CONTENTS

MINISTER KAMAL NATH TO ADDRESS EICC AND GOPIO CONFERENCE

GOPIO ANNOUNCES CONVENTION 2007 IN NEW DELHI, JANUARY 5^TH AND 6^TH

GOPIO IS CO-ORGANIZER OF GLOBAL INDIAN BUSINESS SUMMIT IN SINGAPORE

DIASPORA SCIENTIST SIGN UP FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION

MINISTER RAVI MAKES A SUCCESSFUL EUROPEAN TRIP

            SWISS NRIs UPSET OVER NEW LAW

                INDIAN NRI STUDENTS TO BE GIVEN EQUAL RIGHTS

NFIA TO HOST 14^TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES, NOV. 17-19, 2006

GOPIO INTL. AND CHAPTER NEWS

GOPIO-AMSTERDAM TO ORGANIZE SEMINAR ON MEDICAL TOURISM

GOPIO-CHICAGO HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTS OFFICERS

NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE

PENTAGON AWARD GOES TO ABRAHAM PANNIKOTTU

BRITISH INDIAN PHYSICIAN WINS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

INDIAN AMERICAN SCIENTIST MAHALANOBIS NAMED 2006 SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR

KENNEDY CENTER TO HONOR ZUBIN MEHTA

FOUR INDIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS NAMES DAVIDSON FELLOWS

MIT TO HONOR SIX INDIAN-AMERICAN SCIENTISTS

INDO-GUYANESE GIRL TOPS CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EXAM

INDIAN AMERICAN ATUL GAWANDE NAMED MACARTHUR FELLOW

NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD

INDIAN AMERICAN SANT SINGH CHATWAL TO SET UP BOUTIQUE HOTELS IN INDIA

DUTCH NATIONALITY AND OVERSEAS INDIAN CITIZENSHIP

SURVEY SAYS GULF KERALITES POOR IN SAVINGS

INDIAN NURSES MAY LOSE JOBS IN UK

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO BUILD HOUSES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN INDIA

SATYAGRAHA CONFERENCE HELD IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA    

GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION

EDITORIAL BOARD

Indias Trade and Commerce Minister Mr. Kamal Nath will address the EICC-IMC-ASSOCHAM-GOPIO Conference on EU-India Strategic Partnership as Chief Guest on 8 November. The inauguration of the Conference will be held in the Hotel Sheraton on 8 November 2006 evening followed by a gala dinner and the Business Session of the event will be held in the European Parliament (Room P3C050) 9 November 2006. The EU Energy Commissioner Mr. Andris Piebalgs will deliver the Inaugural address and will speak about Global Energy Security and EU-India Energy Cooperation. Mr. Sam Pitroda will be the Keynote Speaker (Please visit www.eicc.be for the Theme Document and other info including the tentative program).

The Conference will be attended by more than 250 participants from Europe, India and USA. Twenty One speakers have been carefully selected to speak about the EU-India economic relations in the context of the Strategic Partnership. Taking advantage of the presence of a large number of industrialists, the EICC and GOPIO have planned to organize an Investors Meet on 9 November evening in the Hotel Sheraton followed by a dinner. Several Indian companies will be represented by their top executives at this event.

Although registration of the 2days Conference is free, all participants are required to register for attending the event. On-line registration is also available and interested persons can visit the EICC website: www.eicc.be to register. The Chair of the Conference and Secretary General of the EICC Sunil Prasad can also be contacted on Tel. & fax: 0032 2 469 2677 GSM: 0472-207 338, E-mail: info@eicc.be or sunil.prasad@coditel.net. For more info about the Conference and other details, please visit the EICC website.

The organizers have negotiated with Hotel Capital (Address: 191, Chausse de Vleurgat, 1050 Brussels Tel: 0032 2 646 6420) a special rate for the participants at the following rates: Single room: 75 Euros including breakfast and Double room: 85 Euros including breakfast. Contact Mr. Robert van der Plas, General Manager by fax +32 2 646 3314 or by E-mail: info@hotelcapital.be. While making booking, please refer booking Code agreement number #259 for obtaining a special negotiated rate.

Global organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)

INVITES YOU TO

GOPIO CONFERENCE 2007

Jan 5-6, 2007

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS

Place: FICCI Conference Hall and Auditorium,

Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi

 

Tentative Program

Friday, January 5^th, 2007

9.30 to 12.30 p.m. GOPIO Executive Committee and Executive Council Meetings (Not open to general public)

12.30 to 1.30 p.m. (lunch)

1.30 to 3.00 p.m.       

GOPIO Council Reports and NRI/PIO Communities Area Reports

(Open to general public)

3.00 p.m. 3.20 p.m. Coffee Break

3.20 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.      Session 1

7.0 0 p.m. to 8.00          Formal Inauguration of GOPIO Conference 2007

Release of Conference Souvenir

8.00 p.m. to10.30 p.m.   Reception and Networking Dinner

Saturday, January 6^th, 2007

9.00 a.m. to 9.30 a.m.                Registration

9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.              Opening General Session

10.45 a.m. to 1.15 p.m.              Session 2

1.30 p.m. to                               3.00 p.m.         

Awards Luncheon - Presentation of Pravasi Bharatiya Community Service Awards

3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.    Wrap-up and Adoption of Resolutions

Conference Registration

Registration Fee: Rs.1,000. Waived for those who register prior to December 15, 2006. Total registration will be limited to 200 delegates. So, contact early to avoid disappointment.

Sponsor opportunities are available for Indian businesses interested to reach out to NRI/PIOs worldwide.

Limited number of Tabletop Booths will also be available at the venue on both days, January 5^th and 6^th.

To register, please contact GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran in the US at 718-353-1900 E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com. 

PRAVASI BHARATIYA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

GOPIO is seeking nominations from the Indian communities all over the world to submit nominations of those who stand out in providing services to the NRI/PIO community. Send the nominations with background information by November 30, 2006 to GOPIO International, P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA or by e-mail to Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran at: ramsaran@aol.com

The awardees will be honored on January 6^th at the Awards Luncheon.

For more information, please contact: GOPIO President Inder Singh in USA at 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net

DATE - OCTOBER 29^th to 30^th, 2006.

This event is part of a major conference/convention in Singapore called Global Entrepolis Singapore (GES) and held from 30^th October 2006 to 2^nd November 2006. Details are given below.

Global Indian Business Summit (GIBS)
Organisers:

Global Indian Business Network Pte Ltd
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)
Global OrganisZtion of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)

Date: 30 October 2006

This hallmark event, which is part of the GES 2006, will bring together top business people from the global Indian Diaspora of over 20 million. They represent dynamic corporations in the manufacturing, retail, real estate, IT, infocomm and service sectors, among others. With the support of the major participating organizations such as FICCI, GOPIO and TiE, the event promises a high powered gathering of business leaders who will identify evolving global trends and new projects, and launch the first Global Indian Business Awards.

GIBS Is:

A Premier Event for Successful Diaspora Indian Entrepreneurs to Showcase Business Models and to Develop Global Partnerships.

v      An Opportunity to: -

- network with Diaspora Indian businesses

- generate intra-regional business prospects

- create and learn of new business opportunities available in the region for   development in Diaspora countries

- identify evolving global trends and new projects

- tap on Govt. of Singapore synergies for investments in the region

At The Global Indian Business Summit 2006 will have participation from:

v      successful Diaspora Indians

v      regionally successful entrepreneurs and heads of businesses

v      government officials

v      think tank experts

v      academics

As a pre-selected Diaspora Indian role model, this exclusive invitation pre-qualifies you to complimentary registration for  GIBS 2006.

Join end of the 2-day Summit for a specially arranged networking cocktail between yourselves and businessmen from China seeking truly global opportunities. This will be followed by the official opening of the Global Entrepolis Singapore 2006 where the Guest of Honor is the President of the Republic of Singapore, H.E. Mr. S.R. Nathan.

For more details, please visit http://www.globalentrepolis.com/en/home/ or contact Mr. George Abraham, E-mail: george@gagrp.com

Indias Ministry of Science and Technology has sent out an invitation in March 2006 to Indian Diaspora scientists participate in Indias science and technology promotion. The invitation brought in response 128 India-born scientists and technologists from 13 nations - over half from the US for a program spanning two to 12 weeks every year for a three-year period to pursue long-term research with Indian scientists and train young students.

The ideas sent in range from agriculture to aerospace. These include mass diagnostic techniques for thalassemia, aircraft performance problems, absorption of carbon dioxide from power plants and the development of cancer and heart therapies. Applications have been received from various universities and multinationals including Stanford University and Boeing Company. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is sifting through them. DST secretary T Ramasami said the department would select projects 'critical to Indian needs' that could expand beyond the three-year duration to start new research centres. The DST will fund Rs 7 lakh per project within India.

A national screening committee will study proposals for the 'durability' of the proposed partnerships, and the PMO is monitoring the project. The best collaborative ideas will be selected soon.

SWISS NRIs UPSET OVER NEW LAW

India is exploring ways to resolve an issue arising from a new Swiss law that insists on non-resident Indians (NRIs) presenting their original birth and marriage certificates issued in India to register the birth of their children born in this country.

Visiting Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi assured Indian community representatives during a meeting here that the government would consult state chief ministers to find a solution to the matter.

"I have to discuss with the prime minister and other ministries concerned to find a solution to the problem. I will also consult state chief ministers to see how we can solve this issue," Ravi told NRI representatives in Switzerland.

"The Supreme Court of India has issued an order to make birth registrations compulsory. But presenting past documents would be almost impossible," he said replying to concerns of the diaspora. The NRIs pointed out that the new Swiss law insists on the original marriage and birth certificates of Indian parents being shown to record their child's birth here and in applying for Swiss nationality.

Embassy officials said that for most of the Indian diaspora presenting original marriage certificates would be a problem as India did not have a "proper system to issue marriage certificates".

"The government has to take up the matter with the Swiss government through proper channels," said Amitava Tripathi, the Indian ambassador to Switzerland.

The new Swiss law has restricted foreigners, including Indians, from using their Schengen visa to enter other European Union countries, the NRIs pointed out. The Swiss government has entered into an agreement with other EU countries under which Schengen visa holders can enter into other countries such as Germany and Austria. But now they say Indians should take a separate visa for it.

At the interactive meeting Ravi also explained the facilities of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards and People of Indian Origin (PIO) cards. To complaints about the delay in issuing PIO or OCI cards, Ravi said that he would take up the matter with the home ministry to expedite its clearance.

INDIAN NRI STUDENTS TO BE GIVEN EQUAL RIGHTS

Non-resident Indian (NRI) students studying in India will soon be given equal rights, including in fees and opportunities, as other students, visiting Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said while on a visit to Vienna.

"The Indian government is concerned about the high fees that educational institutions are charging NRI students," Ravi told representatives of Indian communities in Vienna.

Pointing out that the Supreme Court of India had directed private educational institutions to reserve 15 percent seats for NRI students and permitted them to decide the fees to be charged from them, Ravi said:

"The state governments feel that NRIs can afford it. But the government will hold discussions with the managements of educational institutions and persuade them to be more realistic towards NRIs." "Our efforts towards establishing a university for PIOS (Persons of Indian Origin) is going on the fast track. There is some bureaucratic delay. It will soon become a reality," said Ravi, in Vienna on a two-day visit.

On a six-day European tour to three countries, he urged the 20,000-strong Indian community in Austria to support their parent country's developmental programs.

The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), an umbrella organization of various organizations representing over 2.5 million Americans who trace their roots to India will hold its 14^th biennial convention on November 17-19, 2006 in Los Angeles. Last time the NFIA met in this area was in 1986 when it held its 4^th biennial convention in Anaheim. The venue for this years gathering is the posh Westin Hotel on the beach in Long Beach. Delegates from member associations from all over the United States will converge to Long Beach for three days to discuss, debate and deliberate contemporary issues facing the community and will attempt to find solutions to address those concerns. They will also be addressed by prominent political leaders from India and the United States as well as Indian Diplomats. A Bollywood style entertainment program is also being planned for the attendees.

The theme for this years convention, CHERISHING OUR ROOTS AND EXPANDING OUR WINGS, signifies the organizations commitment to preserve Indian Cultural heritage and, at the same time, continue to increase the professional, economic and political clout of the community in the United States.

The convention will open on Friday November 17 with an NFIA Board meeting followed by a cocktail hour at 6 and the inauguration of the gathering at 7 p.m. The dinner and entertainment will be held after the official inauguration. The evening will end with live entertainment. Seminars on US-India Relations, Pioneers of the Indo-American community, Immigration Policies, Threat of Terrorism, concerns of the Youth and women will be held all day Saturday. Prominent experts in each area will initiate the discussion followed by a panel to explore possible solutions to each challenge facing the community. Also planned is an Indian American Leadership Summit to which prominent leaders of the community are being invited. The purpose of this summit is to explore all possible avenues to work together, with collaboration among National organizations, in order to improve the quality of life for all Americans of Indian origin.

On Sunday, an NFIA business meeting will be conducted at which the activities of the organization will be reviewed and new officers elected.

Readers may get further information regarding the NFIA convention by calling Chandu Patel at (714) 393-3999, Rajen Anand at (571) 230-7288, E-mail: ranand2@cox.net or Sachin Amin at (714) 360-3081.

GOPIO-AMSTERDAM TO ORGANIZE SEMINAR ON MEDICAL TOURISM

Medical tourism to India has gained much interest over the last few years. It is an opportunity to receive the same or even better quality medical care with shorter or no waiting lists and at lower cost. Clients and their families sometimes combine trips abroad as tourist, for sightseeing and exploring the area, with medical care.

Most of the Dutch health insurance companies are more conservative than their foreign counterparts and have not extended approval so far, in part because within The Netherlands, India is not well known yet for its present role in the medical tourism sector.

In order to make the Dutch public aware of the potentials that India offers, GOPIO Amsterdam together with The Netherlands Foundation for Business Process Innovation (NS BPi, www.nsbpi.nl) independent, non-profit foundation is organizing a seminar on medical tourism to India on Friday October 6th, 2006 in Amsterdam. The theme of the seminar is "Medical Tourism 2006: The rising role of India".

Information about the seminar can be obtained from GOPIO Amsterdam President Dr. R. Tewari, E-mail: gopioamsterdam@gmail.com) or from Mr. P. Gobets, Chairman of NS Bpi, E-mail: info@nsbpi.nl.

GOPIO-CHICAGO HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTS OFFICERS

GOPIO-Chicago held its 3rd Annual General Meeting on September 17, 2006. After reports from the Executive Committee, the following Board of Directors were elected:  

Dr. Mohan Garg, Samir Shah, Pratap Mehta, Dr. Utpal Parekh, Arvind Mehta

The officers are as follows:

Samir Shah President, Om Kamaria - Executive VP, Bhavik Soni Secretary, Dr. Jitu Patel Treasurer, Mrs. Usha Mehta - Joint Secretary. Advisory Board members are: Dr. Chandrakant Modi, Sohan Joshi, Dakshesh Laxpati

Activities for 2006-07 include establishment of Education Scholarship Fund for high school and college students from the receipt of donations. Scholarship Management committee members are: Dr. Mohan Garg, Dr. (Mrs.)Madhavi Mehta, Dr. Jitu Patel, Pratap Sampat and Samir Shah. The chapter will also support PIO/ NRI community programs promoting youth leadership and youth involvement among Indian diaspora.  

Contact: GOPIO-Chicago President Samir Shah at samshausa@netscape.net.

PENTAGON AWARD GOES TO ABRAHAM PANNIKOTTU

Pentagon presented Abraham Pannikottu, Manager of Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL) Engineering Group (Akron, Ohio) with the Army SBIR and STTR Quality Award which recognizes exceptional performance that exemplifies the goal of bringing innovative technologies to the soldier. Abrahams Phase II SBIR project was titled, "Development of Ballistic Resistant Airless 20 Inch Wheels for the Interim Armored Vehicle (IAV) and Future Combat Systems (FCS)."  This new airless tire will be used by the US army for Stryker vehicles. The project was executed by American Engineering Group (AEG) as its subcontractor.

This year, 254 Phase II projects were eligible and Abrahams project was chosen from 34 nominations from across the Army. The Army finally selected 6 exceptional Phase II projects to receive the Quality Award.

Abraham has a mechanical engineering degree from Sardar Vallabh Bhai Regional Engineering College, now known as National Institute of Technology (Surat, India) and completed graduate studies in Polymer Science at University of Akron. Abraham has several publications on engineering applications of polymers.  Abraham is from Puramattom, Kerala, India.  

The award was presented at the 2006 Army SBIR and STTR Quality Awards Ceremony hosted by the Honorable Claude M. Bolton, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology.  The event took place at the Pentagon on August 31, 2006 followed by reception.

BRITISH INDIAN PHYSICIAN WINS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

A retired general practitioner of Indian origin based in south Yorkshire has won a prestigious photography competition and this week returned from the prize-winning trip to Canada. Kottiyattil Aravind, the doctor based in Woodsetts since 1965, won the best travel photograph of the year in travel magazine Wanderlust and was awarded with a trip to the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

Aravind retired from his Rotherham practice three years ago and has since traveled to several countries while on cruises. An avid photographer, it was on one such trip that he shot his award-winning photograph in China last year. The prize-winning shot captured a local man hauling a boat full of tourists ashore with just his bare hands and bamboo rope.

Aravind told the media: "These people looked so small but they were so strong. I was up really close and I could see his muscles straining as he was working so hard and so I got a picture of that action first hand."

Aravind later entered his photograph in the competition in Wanderlust travel magazine. He said: "I decided to enter my photo because I have been taking pictures with non-digital cameras for years. It really was a complete shock but I am very pleased and did not expect such a fuss."

Aravind won the holiday to Canada along with a digital camera and a year's subscription to the travel magazine.

INDIAN AMERICAN SCIENTIST MAHALANOBIS NAMED 2006 SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR

An Indian American scientist, who led a breakthrough research that helped Lockheed Martin win a key role in the US Army's Future Combat System, has been named '2006 Scientist of the Year' by the Minorities in Research Science (MIRS) organization. Abhijit Mahalanobis, will be presented the award, at the 2006 MIRS Award Conference Sep 15-16 in Baltimore, Maryland, according to a press release from the manufacturer of F-16 aircraft and other advanced technology systems.

As a recognized and respected leader in pattern recognition, signal and imaging processing with specific emphasis on automatic target recognition (ATR), Mahalanobis' role as technical lead in various research and technology ATR development efforts has been critical to sustaining Lockheed Martin as the industry leader in advanced technologies, it said.

The winner of this highest honour given at the conference is someone who advances critical knowledge, driving development of new lines of products and services that reshape industry's tools and offerings.

The Scientist of the Year works on the cutting edge of basic research or process control and is a research team leader whose blend of scientific knowledge and managerial expertise lifts an entire organization to new levels of achievement.

Mahalanobis is a technical lead and manager for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control's Signal Imaging and Processing group in the Research & Technology organization, and is recognized corporate-wide and nationally for the high levels of accomplishment he has achieved in his technical field.

Mahalanobis has a sustained record of technical achievement and leadership by pioneering new approaches in the field of correlation pattern recognition.

Mahalanobis earned his doctorate and master's degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg. He earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of California at Santa Barbara.

Mahalanobis has also received several other awards, including the prestigious NOVA award that recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Corporation's mission and business objectives.

Mahalanobis has also been named a Lockheed Martin "Fellow," an honor reserved for the top one percent of technical talent across the corporation, used to recognize and encourage the highest levels of accomplishment by individual contributors in technical fields.

KENNEDY CENTER TO HONOR ZUBIN MEHTA

Zubin Mehta is among the five stalwarts from the arts and entertainment field who will be honoured by the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this year. Apart from Mehta, the others are musical theatre composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber, country singer and songwriter Dolly Parton, singer, songwriter and producer Smokey Robinson, and film director and producer Steven Spielberg.

Now a resident of Los Angeles, Mehta was born in Mumbai in 1936. He received his early education in music from his father Mehli Mehta, a violinist and co-founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra and later music director of the American Youth Symphony in Los Angeles.

Mehta initially intended to study medicine but eventually became a music student in Vienna at the age of 18, under the eminent instructor Hans Swarowsky.

In 1958, he made his conducting debut in Vienna. That same year he won the International Conducting Competition in Liverpool and was appointed assistant conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

His rise as a conductor has been swift. After Liverpool, he became the music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and then of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1978, Mehta became music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, where his 13-year tenure would become the longest in the orchestra's history. In 1981, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom he had been associated with since 1969 in various capacities, made him their music director for life. He has conducted over 2,000 concerts with this orchestra.

Since 1985, he has been revitalising opera as chief conductor of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, his life has been documented in Terry Sanders' film Portrait of Zubin Mehta and in a book by Martin Bookspan and Ross Yockey entitled Zubin: The Zubin Mehta Story.

This year saw the publication in Germany of Zubin Mehta's autobiography, Die Partitur meines Leben: Erinnerungen (The Score of my Life: Memories).

Mehta and the other recipients of 2006 Kennedy Center Honours will be saluted by stars from the world of the performing arts at a gala performance in the Kennedy Center's Opera House in Washington on December 3.

FOUR INDIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS NAMES DAVIDSON FELLOWS

Four Indian-American teenagers have been named as this year's Fellows of nonprofit organisation Davidson Institute for Talent Development, an honour for "prodigiously gifted" students under the age of 18 years.

The "Davidson Fellows" -- Shivani Sud, Sheela Krishnan, Varun Kumar and Anarghya Vardhana -- have also won scholarships ranging from USD 10,000 to 50,000 for their projects in the fields of science, medicine and mathematics.

They were recognized in Washington on September 27 along with 16 other fellows from across the country.

"The Davidson fellows are success stories because they've nurtured their genius by seeking out mentors, relying on strong family support and working diligently to achieve their goals," said Bob Davidson, the co-founder of the Reno-based institute which was established in 1999 to support profoundly gifted students.

MIT TO HONOR SIX INDIAN-AMERICAN SCIENTISTS

Six Indian-Americans are among 35 young scientists who will