GOPIO NEWS BULLETIN
December 2006 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
NOTE: GOPIO News is a monthly newsletter of GOPIO International, based in the USA . If you do not wish to receive this newsletter in future, please go to the bottom and click the unsubscribe URL. If you feel the information contained here is useful, please forward this E-mail to your friends and relatives. One could also subscribe this newsletter FREE by visiting www.gopio.net and type in the e-mail address and other details.
CONTENTS
GOPIO CONVENTION 2007 IN NEW DELHI JANUARY 5TH AND 6TH PROGRAM UPDATE
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS - JANUARY 7-9, 2007 IN NEW DELHI
GOPIO SESSION ON ENGAGING PIOs FOR INDIAs DEVELOPMENT
INDIAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD ON KOLKATA JANUARY 11-13
GOPIO JOINS HANDS WITH NORTH GUJARAT UNIV. IN DIASPORA CONF. JAN. 2-4, PATAN, GUJARAT
US-INDIA PEACEFUL ATOMIC ENERGY COOPERATION AGREEMENT OF 2006
GOPIO INTL. AND CHAPTER NEWS
GOPIO- NEW YORK HOLIDAY PARTY AND DINNER/TALK WITH CONGRESSMAN PETER KING
GOPIO-CT SCHEDULES LUNCHEON MEETING FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE
NEW YORKER PRAKASH GOSSAI APPOINTED ADVISOR TO GUYANA PRESIDENT JAGDEO
FOUR INDIAN AMERICANS NAMED 2007 RHODES SCHOLARS
BRITISH INDIAN CHITRA BHARUCHA TO HEAD BBC
MISS BRITAIN AWARD GOES TO INDIAN BEAUTY
FOUR INDIAN AMERICANS WIN SIEMENS SCIENCE AWARDS
NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
US VISA CAN BE APPIED TO ANY THREE MISSIONS IN INDIA
GLOBAL MEET FOR BIHAR SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 19-21, 2007
THE FOURTH PRAVASI PUNJABI DIVAS SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 11, 2007
MALAYSIA ALLOWS OUTSIDERS TO BUY PROPERTY
INDIANS FORM LONDON S LARGEST GROUP
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
EDITORIAL BOARD
GOPIO CONVENTION 2007 IN NEW DELHI , JANUARY 5TH AND 6TH - PROGRAM UPDATE
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International)
GOPIO CONVENTION 2007
January 5th & 6th, 2007 New Delhi , India
In Conjunction With
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS 2007
Venue: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Conference Room, Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi
(Tel: 91-11 2373876070)
THEME
OVERSEAS INDIANS: Identity Preservation & Adoption of New Values in Pluralistic Societies
Friday, January 5th, 2007
FICCI Conference Room, New Delhi
9:30 am to 11:00 Noon GOPIO Executive Committee Meeting (Not open to public)
11:00 am to 5:30pm Registration
11:00 am to 1:00 pm GOPIO General Council Meeting (Not open to public)
1:00 pm. Lunch
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm GOPIO COUNCIL REPORTS (Open to Public)
GOPIO CHAPTER NRI/PIO AREA REPORTS (Open to Public)
North America Dr. Piyush Agrawal, GOPIO Coordinator, USA and Radha Krishan, Incoming President, National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), USA
South America and Caribbean Yesu Persaud, Executive VP GOPIO Intl., Ambassador Krishna Nandoe, President of GOPIO Suriname and Dr. Arnold Thomas, St. Vincent
Europe Sunil Prasad, President, GOPIO-Belgium Conference Report and
Raj Lakha, President GOPIO UK Chapter Reports
Middle East Sunny Kulathakal (Bahrain ), GOPIO Intl. VP for Middle East
Pacific/Ocenia Noel Lal, GOPIO Australia Coordinator, Sydney , Australia
Far East K. Sital, GOPIO South East Asia Coordinator, Hong Kong
Africa Sagie Naidu, GOPIO South Africa Coordinator
3:30 pm to 6:00 pm Indian & PIO MEDIA CONCLAVE
THEME: India & PIO Media Exchange and Deliberation
Chief Guest: To be announced
Moderator & Chair: Munish Gupta Chairman, GOPIO Media Council, Journalist, Media Entrepreneur, created India s first IPTV platform www.IndiaTVLive.com and first-ever channel for an expatriate population www.PIOTV.com
Co-Chair: San Jay Reddy MD & CEO, RJR BANCORP, GOPIO Los Angeles Chapter President
Session
A: 3.30 4.50 PM
India & Indian Media Today - Rapid and dynamic changes in Indian Media, its influence on politics, economy, socially & culture
Panelists:
K. S. Sarma - Fomer CEO Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India ) and now CEO MAA TV, Hyderabad .
Shekhar Gupta - Editor, Indian Express Group, Delhi .
Anil Srivatsa Chief Operating Officer, Radio Today Broadcasting Ltd. (India Today group) and a successful former Radio entrepreneur and RJ from USA .
Manoranjana Sinh Chairperson & MD of Northeast Media Group (Private satellite and cable television and FM Radio channels group)
S. Mitra Kalita Currently on leave of absence from The Washington Post helping set up a new business newspaper in Delhi .
Session B: 5.10 6.30 PM
PIOs in Media. Their Perception of India & Indian Media, and, their role in the global perception of India and bridging Indians and PIOs.
Panelists:
Indira Somani Former CNBC TV News Producer from New York , Ph.D. student and teacher of Broadcast Journalism at University of Maryland .
Raakhee Mirchandani Columnist, New York Post
Salil Tripathi Freelancer , Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune & Far Eastern Economic Review.
Tarun Basu Chief Editor, Indo-Asian News Service, New Delh & Washington, DC
Nawab Khan, Editor, INEP, Brussels
Vinod Dhawan, Chief of Bureau in New Delhi for India Post, San Francisco & New York .
Other Participants:
Overseas:
Steve Agarwal News Correspondent,
Page 3 Tabloid, Washington ,
DC
Gunjan Taneja Marketing Manager, Nirvana Woman Magazine , USA
Karan Bhatt Nirvana Woman Magazine, Delhi .
Raghbir Goyal India Globe, Washington , DC
India:
Basharat Ahmad, Deputy Director General, Doordarshan International.
Baleshwar Agarwal, Anthar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad
Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik, Community activist and leader
Dr. Kanak Sen Deka, Editor, Agradoot , Assam .
Rajendra Prabhu Veteran Technology Journalist & Columnist.
Shivaji Sarkar, Professor of Journalism, IIMC, Delhi .
K G Suresh PTI
Vinay Thakur The Hindu
Narendra Bhandari Jansatta
Arvind Singh Haribhoomi
Tapan Roy CEO, ATN Bangla
Atul Saraf CEO, Seven Star Health Channel
Guptas Sadhna TV
Subhash Sinha Media Advisor, Gujarat Samachar
O. P. Mehra Freelancer
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Formal Inauguration of GOPIO Conference 2007
Chief Guest: To be announced soon
Program:
Welcome: K.N. Gupta, Conference Chair and President GOPIO India, New Delhi
Welcome: Inder Singh, President, GOPIO International
Greetings: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International
Inauguration Ceremony: Lighting of the Lamp
Chief Guests Speech
Release of the Conference Souvenir
Release of the book by Anand Mulloo
Recognition of Sponsors
Note of Thanks: Ashook Ramsaran, Secretary General, GOPIO International
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm Reception
Saturday, January 6th, 2007
FICCI Conference Room, New Delhi
Conference Theme:
OVERSEAS INDIANS: Identity Preservation & Adoption of New Values in Pluralistic Societies
9:30 am Registration Coffee/Tea
10:00 am to 11:15 am - Session I DIASPORA ISSUES AND PERSPECTIVES
Chair: Dr. Jagat Motwani, Chairman, GOPIO Academic Council
Co-Chair:
Speakers:
Dr. Kavita Sharma: "Limping marriages and holiday wives."
Dr. Gulshan Sharma "Breakup of NRI Marriages What role can community play?"
Ms. Sandhya Sinha, President, Political Forum for Women: "Diasporic influence on Indian
women."
Sunny Kulathakal , Bahrain , Civic and Human Rights Violations of NRIs in the Middle East
Prof. Anand Kumar, JNU, "Diasporic Course and Research in Indian universities."
Dr. M.K. Pandey, Prasar Bharti: "Indian Perceptions of NRIs, and Indians as
percieved by NRIs"
11.15 am to 11.30 am Coffee/Tea Break
11.30 am to 12.45 pm Session II - INDIAN DIASPORA - ASSIMILATION & PLURALISM
Chair: Ambassador Krishna Nandoe, President of GOPIO Suriname
Co-Chair: Dr. Shekhar Tiwary, Co-Chair GOPIO Roots Committee
Speakers:
Anand Mulloo, Diaspora in Plural societies
Prof. Parmatma Saran, Author and Professor of Sociology, City University , New York -- North American Experience
George Abraham, Singapore -- Asian Experience
Lord Diljit Rana, House of Lords, London European Experience
Dr. Arnold Thomas, St. Vincents Indian Heritage Foundation Caribbean Experience
12:45 pm to 1:45 pm Lunch
2:00 pm to 3:15 pm Session III - The NRI-PIO DIVIDE HOW TO BRIDGE THE GAP?
Chair: Ashook Ramsaran, Secretary General, GOPIO International, New York , NY
Co-Chair: Dr. Chandrashekar Bhat, Prof. of Sociology and Director, Indian Diaspora Institute, Univ. of Hyderabad
Speakers:
Prof Mohan Gautam, University of Leiden , Netherlands
Prof Ganesh Chand, University of Fiji
Prof. Rajen Anand, President, National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA)
P.S. Sahai, Former Ambassador of India , New Delhi
3.15 pm to 3.30 am Coffee/Tea Break
3:30 pm to 4:45 pm Session IV - NRIs/PIOs AND INDIA: DEVELOPING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE RELATIONS
Chair: Prof. Jai Rup Singh Ph.D, Vice Chancellor, GNU, Amritsar , Punjab , India
Co-Chair: Prashant Gupta, Chairman, GOPIO.Connect, Gurgaon , India
Speakers:
Madhu Yaskhi M.P., Member of Lok Sabha, New Delhi -
"Overview and Perspective from a Law Maker"
Dr. Y.S. Rajan - Scientist,
Technologist, Academic, Writer and Poet and currently Principal Advisor,
Confederation of Indian Industries, New Delhi, "People to People Relations
in Education and Technology Transfer."
J.C. Sharma, Former Secretary, MEA and currently Executive Trustee of Chiranjiv Bharti Trust, "NRIs/PIOs Networking with Business, Civic and Community Organizations in India ."
Dr.
Srinivasa Rao, Editor, The Catalyst,
New York, "NRIs/PIOs Networking with
Developmental Groups
Prof. Ram Mohan Roy, Professor of International Relations, CSUN, and
Senior Fellow Clairmont Graduate University,
"Role of NRIs/PIOs in improving Relations with
India and country of their Residence with particular reference to USA."
4:50 pm to 5:30 pm Wrap-up and Adoption of Resolutions
Chair: Dr. Piyush Agrawal, USA Coordinator, GOPIO International
Co-Chair: Gurmukh Singh, Toronto , Canada
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Reception and Grand Awards Banquet with the Presentation of GOPIOs Community Service Awards
Honored Guests: To be announced soon
Conference Registration
Conference Registration Fee: Rs. 1,000. Waived for those who register prior to December 25, 2006. Prior registration is mandatory. Total registration will be limited to 200 delegates. Limited number of Jan. 6th banquets only registration available at Rs. 600 per person. Those from outside India , please contact GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran in the US at 718-353-1900 E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com.
The conference in Delhi coordinated by GOPIO-India president Mr. K.N. Gupta, Tel: (91) 11-4164-2066/9811131588, e-mail: knguptas@hotmail.com Address: D-47 Gulmohar Park, New Delhi 110049
Sponsor opportunities are available for Indian businesses interested to reach out to PIOs/NRIs. Limited number of Tabletop Booths will also be available at the venue on January 6th. Contact Mr. Rajesh Chowdhury, World Premier Productions, Tel: (91) 11-41729540/9818208811.
TITLE SPONSORS OF GOPIO CONVENTION 2007
PLATINUM SPONSOR KINGFISHER AIRLINES owned by Dr. Vijay Mallaya
GOLD SPONSOR PIO TV (www.piotv.com)
COCKTAIL RECEPTION SPONSOR (following the Media Conclave) San Jay Reddy MD & CEO, RJR BANCORP. and President, GOPIO Los Angeles
KINGFISHER AIRLINES
A truly world-class airline in every sense
Efficient yet Warm. Stylish yet Comfortable
Brand new fleet incorporating the latest technology
A crew that has undergone rigorous training program
PIO TV (www.piotv.com)
The only channel for People of Indian Origin on internet
Live Feed 24/7 direct from India
RJR BANCORP
RJR Bancorp is an independent Merchant Bank and financial services holding company that is committed to helping its clients --middle-market and emerging-growth companies, small and large governments, and ultra high net worth individuals-- achieve their strategic and financial goals. Headquartered in Los Angeles , California , the firm provides Investment Banking, Investment Management, and Investment Advisory services.
Hotel and Internal Travel Arrangements
The Travel Corporation of India (TCI) Pvt. Ltd. has identified different types of hotels for GOPO delegates (visit: http://www.tciconferences.com/gopio/). Those wanting to go for site seeing trips in India , pre- and/or post-convention, TCI could make internal travel arrangements and accommodation. A very special rate of US$130 + Applicable taxes (12.5% of published rate) has been negotiated with Hotel Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi . Contact Narendra Saraswat, Manager - Business Development & E-Holidays, Travel Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd., 504 - 505, 5th Floor, New Delhi House, 27 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi - 110 001, Tel. +91-11-23317773, 23315834, Fax: +91-11-23316705, 23327468, Email - narendras@tci.co.in
For more information on GOPIO Convention 2007, please contact: GOPIO President Inder Singh in USA at 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran at: 718-353-1900 or by email at ramsaran@aol.com
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS-2007 JANUARY 7-9, 2007 IN NEW DELHI
The ministry of overseas Indian affairs (MOIA) is organizing PBD 2007 in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Delhi state government. The theme of PBD 2007 has been decided to be 'Rooting for the roots', and will focus on education, healthcare, women, youth and investment. Over three dozen conference sessions (see details at www.pbd2007.org) are planned at the PBD 2007. GOPIO has been helping to put together one session as follows:
GOPIO SESSION ON ENGAGING PIOs FOR INDIA S DEVELOPMENT
A Joint GOPIO Working Session is planned at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2007. The theme is: ENGAGING PIOs FOR INDIA S DEVELOPMENT. The session is scheduled to be held on Sunday, January 7, 2007 from 1430 to 1600 hours at Vigyan Bhavan. The Chief Guest is Hon. Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, and the Guest of Honor is Minister Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Labor & Employment. The moderator is former Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan. Speakers are GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham (USA), GOPIO International Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran (USA), GOPIO President ( Mauritius ) Mahyendrah Utchanah, Netherlands PIO Institute Director Dr. Mohan Gautam, University of Fiji Professor Dr. Ganesh Chand.
For PBD registration, contact: Ms. Rekha Sethi, Senior Director & Head-Special Events, Confederation of Indian Industry, Tel: 91 124 4014086; 4014060-67, Fax: 91 124 4014080, Email: rekha.sethi@ciionline.org, pbd2007@ciionline.org or Mr. Nitin Kumar, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), Akbar Bhawan, New Delhi 110 021, Tel: 011 24674141, Mobile : 09868035028, Email: usfs@moia.nic.in OR VISIT www.pbd2007.org
DIASPORA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN KOLKATTA, JANUARY 11-13
Theme:
Organised by:
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata, in collaboration with Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), Government of India.
Venue: Oberoi Grand Hotel, Kolkata
With the late 20th Century migration of highly skilled Indian professionals, intellectuals and entrepreneurs the Indian Diaspora has come out of the shadows and is today one of the largest and most self-conscious Diaspora in the world. The Conference Away but not Apart: Evolving Relationships between India and her Diaspora aims to explore the changing interaction between India and her Diaspora with an intent to generate policy alternatives for the Government of India and is structured around the following eight themes.
Session 1 History of Indian Diaspora Formation
Session 2 Calcutta as a Metaphor in the Indian Diaspora
Session 3 - Indian Culture and the Diaspora
Session 4 - Indian Diaspora Nationalism
Session 5 - Indian Diaspora as a Development Agent
Session 6 Indian Diaspora as a Strategic Asset
Session 7 - Indian Diaspora and the War on Terror
Session 8 Mutual Expectations
34 Scholars from six countries would participate/present papers.
Among them are:
Prof. E. Sridharan: Academic Director, University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India , New Delhi ,
Prof. B. B. Bhattacharya: Honble Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University , New Delhi .
Prof. M.K. Gautam: Leiden University , The Netherlands
Prof. Amit Gupta: Air Force War College , Montegomery , Alabama , USA .
Prof. Chandrasekhar Bhat: Director, Centre for Diaspora Studies, Hyderabad
Suchita Ramdin: Head, Department of Folklore and Oral Traditions, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Mauritius
Dr. Pamela Gutman: Honorary Associate of the Dept. of Art History and Theory at the Univ. of Sydney
Selvarajoo Sundram: GOPIO, Malaysia
Dr. Thomas Abraham: Chairman, GOPIO International, Stamford , CT , USA
Shri Malay Mishra: Joint Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India
Professor D.P. Chattopadhyaya, Chairman Centre for Studies in Civilizations, Former Union Minister for Commerce and Former Governor of Rajasthan would deliver the Key note address.
Prof. Muchukund Dubey, Former Foreign Secretary, Government of India would deliver the valedictory address
Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi will inaugurate the Conference on Januauy 11 at 10 AM.
Interested participants may register on or before January 5, 2007. Contact: Dr. Binod Mishra
MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD INSTITUTE OF ASIAN STUDIES (An Autonomous Body under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India ), 5, Ashraf Mistri Lane , ( Lovelock Street Opp. Ballygunge Military Camp), Kolkata- 700 019, Telephone: (033) 2454 6581, Mob: 91+9830875066, Fax:(033) 2486 2049, Email: makaias@vsnl.net or makaias@cal.vsnl.net.in or visit http://www.makaias.gov.in
GOPIO JOINS HANDS WITH NORTH GUJARAT UNIV. IN DIASPORA CONF. JAN. 2-4, PATAN, GUJARAT
North Gujarat University at Patan is organizing International Conference on India and Her Diaspora in the South Pacific from January 2-4, 2007 in academic association with GOPIO International. The conference is jointly organized by the University Grants Commission and is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA).
Shri Vayalar Ravi , Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs will be delivering the inaugural address. Dr. Jagat Motwani, chair GOPIO Academic Council, Dr. Ganesh Chand, GOPIO Community Service Awardee will be felicitated among others. GOPIO International President Inder Singh would also address the conference.
Many prominent academicians, scholars and writers on diaspora from various parts of the world would be taking part in the three-day conference. Two persons from GOPIO, Inder Singh and Jagat Motwani would also be reading paper in the conference.
Dr. Adesh Pal of Centre for Indian Diaspora and Cultural Studies of North Gujarat University is the chief organizer of the conference. He can be contacted at adeshpalngu@rediffmail.com
US-INDIA PEACEFUL ATOMIC ENERGY COOPERATION ACT OF 2006
KUDOS to the Indian American Community
The House Bill (H.R. 5682) after going through several revisions, finally became "Henry J. Hyde United States- India Peaceful Atomic Energy cooperation Act of 2006" was passed by the US House of Representatives by a 330 Yeas, 59 Nays and 44 Not Voting late in the evening of Friday, December 8 and the US Senate passed it the early morning hours of Saturday by unanimous consent before the two Houses adjourned at the end of 109th Congress.
Once again, the Florida delegation topped the list in support of the bill by casting 100% of the votes.
On Monday, December 18 President Bush would be signing the bill. The signing Ceremony would start at 10:15 in the morning in the East Room of The White House. GOPIO would appropriately be represented by its Chairman, Dr. Thomas Abraham; U.S. National Coordinator, Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal, & New York Chapter President, Mr. Lal Motwani.
It is a matter of great satisfaction that several community activists gave their best to this cause. It could not have been done by a single person or a single organization. It was a joint effort and the participation of the community made it happen.
GOPIO, on its part, organized several town meetings with law makers and the community though out the country. GOPIO delegations also called on the several law makers in their own constituencies seeking support for the bill.
Though many individuals and organizations are claiming that it is they who made the passage of the bill possible, it neither seems possible nor feasible. However, an exception is warranted to thank Mr. Swadesh Chatterjee of North Carolina for his untiring effort of keeping the community involved in the process and connecting with the right people in the Congress.
The reaction in the Indian American Community is very positive and a sigh of relief is noticeable since their hard work finally paid off. Of course, certain section of the people would always complain that the bill does not totally represent what would have been the best for India , but they need to realize that in a partnership both parties have to watch for their interest. But, knowledgeable people insist that this bill represent the best possible compromise for both USA & India .
GOPIO thanks its rank & file that supported this bill to serve the best interests of their country of origin (Janma Bhoomi) and the country of their adoption (Karma Bhoomi).
GOPIO INTL. AND CHAPTER NEWS
GOPIO- NEW YORK SCHEDULES HOLIDAY PARTY AND DINNER/TALK WITH CONGRESSMAN PETER KING
GOPIOs New York chapter has scheduled its annual holiday party and dinner/talk with senior Republican Congressman Peter King in Sunday, December 17 starting at 5 p.m. Rep. King, who is the Chairman of the Internal Security Committee in the House of Representatives, will speak on the subject Global Terrorism.
For more information and registration, contact GOPIO New York President Lal Motwani 718-470-1026 or E-mail: lmotwani@nyc.rr.com.
GOPIO-CONNECTICUT SCHEDULES LUNCHEON MEETING FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
GOPIO-Connecticut has scheduled a luncheon meeting with PIO youth and young professionals on December 24th at Meera Restaurant in Stamford , CT. The theme is Networking and Sharing Experiences. Open to the age group 16 plus, admission is FREE.
Contact GOPIO-CT President Sangeeta Ahuja at 203-329-9744, E-mail: sangeetaahuja@aol.com or GOPIO-CT Secretary Bhaskar Majee at 203-391-0654, E-mail: bmajee@gmail