with 2,89,297 persons in 2011, while United Arab Emirates and Oman were at second and third spots with 1,38,861 and 73,819 persons.
Breaking a 15-year trend and indicating a change in social profile, the number of emigrants with ECR (Emigration Check Required) endorsement from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has surpassed Kerala and Tamil Nadu, so far the largest aggregate for overseas employment.
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs reported Uttar Pradesh and Bihar sent the largest number of workers abroad with ECR endorsement in 2011. “It only shows a shift in social profiling in the southern states. This could mean that more workers from Tamil Nadu and Kerala are qualifying themselves educationally and do not need ECR endorsement anymore,” a senior ministry official said. On the other hand, more workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar might increasingly find overseas employment attractive.
While Tamil Nadu saw a decline in numbers from 1,55,631 in 2006 to 68,732 in 2011, Bihar saw an increase from 36,493 persons in 2006 to 71,438 persons last year. Kerala sent only 86,783 persons last year, as against 1,20,083 in 2006, while the numbers from Uttar Pradesh went up to 1,55,301 last year from 66,131 in 2006.
Of desired destinations, Saudi Arabia continues to attract more Indian workers with 2,89,297 persons in 2011, while United Arab Emirates and Oman were at second and third spots with 1,38,861 and 73,819 persons.
INDIAN-AMERICAN TEEN WINS US NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BEE
Indian-American Rahul Nagvekars won the National Geographic Bee
Championship with an educated guess about the Bavarian city that was a
legislative seat of the Holy Roman Empire from 1663 to 1806. The
14-year-old from Sugarland, Texas, correctly answered the geography
stumper by naming the city Regensburg on the Danube River. Approximately
four million students from across the US participated in the
competition this year.
Indian Americans swept all the top three positions. As champion,
Rahul won a $25,000 scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to the
Galapagos Islands. At second place, Vansh Jain of Minocqua, Wisconsin
won a $15,000 scholarship, and the third place winner, Varun Mahadevan
from Fremont, California won a $10,000 scholarship.
Rahul said he fell in love with geography when his parents gave him
a globe at the age of three. “I was not necessarily expecting to win.
But at the same time I knew that if I was calm and I focused on
everything and I listened to all of the questions then I would be able
to get a good number right and I knew I could do well if I executed the
plan properly,” he told ABC News.
President Barack Obama taped a video message congratulating the
participants and asked them to answer what city hosted the Nuclear
Security Summit he attended this March. Nine out of 10 contestants in
the finals answered correctly with Seoul.
