The Indian Panorama

Tag: GOPIO Manhattan

  • GOPIO Manhattan, Indian Consulate & Happy Life Yoga Collaborate to Celebrate Yoga Day

    GOPIO Manhattan, Indian Consulate & Happy Life Yoga Collaborate to Celebrate Yoga Day

    NEW YORK (TIP): On the occasion of 9th International Yoga Day 2023, GOPIO-Manhattan in cooperation with the Consulate General of India in New York and Emmy-nominated filmmaker & Happy Life Yoga speaker Tirlok Malik hosted a highly interactive and informative Yoga Zoom event on June 25th featuring experts and speakers from various walks of life. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India in New York sent his best wishes to GOPIO and Malik for celebrating the 9th International Yoga Day 2023. The chief guest Consul Vipul Dev, who looks after Press, Information and Culture at the Indian Consulate, New York (USA) was present on the occasion. GOPIO-Manhattan Secretary Bhavya Gupta was the MC for the event which was hosted in the presence of Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International and GOPIO President Lal Motwani as well as distinguished members of GOPIO International and its chapter officials from the Northeast of USA and many viewers from all over the world. The event was also supported by The Indian Panorama and Indian American Forum.

    Ms. Bhavya Gupta started the event welcoming all and shared the updates from the 9th International Yoga Day held at the United Nations on June 21st under the presence of Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi. GOPIO team members along with citizens across 135 nationalities participated in the Yoga event, which earned the Yoga Day Event an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for the Most Nationalities in a Yoga Session.

    The event was energetic, knowledgeable, inspiring, and celebratory in nature. While emphasizing upon the growing importance of Yoga in today’s times, Malik explained his vision behind Happy Life Yoga and its underlying philosophy, “A way of living inspired by the wisdom of Ayurveda, Yoga and Indian Philosophy, Happy Life Yoga is beneficial for one and all. The pandemic has made the world realize that it is of paramount importance to have a good health, physically and emotionally, and the Happy Life Yoga platform can show how to achieve it.”

    GOPIO Chairman Dr. Abraham in his welcome remarks said, “Yoga has now become an international brand after the UN declaration in 2014 and Yoga Day is now celebrated all over the world.” Dr. Abraham also complimented the Indian Consulate for continuing to support Yoga celebrations by the community groups in the Northeast of the US. Dr. Abraham also complimented Consul General Jaiswal for hoisting the largest number of programs at the New York Consulate every month compared to other MEA missions around the world.

    Indian Consul Vipul Dev said, “Yoga has become very popular in our life and personally I feel great that something like Yoga from my country has been adopted and owned by the rest of world.” He also added that Yoga brought positivity in his life. He also mentioned that the Indian Consulate in New York has been celebrating Yoga Day with community groups starting in the first week of June, including one at the Niagara Falls.

    While emphasizing upon the growing importance of Yoga in today’s times, Malik explained his vision behind Happy Life Yoga and its underlying philosophy, “A way of living inspired by the wisdom of Ayurveda, Yoga and Indian Philosophy, Happy Life Yoga is beneficial for one and all. The pandemic has made the world realize that it is of paramount importance to have good health, physically and emotionally, and the Happy Life Yoga platform can show how to achieve it.” One of the major highlights of the Happy Life Yoga event was the knowledge session moderated by Malik who is known for his ability to engage with his audience using the right mix of banter and substance. The event was energetic, informative, inspiring, and celebratory in nature. In his brief remarks, Tirlok Malik for propagating the power of Yoga globally through the Happy Life Yoga event.

    Speakers . From L to R: Prof. Indrajit Saluja, Indu Jaiswal, Anil Narang, Dr. Renee Mehrra, Neeta Bhasin, Deborah Fishman, Neha Lohia, Victoria Moran, Radhika Bhagat and Dr. Tara Shajan.

    The speakers at the event included Professor Indrajit Saluja (Chief Editor/Publisher, The Indian Panorama), Indu Jaiswal (Chairperson, Indian American Forum), Anil Narang (Vegan Ambassador), Lal Motwani (GOPIO International President), Neeta Bhasin (President, ASB Communications), Dr. Renee Mehra (Reenbow Media), Deborah Fishman (Founder of FED Talk), Neha Lohia (Filmmaker), Radhika Bhagat (CEO, Sacred Earth Trust), Dr. Tara Shajan (President, Indian Nurses Association), and Victoria Moran (Founder, Main Street Vegan Academy). The event was co-sponsored by The Indian Panorama and Indian American Forum.

    The event ended with a laughter session and message of “I Love Myself” even as Malik promised to bring more Happy Life Yoga events in the near future. Happy Life Yoga is the creation of Tirlok Malik. It is essentially an educational platform that offers a unique holistic approach to health and happiness using tools from Ayurveda, Indian Philosophy, and Yoga to help better manage modern-day challenges such as work, finances, relationships, family and other social pressures. It was launched in June 2019 in New York. Malik’s portfolio of work has won many awards and has been acclaimed in the media and people worldwide. Through his work he intends to inspire others to live happier and healthier lives and the journey continues.

    Part of the audience at the zoom session of Happy Life Yoga.

    During the program, GOPIO International President Lal Motwani, who also serves as honorary chair of GOPIO-New York chapter, spoke on Yoga and cited that one has to make others happy to be happy yourself. GOPIO-Manhattan Chapter President Shivender Sofat invited the community to participate in other chapter activities including welcoming new students from India for a Welcome Dinner event in late September. He further added on the various services from the chapter including community feeding on the last Monday of every month and invited members of the community to sponsor this effort. GOPIO-Manhattan Chapter Board Member Siddharth Jain, who managed the Zoom session gave the vote of thanks.

    Also present at the event were community leaders including India Association of Long Island President Bina Sabapathy, GOPIO International Coordinator Dr. Asha Samant, Rakesh Agarwal of UP Association of North America, AIA Secretary Gunjan Rastogi, who is also Regional VP of NFIA and Sudhir Vaishnav of Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan.

    GOPIO-Manhattan, in accordance with its mission to serve the larger society and those in need, 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 additional information on GOPIO Manhattan, contact President Shivender Sofat at 731-988-6969, e-mail: info@gopiomanhattan.org or visit here: https://gopiomanhattan.org/ Facebook Link: GOPIO Manhattan NYC

  • Consulate General of India with community organizations celebrated the 7th International Day of Yoga

    Consulate General of India with community organizations celebrated the 7th International Day of Yoga

    Consul General of India at New York Randhir Kumar Jaiswal addressed the gathering.

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The 7th International Day of Yoga was celebrated by Consulate General of India in partnership with a number of community organizations. There was excitement in the build-up to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) as a number of curtain raiser events were organized in the month of June.

    Celebrations started on June 1st with the World Yoga Festival organized by the World Yoga Community. The Indian Cultural Association of North America organized IDY community awareness programs on June 5 and June 12th at the Consulate General of India.

    GOPIO Manhattan in partnership with the Indian Panorama, Indian American Forum and Happy Life Yoga celebrated the International day of Yoga through a digital event on June 19th.

    The Town of Greenburgh (NY) and the Indian Cultural Association of North America organized a Yoga session on June 19th. The Hindu Temple Society of North America, Queens celebrated International Yoga Day through a virtual event on June 20th.

    The main celebration of the 7th International Day of Yoga (IDY) by the Consulate General of India in New York was held on Sunday, June 20, 2021 at the iconic location of Times Square. The Consulate partnered with the Times Square Alliance for this grand celebration. Leading Yoga teacher Ms. Ruchika Lal from the Art of Living Foundation conducted Yoga and meditation session.

    The day-long yoga festival with the theme of ‘Solstice in Times Square 2021’ was attended by more than 3,000 people where yogis, with their yoga mats and flexible bodies, filled Times Square to mark the start of summer.

    “As we celebrate yoga at the iconic Times Square – at the crossroads of the world, let us remind ourselves of the truly global embrace of yoga. Yoga was born in India but is part of global heritage today. Yoga is about health, well-being and about living in harmony with nature. Yoga is a way of life, and we must try to practice it in its entirety, for a peaceful society and for a greener planet,” Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General told ANI.

    “It was an incredible experience leading yoga, pranayama and meditation at Times Square NYC. Seeing thousands of yogis experience stillness amidst the chaos of the city that never stops,” said Ruchika Lal who participated in the event.

    In keeping with this year’s global theme – Yoga for Wellness – as coined by the United Nations (UN), the event showcased holistic health, Ayurvedic and nature-based wellness products from Tribes India (TRIFED) and other Indian companies. The stalls attracted a large number of visitors, eager to learn about the uniqueness of Indian Tribal, Ayurvedic and natural products. The day-long yoga celebration offered experienced yogis and first-timers alike the chance to bring a yoga mat to the iconic public space and participate in a free yoga class. The Consulate General handed a bag of products from TRIFED and some wellness products produced in India as well.

    “I love to practice Yoga at Times Square every year on Solstice. I want to thank the Consulate for this gift,” a participant said.

    There were several other yoga sessions held throughout the day. These sessions were very well received by the participants. The day-long event was attended by more than 3000 people. In keeping with this year’s theme, Yoga for Wellness, the Times Square event showcased holistic health, Ayurvedic and nature-based wellness products from Tribes India (TRIFED) and other Indian companies.  The stalls attracted a large number of visitors, eager to learn about the uniqueness of Indian Tribal, Ayurvedic and natural products.  A large variety of traditional knowledge-based products from Aspirational Districts in India such as the Araku Valley Coffee, Millets, Bamboo craft and Handloom Textiles were showcased. These products generated a lot of excitement amongst the visitors. On the same day, another major celebration of IDY was organized at the Liberty State Park in New Jersey with the Statue of Liberty in the background. This celebration was led by Federation of Indian Associations (FIA). Famous Yoga instructor Thara Natalie led the Yoga Session. Noted Singer Jay Sean and Public Speaker Nina Davuluri participated in the event to support the cause of yoga and wellbeing.

    On June 21st, the Consulate in partnership with the Council of Indian Organization in Greater Philadelphia celebrated IDY at Dilworth Park, Philadelphia. Four Yoga teachers conducted the Yoga sessions which was attended by a number of young people. Along with Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and Congressman Dwight Evans also attended the event. Both Congressmen appreciated the efforts of promoting Yoga for Wellness.  On the occasion, Governor Tom Wolf extended his good wishes. The event was also attended by representatives from City Council and the Mayor’s office. In keeping with our efforts to take Yoga to different communities, the Consulate partnered with   Sanskriti of NJ, a noted community organization, to celebrate IDY in Livingston, NJ. The event was attended by Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and the Mayor of Livingston. During the event a number of Yoga workshops were organized, and a range of healthy and sustainable lifestyle products were showcased.

    In his remarks on the occasion, Consul General referred to Yoga as a universal practice. He highlighted the unifying force of Yoga and its immense benefits. He also said that Yoga was born in India but is a part of our global heritage today. Yoga is about health, about well-being and about living in harmony with nature, he stated. He also noted that Yoga was not just a set of physical exercises but a way of life that fosters a peaceful society and a greener planet.

    On the occasion of 7thInternational Day of Yoga, mYoga App, jointly developed by World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH has been launched. The app is available on Google Play store as well as on Apple app store. It provides authentic information on yoga in multiple languages.

    In December 2014, United Nations had unanimously adopted a resolution to mark June 21st as the International Day of Yoga (IDY). June 21st is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world. Since then IDY has been celebrated as a major event in hundreds of cities enhancing awareness about multifaceted benefits of yoga to individuals, families and societies.

    State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, India Tourist Office, TATA Sons, Aromazeia Essential Oils and Forest Essentials also contributed to this year’s IDY.

    (Based on a press release)

  • ndian Consulate Launches India@75 at GOPIO-Manhattan’s Shaheed Diwas Celebrations

    ndian Consulate Launches India@75 at GOPIO-Manhattan’s Shaheed Diwas Celebrations

    Organizers and speakers at the Shaheed Diwas: Top Row, from l. to r. Chitranjan Belwariar, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Siddharth Jain (Sid Jain) and Dr. Asha Samant. Middle Row: From l. to r. Deputy Consul General of India Shatrughna Sinha, Consul General of India Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, Dr. Maya Chadda and Dr. Bhuvan Lall. Bottom Row, from l. to r.: Prof. Anita Bose Pfaff, Anoop Bhargava and Lord Rami Ranger.
    A screen of participants at the Shaheed Diwas Celebration on the Zoom. 

    NEW YORK (TIP):  If India and the people of Indian origin living around the world enjoy freedom, liberty, equality and success, it’s due to the sacrifices, vision and foresight of men and women who dedicated their lives at the cause of freedom, fighting for independence from the 200-years of British Rule. There are millions who dedicated their lives, while there are some whose leadership and bravery inspired millions of others to fight for freedom. Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day is observed on six days across India which includes January 30th and March 23rd each year to remember the sacrifices of brave freedom fighters who devoted their entire lives to help us enjoy freedom. Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) along with the Consulate General of India in New York jointly organized and honored the martyrs during a virtual celebration of Shaheed Diwas 2021, which is the 90th death anniversary of three courageous youngsters on March 23rd, 2021. The celebrations touched many hearts as the hundreds of participants heard personal stories shared by family members of some of these brave men and women, who fought valiantly and gave up their lives at the altar of freedom for our motherland, India. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s daughter Dr. Anita Bose Pfaff (Germany), Lord Rami Ranger (UK), Dr. Maya Chadda (USA) and Historian/Author Dr. Bhuvan Lall (India).

     

     

     

    India’s Consul General Ambassador Randhir Kumar Jaiswal launched India@75, a yearlong Celebration commemorating the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence and called upon the Indian Diaspora to join him in celebrating India’s freedom till August 15th, 2022. Shatrughna Sinha, Deputy Consul General in New York felicitated the community.

     

     

     

    Ambassador Jaiswal and DCG Shatrughna Sinha released the Shaheed Diwas Calendar presented by Siddharth Jain (Sid Jain) of GOPIO-Manhattan, for the year 2021-2022.  Ambassador Jaiswal while reviewing the calendar cited that it recognized contributions of Patriots of India. Ambassador Jaiswal further added on the Calendar as “A collector’s delight and dream”, where one can read about the freedom fighters and their heroic activities.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Consul General Jaiswal, in his address, commended GOPIO Manhattan for organizing the event and several others, honoring India and Indians. “Today is the Red Letter Day in the history of India,” the Indian diplomat with over three decades of diplomatic services around the world, told the hundreds of community leaders from around several continents who joined the celebration. “We honor today the legendary freedom fighters, recalling their bravery and love for our motherland.” Describing today’s celebrations as unique, Ambassador Jaiswal recalled the founding of the Ghadar Party by Lala Har Dayal over a century ago. “I humbly bow before their legendary sacrifices, which are inspiring us all.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Daughter, retired Prof. Dr. Anita Bose Pfaff shared with the audience experiences from her own personal life, as she was growing up seeing her father, travelling across India to Europe to South East Asia, garnering support from Western and Asian nations, creating an army to fight the British power. Stating that her dad was one of the most hated by the British, she narrated about the many coup attempts by the British to assassinate him. Calling him a Leftist radical, Dr. Anita Bose Pfaff said, “He had joined the freedom movement at a very young age. Joined the non-violent movement led by Gandhi initially. He was imprisoned and lost his health in prison. He risked his life disguising himself and escaping the prison and joined and led the Independence Movement abroad by aligning with Germany, Soviet Union and Japan, creating an Indian National Army (INA) to fight the British”. While Mr. Bose died in a plane crash, while trying to defeat the British, she said, “There is good reason to call him a martyr, because he died in the process of fighting for freedom. India was his sole love, and he was willing to put his life for the freedom of India. It’s justifiable to call him a martyr.”

     

     

     

    Lord Rami Ranger, Member of the House of Lords, London, a self-made businessman and chairman of Sunmark Group, an international marketing and distribution company. He is also chairman and managing director of Sea Air and Land Forwarding Ltd. He is the Joint Chairman of Conservatives Friends of India in the British Parliament. Lord Ranger’s father Shaheed Sardar Nanak Singh stood for the unity of India and was assassinated by a mob in Gujranwala (in Pakistan) in 1947. “My father was assassinated at age 42 when I was not even born,” he said, sharing about the circumstances that led to his father’s martyrdom.

     

     

     

    Describing that it is remarkable, India and the Diaspora are “paying tributes to those who made us what we are today. They demonstrated that their love for India was more than that for their love for their families. We cannot forget their sacrifices. We remember all those who made it possible for us today to celebrate our freedom. They are always martyrs and will live forever.”

     

     

     

    Lord Ranger praised Indians, who “are contributing a great deal around the world. If we are not a free nation, we could not do so, contributing to the world. We are shaping the destiny of the people of so many nations. India is the most sought-after nation by people from around the world. We must stay united and fight together to preserve our freedom. Learn from history.”

     

     

     

    Dr. Maya Chadda, Professor of Political Science, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Member of Council of Foreign Relations. Dr. Chadda is an author of over half a dozen books. Her father, who was a linguist, had spent most of his time with Gandhiji in his Ashram. Dr. Chadda described at length about her works on Gandhian thoughts focusing on Satyagraha as a strategy of war. Sharing from her personal experiences, she shared with the audience about how her dad went to the Ashram at a very young age and his kids were born and grew up at the ashram, where he spent most of his life. Her dad was part of the editorial staff of Gandhi ji’s educational movement by newspapers to spread his message. “We were a Gandhian family throughout our lives. They were all dreamers, who dreamt of a unified India with freedom. They inspired mass support that led to the freedom movement, with ability to move the nation and win their support,” she said.

     

     

     

    Dr. Bhuvan Lall, Film Producer, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Scriptwriter and Columnist, New Delhi, India. Author of The Man India Missed The Most – Subhash Chandra Bose & The Great Indian Genius – Har Dayal, eloquently told the story of the brilliant Lala Har Dayal, who spoke 9 languages and memorized 5,000 books at the very young age of 28-years.  Har Dayal gave up his Government of India scholarship to St. John’s College at Oxford and became a supporter of the Indian revolutionary movement in 1907. He traveled through France and Germany, disseminating anti-British propaganda and lauding Western science and political philosophy as holding the key to a successful anticolonial struggle.

     

     

     

    In 1913 Lala Har Dayal formed the Ghadar Party to organize a rebellion against the British government of India. He fled to Switzerland and then to Berlin, where he tried to foment an anti-British rising in northwestern India. After the German defeat in World War I, Har Dayal settled in Stockholm as a professor of Indian Philosophy and wrote Forty-Four Months in Germany and Turkey. He moved to the USA in the late 1920s and became a Professor of Sanskrit at the University of California, Berkeley.

     

     

     

    Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International, in his remarks gave an introduction to the objectives of the birth of GOPIO. “Connecting the Diaspora with our motherland” and celebrating the major festivals of India.” GOPIO-Manhattan has hosted some extraordinary events, especially during the Covid pandemic.

     

     

     

    Shivender Sofat, President of GOPIO-Manhattan, in his passionate address, shared about the sacrifices of Freedom Fighters. “This is part of a series of events to pay homage to martyrs of India,” he said. “It was planned in 2019, but today, we are fortunate to have this virtually connecting all of us from around the world for this solemn event.” While referring to the different paths used by the freedom fighters, he said, “They all had one goal: freedom for our motherland. Our real homage to the martyrs is to work towards by preserving the ideals of the martyrs.” He led the audience from around the world to salute India and the Martyrs in one voice, as they all called out “Inquilab Zindabad.”

     

     

     

    Emcee of the event, Anoop Bhargava introduced the importance of Martyr’s Day. On March 23 in 1931, three brave men, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged to death by Britishers, for fighting for freedom from British rule in India.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The two hours long celebration was combined with patriotic songs sung live by singers from the USA and Canada. Mohita, a High School Sophomore, led the audience with the American National Anthem. The Indian National Anthem was rendered by Leena Damle, a graphic designer. Vande Mataram, a patriotic song, was sung by Pallavi Verma Belwarior. Ishan Tangirala, an 8th grader sang the Patriotic song Mera Rang De Basanti Chola. Hitesh Jain of Vancouver, BC sang Sarforshi Ki Tamanna, lyrics of which were penned by Shri Ram Prasad Bismil, a Martyr, paying tributes to the martyrs.

     

     

     

    GOPIO International Coordinator-at-Large Dr. Asha Samant and Prof. Ponisseril Somasundaran from Columbia University also shared their personal experiences with the freedom movement with moving anecdotes that made a lasting impact on the audience. Prof Somasundaran was choked with emotion when he shared his father’s involvement with Mahatma Gandhi in the Salt Satyagraha. Prof. Somasundaran’s father was honored by the Govt. of Indian with Tamara Patra for his service to the nation.

     

     

     

    The program ended with a conclusionary remarks and vote of thanks by GOPIO-Manhattan Executive Vice President Prof. Rajasekhar Vangapaty, who was a co-organizer of the program with Shivender Sofat and Siddharth Jain.

    (Based on a Press release issued by Shivender Sofat))

     

     

     

  • GOPIO Manhattan Chapter Educates the Public on Covid 19 and the Vaccines

    GOPIO Manhattan Chapter Educates the Public on Covid 19 and the Vaccines

    NEW YORK (TIP): The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating. Coronavirus has affected day to day life and is slowing down the global economy. It has rapidly affected our day-to-day life, businesses, disrupted the world trade and movements. The distribution and administration of Covid vaccine in the United States and around the e3ortld have given us hope, but there are several unanswered questions and skepticism about the efficacy of the vaccines.

    Second in a series of webinars, a timely discussion organized virtually by Global Organization of Persons of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Manhattan Chapter in collaboration with the Indian Consulate in New York on Friday, February 26th provided answers to these most important questions.

    Attended by people from around the globe, the webinar led by Hana Akselrod, MD, MPH attempted to answer questions raised by laymen on the pandemic, how it spreads and ways to prevent and mitigate the spread. Currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dr. Akselrod has been active in medical education, serving as a faculty mentor in the Quality Improvement and the Clinical Public Health curriculum programs, conducting research on HIV and aging as part of the DC Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and DC Cohort Longitudinal HIV study. During an hour-long presentation, she provided an overview of the epidemic and the efficacy of the vaccines in common man’s language.

     

    In his opening remarks, Consul General of India in New York, Randhir Kumar Jaiswal congratulated GOPIO for organizing the much-needed webinar on Covid 19 and for educating the community on such a timely and vital topic with a thoughtful session by experts in healthcare field. While acknowledging the challenges faced by humanity due to COVID, Ambassador expressed hope and said, “There is optimism in the New Year, and we hope to put this pandemic away.”

     

    Ambassador Jaiswal lavished praises on GOPIO and its leadership for the many initiatives. “GOPIO has helped NRIs in several ways, facilitating travel, organizing prescription medicine and providing living accommodation to many stranded due to Covid. I am appreciative and thank GOPIO for their constant efforts to be on the forefront.”

     

     

    Ambassador Randhir Jaiswal referred to India’s massive undertaking under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has undertaken, what is likely to be the world’s largest Covid-19 vaccination campaign, joining the ranks of wealthier nations where the effort is already underway. India has plans to vaccinate 300 million people, roughly the population of the United States. Praising the two India-based pharmaceutical companies for manufacturing the vaccines in record time, Mr. Jaiswal said, “We are sharing our vaccines with other countries who need. It gives us pride that we can share our scientific knowledge with the world.” While acknowledging that the mutations are posing additional threats, he assured, “We are pushing the pandemic away in India and around the world.”

     

    Dr. Asha Samant, in her opening remarks, described the current period experienced by humanity due to COVID as “a dark period in human history.”  Dr. Arnab Ghosh, a physician in Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) specializing in adult Bone Marrow Transplantation, moderated the lively session. “While admitting that “we do not have answers to many questions to Covid that has changed our lives in all possible ways,” he said, “Where to find vaccines? GOPIO is seeking to find answers.”

     

    Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman if GOPIO-International shared greetings to the Manhattan Chapter leaders and panelists from GOPIO International. “India has done a great deal of service to the world by being a leader in supplying vaccines to as many as 33 nations around the world. Referring to how the pandemic has impacted human lives for over a year now, Dr. Abraham pointed to how the City of New York was among the worst hit and that life is returning to near normal, especially with strict guidelines and the arrival of the vaccines.

     

    In her opening remarks, Dr. Hana Akselrod shared with the audience about her upbringing as an immigrant to the US from Russia and how she overcame the hurdles and has been able to achieve the dreams and aspirations of her immigrant parents.  She shared about the proximity of the George Washington University where she teaches and researches on epidemiology, to the diverse population and the centers of power in Washington, DC.  “We at George Washington University have successful initiated several programs befitting the local community, using the golden standard of community services,” she said.

     

    While acknowledging that the US is responsible for a high percentage of mortality, she stated, it may be due to the fact that many nations do not test, and some are not transparent in reporting the actual cases of the virus. “The Covid virus is under reported in several nations, including in the US. We have one of the highest mortality rates in the world.” Expressing hope that, especially with the holiday season behind us, and that many states who were resistant to preventing measures have caught up now, and have contributed to the reduction of cases with the virus, she said.

     

    How do we get out of this? She suggested that everyone follows the common preventable methods recommended by CDC, including hand hygiene, masking, social distance, ventilating, and being prepared to stake a step back. “Vaccination will give herd immunity, if 60 percent of the population is immunized,” she said. However, if the efficacy of the vaccine is less than 100 percent, more people need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.

     

    Transmission is far from safe levels, she said. Until we have a population that is immune and has herd immunity, it is a challenge to contain it. “We have extensive studies on the spread and prevention of Covid,” she said. “Preventive measures are important. Vaccination is likely to make us achieve herd immunity.”

     

    “Now, we are more concerned about the variants, which have not impacted much as of now. Low income, lack of education and lack of access to medical care are some of the causes of disparity in Covid infection and mortality rates,” she explained.

     

    How does the virus spread? Dr. Hana Akselrod said, COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person to person, including between people who are physically near each other (within about 6 feet). People who are infected but do not show symptoms can also spread the virus to others. Pathogens that are spread easily through airborne transmission require the use of special engineering controls to prevent infections.

     

    She explained on how the virus spreads thorough the Spike protein. Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants are circulating globally, she said. Several new variants emerged in the fall of 2020, most notably: In the United Kingdom (UK), a new variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20B/501Y.V1, VOC 202012/01, or B.1.1.7 lineage) emerged with an unusually large number of mutations. This variant has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States (US) and Canada.

     

    To understand how COVID-19 vaccines work, it helps to first look at how our bodies fight illness, Dr. Hana Akselrod pointed out. “When germs, such as the virus that causes COVID-19, invade our bodies, they attack and multiply. This invasion, called an infection, is what causes illness. Virus can affect all parts of the body. Inflammation, heart disease and lungs mostly impacted. Inflammatory damage process that may cause blood clots.

     

    While assuring the audience that COVID-19 vaccines can help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness, she said, “Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.” To a question on which is the best of the three vaccines available in the US, she said, “The best vaccine is the one that is available to you now.”

     

    Exploding how each vaccine works and helps gain immunity, on the reactions to Vaccine, Dr. Hana Akselrod said, “Mostly they have found to be safer with minor side effects with some larger effects, most of which are not life threatening. CDC has an app to report the reactions to vaccine,” she added.

     

     

    While admitting that there are many who are skeptical about the vaccines, not only among the scientific community and among the general public, she stressed the need for effective communication and educating the public. While prominent and scientific leaders have taken on the role, she emphasized the need for education by individual physicians and healthcare workers, who can play a critical role in educating the efficacy of the vaccines. To another question, she said, “Vaccines are not causing infertility among women. There is no proof to it,” she added.

     

    The Q/A session was moderated by Dr. Arnab Ghosh, GOPIO-Manhattan Life Member and Oncologist at the memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Technical support at the session was provided by Chitranjan Sahai Belwariar.

     

     

    The session ended with Mr. Shivender Sofat, GOIO Manhattan President thanking the panelists and participants to the timely and very important discussion on COVID and vaccination. In accordance with the mission, the Manhattan Chapter has taken several initiatives in the recent past. He referred to the Community Feeding every month organized by the Chapter. He urged the community to support the initiative by being a volunteer and or a sponsor.

    (Based on a press release)