LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): People in large numbers thronged the Nassau County Legislative Chamber in Mineola, May 1, to listen to Jaya Row, one of India‘s most renowned and internationally acclaimed motivational speakers. She spoke on How to live life full of success, happiness and objectivity, based on India’s ancient Vedas and Upanishads.

Row, who renounced a distinguished management career to devote herself full time to the interpretation of Vedanta for the modern generation, was profusely applauded for her study and research of the ancient scriptures of India. Special Citations were issued by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, Norma Gonsalves and Senior Councilman of the Town of Hempstead, Tony Santino, to honor the legendary speaker. Mangano, who could not attend because of a prior engagement, deputed Deputy County Executive Phillip Elliott to represent Nassau County. Also recognized as part of the Nari Shakti theme of the event were Raji Kuncham, Nirmala Rametra, Urmilesh Arya, Nimmi Mehta, Anupam Goenka, and Sonia Bhatija, the women behind some of the most successful Indian Americans on Long Island.

Varinder Bhalla paid tributes to the public officials for their support of the Indian community. “Over the past three and a half years, Ed Mangano has hosted and supported countless Indian cultural events in Nassau County”, said Bhalla. “Mangano has also appointed more Indian Americans to high level positions in his administration than any other County Executive in the entire state of New York.” “Councilman Santino, who helped AWB Food Bank to organize the first Dussehra festival in the United States, later joined hands with Supervisor Kate Murray to start the annual celebration of the Republic Day of India in the Town Hall.” Bhalla also commended the support of Legislator Gonsalves and Deputy County Executive Elliott. The event was organized by Ratna Bhalla and Varinder Bhalla, founders of the AWB Food Bank, and Rakesh Bhargava. Established in 1991, AWB Food Bank has distributed over ten million meals to hungry people in India