The Indian Panorama

Tag: Braj Aggarwal

  • GOPIO Manhattan Organizes ‘Meet & Greet’ for Students from India at the New York Indian Consulate

    Speakers and organizers at the ‘Meet & Greet’ for Students from India, From l. to r.: 1st Row: Dr. Lisa George, Raj Punjabi, GOPIO Manhattan Treasurer Braj Aggarwal, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, Chief Guest Chandrika Tandon, Speaker Gautam Mukunda, and Dy. Consul Dr. Varun Jeph. 2nd Row: Speaker Dilli Bhatta, Speaker Srikanth Jagabathula, Speaker Sridhar Ramasubbu, Speaker Gagan Gujral, Speaker Raj Pandey Speaker Shobhit Kumar, GOPIO Manhattan EVP Professor Rajasekhar Vangapaty, Speaker Monica Arora, Speaker Rajeev Kumar Goyle, GOPIO Manhattan Board Member & Program Coordinator Bhavya Gupta & GOPIO Manhattan Board Member Siddharth (Sid) Jain.Speakers and organizers at the ‘Meet & Greet’ for Students from India, From l. to r.: 1st Row:  Dr. Lisa George, Raj Punjabi, GOPIO Manhattan Treasurer Braj Aggarwal, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, Chief Guest Chandrika Tandon, Speaker Gautam Mukunda, and Dy. Consul Dr. Varun Jeph. 2nd Row: Speaker Dilli Bhatta, Speaker Srikanth Jagabathula, Speaker Sridhar Ramasubbu, Speaker Gagan Gujral, Speaker Raj Pandey Speaker Shobhit Kumar, GOPIO Manhattan EVP Professor Rajasekhar Vangapaty, Speaker Monica Arora, Speaker Rajeev Kumar Goyle, GOPIO Manhattan Board Member & Program Coordinator Bhavya Gupta & GOPIO Manhattan Board Member Siddharth (Sid) Jain.
    Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, Consul General of India in New York inaugurating the event.
    Ms. Chandrika Tandon and Mr. Gautam Mukunda engaging in a Fireside Chat with the Students from India.
    Some of the Indian Students present at the Welcome Reception with Chandrika Tandon, Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, Gautam Mukunda, Dy. Consul Dr. Varun Jeph, GOPIO Manhattan EVP & Speaker Professor Rajasekhar Vangapaty, GOPIO Manhattan Board Member & Program Coordinator Bhavya Gupta, GOPIO Manhattan Board Members Braj Aggarwal, Raj Punjabi, Siddharth (Sid) Jain & Dr. Lisa George.
    Presenting First Day Covers and sheet of Diwali Stamps at the ‘Meet & Greet’ for Students from India, From l. to r.: Chief Guest Chandrika Tandon, Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal and GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham.

    NEW YORK (TIP): The GOPIO-Manhattan (NYC) in cooperation with Consulate General of India in New York organized the ‘Annual Day for Students- New & Existing from India’ studying in the Northeast to connect them to the community and providing mentoring opportunities as well as to raise awareness of Consular services to students from the Indian Consulate. The program was held at the Indian Consulate in New York on October 21st. Students from many universities across the Northeast participated in person or virtually. The program started with a welcome by GOPIO Manhattan Co Secretary and Chair for the event and emcee Ms. Bhavya Gupta. She welcomed Consul General of India at New York Mr. Randhir Kumar Jaiswal to begin the evening’s proceedings.

    The host for the evening Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, commented, “Welcome to all the students from India with open heart as you pursue your future studies here in the North-East region and help in the growth of economy here in USA and back home in India.”

    He further highlighted this year Indian Students were the highest among the international community in USA, and the goal to expand this program to include more students, from the pool of 200,000 students that come to the USA for further studies, to attend in person more interactive sessions and gain exposure to various services offered by the Consulate for the benefit of the students from registration at the Consular Portal, to cultural events to mental health support initiatives.

    This was followed by GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham’s address, who also serves as an advisor to GOPIO-Manhattan encouraged the speakers to mentor, motivate and guide the students. Dr. Abraham said, “In the 1960s and ‘70s when a foreign student joined a university, he/she was given host family, now with connected world and social media, the host family concept went away and the 4.5 million Indian Americans could serve as the host family to the new students.” Ms. Bhavya Gupta than introduced and invited the chief guest for the evening Ms. Chandrika Tandon and moderator Mr. Gautam Mukunda for a fireside chat. Ms. Tandon who is a Philanthropist, Grammy-nominated artist and humanitarian commented, “Students can succeed whether here in USA or in India, as long as they put in their work with honesty combined with hard work and dedication.”  She further added that there is a merit-based admissions process at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering and the incoming class has a very promising future with emphasis that new and existing students today have many more choices of majors to pursue such as computational biology not offered couple decades ago….

    Ms. Tandon has donated $100 million to Tandon School of Engineering at New York University.

    Mr. Gautam Mukunda, Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership, host of Nasdaq’s podcast “World Reimagined” engaged in a fireside chat with Ms. Tandon.  His questions varied from her journey starting with her professional career to music to philanthropy. GOPIO-Manhattan Executive Vice President Professor Rajasekhar Vangapaty introduced the Panel discussion moderated by Mr. Rajeev Kumar Goyle. There were seven panelists in this session who are asked to comment on several questions.

    Mr. Rajeev Kumar Goyle, attorney and a lecturer at Wichita State University, shared his experiences with the students and moderated the panel.  He indulged the panel to assist students in formulating their choices of major and career path. He further implored the Panel to reflect on the fireside chat and share their thoughts.

    Mr. Srikanth Jagabathula, Robert Stansky Research Faculty Fellow and Associate Professor of Tech, Ops, and Stats at the NYU Stern School of Business, shared his experiences with the students and said, “wear different hats, multi-task, go out of your comfort zone, explore and discover.”

    Mr. Raj Pandey, CEO of SaaS and Services startup ZopSmart added “students should immerse within the system, learn and connect with the people.”

    Mr. Gagan Gujral, Director in the Financial Services Group added “that students should not be afraid to ask for help from teachers and peers as he reflected the cultural differences between homeland and USA.” Mr. Shobhit Kumar, Senior Tech leader at a major Life & Annuity Company provided insights to Existing and New Students, “Students should be willing to raise their hands and ask for help. It is a sign of commitment.”

    Mr. Sridhar Ramasubbu, CFO at Trianz, added, “leadership is not given, leadership is taken.” He further added students should take initiative, be ambitious but without adding stress. Ms. Monica Arora, a partner and co-head of the Private Funds Group at Proskauer brought her experience with Students and added that “Students focus on the idea that is most important is building real relationships.”

    Mr. Dilli Bhatta, commented about his personal journey from F1 to OPT to H1-B to Green Card and suggested students “ask your employer whether they will sponsor your visa or not, but you give your best services.” He further shared personal views to the students as part of the panel said, “Now that you are here, outside of your studies, you need to network with your professors, peers, everyone & communication is the key, ask for things.”

    Mr. ShivenderSofat, President GOPIO-Manhattan, who joined virtually told the importance of mentoring to the students, discussed chapter activities and motivated everyone to volunteer and become members at future events held by GOPIO Manhattan. Mr. Siddharth Jain, GOPIO Manhattan Board Member & Program Coordinator; started with a condolence prayer for Late Dr Krishnan Goyle, life member of GOPIO Manhattan, husband of Ms. Vimal Goyle, VP and Founding life member of GOPIO Manhattan. Mr. Jain called on Dr. Abraham to present Chief Guest Ms. Chandrika Tandon and Host Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal with a memento that included a First-Day Cover from GOPIO Foundation Day and a sheet of 20-Deepawali Stamps. Photo-05:– Presenting First Day Covers and sheet of Diwali Stamps at the ‘Meet & Greet’ for Students from India, From l. to r.: Chief Guest Chandrika Tandon, Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal and GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham. Mr. Jain concluded with vote of thanks to Chief Guest Ms. Chandrika Tandon, Host Ambassador Shri Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, Dy. Consul Shri Varun Jeph, Panelists the consulate staff. Other GOPIO-Manhattan officials present at the meeting included President ShivenderSofat (attended virtually), EVP Professor RajsekharVangapaty, Treasurer Braj Aggarwal, Co-Secretaries Dr. Lisa George and Bhavya Gupta and Raj Punjabi.

    Board Member & Program Coordinator Bhavya Gupta, GOPIO Manhattan Board Members Braj Aggarwal, Raj Punjabi, Siddharth (Sid) Jain & Dr. Lisa George. “The students had an excellent time networking with students from different universities as well as with speakers and the Consulate and GOPIO officials and we plan to do a much bigger event next year,’ Dr. Abraham added.

    In accordance with its mission to serve the larger society and those in need, GOPIO-Manhattan Chapter has taken several initiatives in the recent past. A Community Feeding is organized by the Chapter providing ​vegan or ​vegetarian lunch for the homeless and needy at Tomkins Square Park in Manhattan on the last Monday of every month. The chapter appeals to the community to support the initiative by being a volunteer and/or a sponsor.

    For more info on GOPIO Manhattan, call President ShivenderSofat at 731-988-6969, e-mail: info@gopiomanhattan.org or visit here: https://gopiomanhattan.org/

    Facebook Link: GOPIO Manhattan NYC

  • GOPIO led community delegation meets Mayor Eric Adams and his top officials

    NEW YORK (TIP): GOPIO officials along with other Indian community organizations were invited to New York city Hall on March 1st to discuss issues of the Indian community and perspectives on how the community can be involved in the city. It all started with GOPIO’s condemnation of the defacing of Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Union Square Park in February and GOPIO requesting Mayor Eric Adams to increase police presence in the park area as well as to apprehend and punish culprit.

    Indian American community leaders with New York City officials after an interactive meeting at the City Hall.
    From L to R: Mukund Mehta, Kavita Motwani, Lal Motwani, Braj Aggarwal, Ketan Shah, Karthikeya Parashar, Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, Gobind Munjal, Sudhir Vaishnav, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, Chief Advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Dr. Vimal Goyle, Girish Patel and Beena Kothari

    City Hall was represented by Mayor Adam’s Chief Advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin and Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi. The Indian community delegation was headed by GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham along with GOPIO-Manhattan Executive VP Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, VP Dr. Vimal Goyle and Treasurer Braj Aggarwal as well as GOPIO-New York Chapter Hon. Chair Lal Motwani and President Beena Kothari. Other community representatives were Association of Indians in America (AIA) President Gobind Munjal, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Executive Director Sudhir Vaishnav, Bhakti Center Program Coordinator Kartikeya Parashar, Society of Indian American Engineers and Architects (SIAEA) President Ketan Shah, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir National Coordinator for Public Affairs Girish Patel and Mukund Mehta, President of India Home and Indo-American Senior Citizen Center of New York.

    At the beginning of the meeting, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Abraham thanked Mayor Adams for appointing many Indian Americans in high position of the city administration. In addition to the issue of defacing of Mahatma Gandhi statue, many other issues were discussed at this power meeting of the City officials with the community. The community representatives urged the mayor to keep status que on gifted and talented classes for elementary classes. The delegation told the city officials that the gifted should always be given the opportunity to advance further in pursuit of knowledge and to achieve their full academic potential. Other issues brought out include discrimination, civil rights violations and violence against religious institutions in New York city. Chief Advisor Lewis Martin suggested to set up a committee from the community to work closely with NYPD on some of these issues. The following have been nominated to work on these issues with Girish Patel coordinating this effort along with Braj Aggarwal, Lal Motwani, and Beena Kothari. This committee will reach out to the larger Indian community on these issues.

    Indian American community leaders with New York Mayor Eric Adams in front of the CityHall,
    Front Row, from L to R: Girish Patel, Gobind Munjal, Beena Kothari, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Mayor Adams, Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, Braj Aggarwal and Mukund Mehta,. Rear row, from l. to r.: Karthikeya Parashar, Lal Motwani, Dr. Vimal Goyle, Kavita Motwani, Ketan Shah and Sudhir Vaishnav.

    Once major part of the discussion was on how to bring businesses to New York City, vis-à-vis New York businesses setting up business in India. The delegation told city officials that many Indian companies are setting business outfit in the US and that Indian Americans in New York city could serve as conduit to reach out to businesses in India. It was suggested that whenever trade and business delegations come to New York, City’s International Affairs Department must reach them out and hold meetings with them. Another Business Promotion Committee headed by Dr. Abraham was nominated along with Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, Sudhir Vaishnav, Mukund Mehta, Ketan Shah and Karthikeya Parashar.

    The delegation also suggested the city officials to continue with Diwali celebration and to hold a special celebration from the City for the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence to honor the largest democracy of the world.

    After the meeting with city officials, the delegation met Mayor Eric Adams and interacted with him. Mayor Adams gave high marks for the community’s contribution to make New York an exciting city to live.

    (Based on a Press Release)